On April 22nd 2009, the European Commission adopted its Green Paper for a reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and launch a consultation campaign to get reactions from those that will be affected.
The Commission has made available this edited video report to broadcasters to explain what is at stake.
“The fisheries of the European Union are indeed suffering from overexploitation of living aquatic resources, notably caused by the chronic overcapacity of the Community fishing fleet. This imbalance is the root of most of the problems in the sector: reduced catches, competition from imports, decreasing prices, economic vulnerability, lack of respect for regulations, etc.
The European Commission is launching a broad consultation within the sector to find a solution to this crisis.”
00:00:00
We are in the North Sea, on a British longliner targeting cod.
North Sea cod stocks are doing a little better. In 2005, this endangered stock was the first to benefit from a recovery plan covering several years, developed at the European level.
But the recently observed signs of recovery should not hide the reality of the situation. North Sea cod is still overexploited.
00:00:29
Graphics
As we can see from this graph, the fishing mortality remains significant. For decades now, catches have removed over 50% of the population every year, and are dominated by immature juveniles. Consequently, the cod population is decreasing and is currently well below the level scientists recommend should be maintained in the sea.
00:00:50
In its Green Paper calling for a reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, the Commission draws attention to this situation. Cod is by no means an exceptional case. Nine out of ten fish stocks exploited in the waters of the European Union are exploited beyond their capacity to regenerate. This is what is known as overfishing.
00:01:15
ITV Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs (in English):
We still have significant problems when it comes to overfishing most of the fish stocks in the Community waters are overfished, and we have significant problems with regard to overcapacity. In other words: we have too many vessels that are chasing too few fish. And we need to address this problem urgently because otherwise this situation can never be turned around.
00:01:40
The result is smaller and smaller catches and an unsustainable exploitation of the marine ecosystem. For fishermen, this means lower income, even losses, which make them dependent on State support and vulnerable to certain types of crisis, like that of fuel prices. This is exacerbated by their inability to ensure a regular supply to the market, which has deprived them of all influence in the fixing of selling prices.
00:02:10
Indeed, as the production of European fisheries has constantly decreased over the past half century, European consumption of sea products depends increasingly on imports, which represent 2/3 of todays market
00:02:24
The main priority of the Common Fisheries Policy reform is to put an end to the overcapacity of the fleet in order to end overexploitation and re-establish the viability of the sector.
To launch the reform, the Commission has just published its Green Paper. In it, the Commission paints a less than optimistic picture of the current situation. In its search for solutions, it asks not only for the opinion of actors within the sector, but also that of all European citizens. For it is clear that each of us can have relevant input on the issue.
00:02:58
ITV Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs :
It is through this consultation that we hope to address issues which are very relevant, for example: How to reduce capacity? How to eliminate discarding of fish? How to involve and responsibilise the fishers themselves, even more through for example results based management? These are the issues amongst others that we need to address if we can hope to have a sustainable stock and therefore a sustainable fishery.
00:03:28
The European Commission has made a promise: there will be no taboo subjects in the consultation process, which will last until the end of 2009. Fisheries affect fishermen, but also consumers and the environment. All aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy must be dealt with if this sector is to have a future in Europe. That is why the Commission is asking for the opinion of organisations and citizens interested in fishing, seafood and the health of our oceans.
00:04:03
END
Duration : 0:4:4
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March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
How are they non …
How are they non polluting?
March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
fish is the food of …
fish is the food of the future with bse ,bird flu ,pig flu oneday we will realise eating fish is healthy.and we will never catch all the fish in the sea a third of the earth is water.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
the fishermen in …
the fishermen in the video, are not the sole contributes to the thousands of fish cans you mention.
how can you generalise about an issue that is critical to so many coastal regions in Europe? when fishing is the ONLY source of employment in these often rural and isolated areas.
yes over fishing is taking place on species at an alarming rate in some parts of the world, but to place all fishermen in the one category of raping the oceans is unacceptable.
fishing is a tradition, not just a job
March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
who needs fish?
let …
who needs fish?
let them live, stop raping the earth!
Quorn, kangaroo, Chicken… and other non polluting substitutes are the future.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Agree, but now they …
Agree, but now they exploit the waters on Africa’s coasts and stealing the base for many poor African people. This is the cause of protectionist actions and fixed prices which have distorted the market and exploited the seas for decades. Greenpeace always prophesied that. Now they have to pay.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
fuck you fishers, …
you fishers, killing billions of endangered species every year, you go to a market you see those thousands and thousands of fish cans, that no one ever even buys!!
March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
These are harsh …
These are harsh news for us sea fish consumers, but the truth is seas simply cannot continue to provide for an increasing demand.
It’s aquaculture time.
March 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Results 1 – 10 of …
Results 1 – 10 of about 127,000 for al gore jeff fisher
The other day it was 112,000
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