 Policy background of Long-term management and recovery plans 154.21 Kb
Long-term Management
The long-term management of fisheries must be regarded in the context of sustainable development. The European Council adopted the first EU Sustainable Development Strategy in Göteborg (2001) and this was reinforced by the resolution at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002 to “maintain or restore stocks to levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield”. It had become apparent from the early 1990s that the simplistic management techniques employed by the EU up to that point were not adequate for the complex fisheries being accessed by Member States. Not alone were several important fisheries becoming commercially unviable but there was increasing concern that many species were in danger of being fished down below safe biological limits. In a series of Communications and information documents²³, the Commission signaled its intention to move to multi-annual management plans which would take into account the need to conserve bio-diversity and minimize the impact on habitats. On 1 January 2002 the re-vamped Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was launched with the stated aim that it “shall ensure exploitation of living aquatic resources that provides sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions”¹.
Probably the most important contribution to the failure of earlier fisheries management was the combined effects of short-term and single-species approaches derived, mostly, from lack of good scientific data. It is now widely accepted that long-term sustainable resource management must factor in ecological and socio-economic elements in addition to transparent and logical governance. A move to this regimen marked a major shift in emphasis from the short-term, single species to a longer-term approach based on multi-annual plans targeting not one species but a group of interdependent species. It was also evident that many of those involved in the catching sector felt alienated to the extent they did not comply with rules they considered impracticable or inappropriate. On the other hand, many scientists and environmentalists were of the opinion that controls on capacity and effort were completely inadequate.
Management Resources
Among the resources available to the European Commission to push ahead with long-term management were the existing advisory bodies such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), which is an intergovernmental agency but independent of the EU, the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). The ACFA was originally created by the EU in 1971 but renewed in 1999 (Commission Decision No. 1999/478/EC) and in 2004 (Commission Decision No 2004/864/EC) and is composed of representatives of the fishing industry – catching, processing, trading, aquaculture and organizations representing consumer, environmental and developmental interests. The STECF was established in 1993 (Commission Decision No. 93/619/EC) and renewed in 2005 (Commission Decision No. 2005/629/EC); the STECF is composed of highly qualified scientific experts and produces an annual report on the current status of the fisheries resources, their development and any consequent economic implications.
Regional Advisory Councils
In its efforts to broaden the stakeholder base and give a wider perspective to its new consultative vision the EU also took the step of setting up seven Regional Advisory Councils (RACs).
The establishment of RACs is intended to increase the participation of those affected by the CFP in the fisheries management decision-making process. Essentially, RACs consist of a wide range of interest groups, the majority of which are from the fishing sector, setup to review regional implementation of the CFP. The European Commission and Member States' administrations are not members but have observer status.
Legislation in the form of Regulation 2371/2002 and Council Decision No 2004/585/EC provide guidance for their establishment and development and set out the links between RACs and the rest of the policy making structure. The remit of the RACs is
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To contribute to the CFP's goal of ensuring exploitation of living aquatic resources that provides sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. To this end they will (in particular) advise the Commission on matters of fisheries management in respect of certain sea areas or fishing zones.
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They shall be composed principally of fishermen and other representatives of interests affected by the CFP.
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A RAC shall cover sea areas falling under the jurisdiction of at least two Member States.
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RACs may:
(a) Submit recommendations and suggestions, of their own accord or at the request of the Commission or a Member State, on matters relating to fisheries management to the Commission or the Member State concerned;
(b) inform the Commission or the Member State concerned about problems relating to the implementation of Community rules and submit recommendations and suggestions addressing such problems to the Commission or the Member State concerned;
(c) Conduct any other activities necessary to fulfill their functions.
Recovery Plans
Recovery plans are an important component of long-term management strategies. Management plans can maintain stocks at safe biological levels if they are put in place before the stock reaches a critical level. However, some fish stocks are already in a dangerously depleted state due to a complex mix of overfishing, low numbers of fish surviving to a commercially acceptable size and, possibly, environmental factors. Cod stocks in EU waters are an example of this situation and measures have been put in place in an effort to halt and ultimately reverse this decline. Stock recovery plans contain a range of measures such as spatial and temporal closures, technical measures etc., but, to be effective, need to be in place for several years.
A vital ingredient of any recovery plan must be a detailed knowledge of the biology and habits of the species in question. Recovery plans for individual stocks cannot be applied on a “one size fits all” basis but research which can identify common factors in the decline of all fish stocks could be invaluable in planning and implementing future recovery plans.
Summaries
The summaries (Technical Leaflets) relating to long-term management and recovery plans include
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CODTRACE
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CODYSSEY
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UNCOVER
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WHESTER
References
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