The European Commission today welcomed the report by the European Court of Auditors evaluating whether EU measures have contributed to adapting the capacity of EU fishing fleets to available fishing opportunities.
The Court concluded that current measures have failed. Overcapacity of the fishing fleet continues to be one of the main reasons for the failure of the Common Fisheries Policy in ensuring sustainable fisheries. A new approach may be needed or existing measures must be better enforced. The Commission shares most of the observations and the recommendations of the Court.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: “The report of the Court of Auditors reinforces my conviction that business as usual is not an option. We need new ideas. In our proposals for a new Common Fisheries Policy we want to break with the past.
"We are addressing overcapacity through a system of transferable fishing concessions at national level and with safeguards to avoid concentration of ownership. In the new financial instrument, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, we propose to no longer finance scrapping of vessels, but instead spend the money on projects which will make a real difference."
EU Measures Fail To Protect Fisheries
EU - Current measures to adapt the capacity of EU fishing fleets to available fishing opportunities have failed.
