EFTTA & EAA Back MEP Opposing Restrictions on Sea Anglers

The European Commission has proposed the EU Member States to adopt a new Control Regulation, with an Article 47, which could have a devastating impact on angling, tackle trade and other angling dependant businesses. The proposal might push Member States to introduce licenses for boats and anglers and to include anglers in the quota schemes.

West Country MEP Neil Parish (UK, Conservatives) - has written to both the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Joe Borg and Hilary Benn, the DEFRA Minister - expressing his concerns and asking for clarification as to whether sea anglers will be included in these proposals. He wrote: "To single out anglers and subject them to this kind of bureaucracy threatens the viability of a sport which contributes significantly to the West Country economy and will do nothing to address the current problems with fish stocks.

"Quite why anglers have been targeted is beyond me. Instead of targeting an innocent recreational activity, the European Commission should be looking at the real cause of the crisis in commercial fishing, namely the monstrosity which is the Common Fisheries Policy."

Irish politicians are up in arms, too. Fine Gael Tourism Spokesperson, Olivia Mitchell TD said: "EU proposals to impose catching quotas on pleasure angling will have zero impact on sustainability but are a direct attack on the Irish Angling Tourism Industry that is worth a bare minimum of €66 million."

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Fisheries Martin Ferris TD accused the EU Commission of 'losing the plot' on the management of fisheries. "It begs the question as to how the EU proposes to monitor the new measure. He said: "Will every angler be issued a quota of two trout or four pike every year? How many inspectors will monitor each angler? Will anglers be subject to the criminal sanctions imposed on commercial fishermen?".

"It is yet another example of the petty intrusion of the EU into people's lives in this country and another measure further calculated to damage the entire fishery sector both commercial and recreational."

EFTTA CEO, Jean Claude Bel cites a recent survey by BVA/IFREMER in France under the control of the authorities and with European subsides of €500k. It clearly demonstrates the minor socio-economic and touristic impact of recreational fishing - representing only 1% (11 000 tones) - compared to one million tons of mostly dead fish caught or released by the professional sector.

EFTTA expects more press releases in the near future from other MEPs and MPs when they become fully aware of the implications for anglers. European Parliament elections is this June. It wouldn't be wise for MEPs to neglect or oppose strong angling interests at this point in time.

Angling organisations all over Europe are approaching their national authorities and the European Anglers Alliance, EAA - with input from EFTTA - has delivered an initial response to the European Commission and Member States.The response includes ten recommendations, which EFTTA fully support:

1) – Delete Article 47 for now or exempt recreational angling from this proposed Regulation
2) – The Commission to show the evidence behind the claim that recreational fishing "… has an increasing influence on fish stocks and marine environment."
3) – Analyze legal status whether recreational fisheries is in or out of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) at present
4) – Discuss and decide the future status of recreational fisheries with regard to the CFP
5) – As part of the ongoing CFP review, in depth discussions and proposals for the recreational fisheries sector to achieve more recognition and better treatment with regard to the sectors needs and (sustainable) growth potential
6) – Provide more and better data on the recreational fisheries sector as a whole and separately for at least the two sub-sectors "Recreational Sea Angling" and "Other Recreational Fishing"
7) – Increase or re-allocate within the Commission budget to set up and run a genuine recreational fisheries unit with recreational fisheries expertise and capacity building
8) – Set up a 5th ACFA Working Group named "Recreational Fisheries: Access to fisheries resources, management of fishing activities, socio-economics and sector analysis"
9) – To investigate if and how ICES and the Member States today include recreational catches in their fishing mortality estimates with regards to setting and distribution of TACs and quotas
10) – To launch another consultation round on this proposed Regulation

Notes for editors:

EA’s Initial Response:
http://www.eaa-europe.eu/fileadmin/templates/uploads/CFP__EU_s_Common_Fisheries_Policy/EAA_Initial_Response_Art_47_response_FIN2.pdf
and the information note here: http://www.eaa-europe.eu/index.php?id=7
and here: http://www.eaa-europe.eu/index.php?id=105
Jan

ACFA = Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/governance/acfa_en.htm
ICES = International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) www.ices.dk

"MEP says no to restrictions on sea anglers", (MEP Neil Parish), 9 January 2009
http://www.devon24.co.uk/exmouthjournal/news/story.aspx?brand=EXJOnline&category=news&tBrand=devon24&tCategory=newsexj&itemid=DEED09

"Ferris: EU ‘losing plot’ on Fisheries", 16 Dec 2008 http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/36682

"EU Proposals Attack Irish Angling Tourism With Zero Impact on Sustainability", 16 Dec 2008, http://www.finegael.ie/news/index.cfm/type/details/nkey/36210/pkey/653
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PROPOSAL for a COUNCIL REGULATION establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, Brussels, 14.11.2008, COM(2008) 721 final, 2008/0216 (CNS). In all EU languages:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52008PC0721:EN:NOT

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT accompanying the Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy IMPACT ASSESSMENT {SEC(2008) 2760}:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SEC:2008:2760:FIN:EN:PDF
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