CEO, Seafish
The European fish talks, that concluded on May 30 with a final vote now scheduled for June or July, are being hailed as good news for fisheries but there is still a long way to go.
Discards has been the hot topic under Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform and has generated the most headlines. The new discard policy, including the obligation to land all catches, will be introduced progressively from 2015 to 2019.
A "discard ban", however, is not a simple panacea to all industry's ills – discard management has to be part of a carefully thought-out package of measures.
The industry has already started to look at how to plan for a discards ban, and what legislative architecture needs to be put in place to deliver.
The industry really does have to work together; we have to get smarter about how we manage quota; we have to improve selectivity, we must do more to quantify the level of discards for both commercial and non-commercial species, and we have to create a better evidential base of the survival rates of various species both post-escape (from fishing gear) and post capture (discarded from the vessel).
To help industry work together the Seafish-facilitated Discard Action Group is the only UK cross-industry group addressing the discards issue from all perspectives and has become a key part of the dialogue. It is a prime example of an integrated, interdisciplinary, co-operative approach to the issue with representatives from right across the supply chain.
The proposed CFP reforms offer the opportunity for real improvement after years of political indecision, but this is highly complex and multi-faceted.
With the political will for change, and a more pragmatic approach, the industry can produce workable solutions, but this will mean a process of adaptation in terms of fishing operations in a relatively short time. There is still a lot of detail to be agreed on definitions and schedules.
We hope that the European Parliament will take due notice of what is needed to shape a new CFP, which will fulfil conservation objectives, as well as recognise the socio-economic impacts of the measures on business in the South West as well as the viability of the European fishing industry as a whole.