Jarc: There Is Room for Progress in Tackling Illegal Fishing

Brussels/Luxembourg, 14 April

Agriculture Minister Iztok Jarc said in Luxembourg on Monday after a meeting of EU ministers responsible for fisheries that opinions on the combat against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing were very different, adding that there was still room for progress.

"Slovenian EU presidency believes that enhanced coordination between the EU members and the European Commission can bring progress in this area," said Jarc. The scope of the regulation, the certification system for fisheries products, and administrative sanctions are the issues that remain open.
Regarding the scope of the regulation, the majority of ministers said that the activities of the EU vessels were already regulated by the EU legislation. The proposal for a regulation only needs to be harmonised with the existing regulation on control measures, the EU presidency said.
It added that the proposed fishery product import and export certification system should be adapted and simplified. "Some countries proposed that the certification system should be applied only to products which are more at risk of illegal fishing".
The ministers agreed that sanctions should be "severe and deterrent in nature". However, EU members expressed concern that the provisions on sanctions encroach upon the competence of the member states and that they are are harsher than those permitted by national legislations.
Jarc said after the meeting that "he would not like to discuss at this moment different approaches implemented by member state". Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg meanwhile said that measures for the combat against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing should involve all vessels regardless of their origin.
The ministers also unanimously adopted the regulation providing for the adaptation of cod fishing quotas for Poland. The important aspect is that Poland will repay the quotas exceeded and implement the National Action Plan on control and fleet restructuring in a consistent manner, said Jarc.
The ministers also exchanged views on the new plan for the recovery of five cod stock areas, presented by the Commission. The main purpose of the proposed regulation is to amend the cod recovery plan which has been in place since 2004 as it is no longer adequate.
Jarc said he was glad that even the member states for whom cod fishing is of great economic importance have taken a positive and constructive approach. On account of the great economic and social significance of cod fishing and the symbolic role of this species, we must make efforts to make the cod recovery plan work, he said.

Jarc: There Is Room for Progress in Tackling Illegal Fishing

More articles from this issue:

Archive