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Report tears into Brussels fishing policy
By Andrew Bounds in
Brussels
Financial Times
Updated: 1:11 a.m. ET Sept. 27, 2007
Europe's fishing policy is "poor", with its waters among the most overfished
and the industry among the least profitable in the world, according to an
internal European Commission study.
The report by outside experts, obtained by the Financial Times, says
overcapacity, failure to stand up to special interests and a "command and
control" system in Brussels have left fish stocks in many areas on the brink
of collapse.
Recognising the dire situation, the Commission on Wednesday said it was
taking seven countries to court for failing to tell it how much endangered
Mediterranean tuna they had caught this year. France and Italy had almost
certainly exceeded their quota, officials said.
Brussels shut the EU tuna fishery last week and is likely to be punished by
international partners at a meeting in November by losing quota.
"The fisheries subject to the common fisheries policy suffer a much higher
rate of overfishing than occurs on average worldwide," says the report,
prepared by a US and European expert. About 80 per cent of EU stocks are
overfished, compared with 25 per cent worldwide.
"Over the past 25 years the European institutions have presided over an
unparalleled period of decline for Europe's fishing industries," wrote David
Symes, of the University of Hull, UK, blaming a lack of will by politicians
and bureaucrats to stand up to fishing interests.
Mike Sissenwine, ex-president of the International Council of the Seas, said
the US, Canada, Australia and other developed countries were much better at
conserving stocks and ensuring a return for fisherman.
The average profit of the EU fishing fleet was about 6.5 per cent compared
with up to 40 per cent in New Zealand, he said.
Mr Sissenwine wrote: "It is difficult to imagine how an organisation located
almost entirely in Brussels can deal with the diversity of fisheries and
coastal communities spread all over Europe."
Joe Borg, the fishing commissioner, is pushing reform against powerful
interests in member states. He wants to devolve more power to regional
councils of fishermen and government bodies and establish joint patrols to
step up enforcement.
Tellingly, the fishery director, Fokian Fotiadis, sent the report to staff
with a note forbidding them to circulate it. It will form the basis for a
review of the CFP over the coming months.
Copyright The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20999075/ |
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