Fischler verwacht veel van nieuw visserij-agentschap in het Spaanse Vigo (en)

On a visit to Vigo in Galicia today, Franz Fischler, Commissioner responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, welcomed the application of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) on the long-term approach to fish stock management and in strengthened control and enforcement. He also praised the Galician fishing sector for its efforts in tackling the effects of the oil spill from the Prestige oil tanker which sank off the Iberian Peninsula in November 2002, bringing fishing and aquaculture activities to a halt. Today, most of these activities have resumed. Financial support from the EU, amounting to € 95 million, helped to compensate loss of earnings as well to clean and replace damaged equipment and fishing gear. Mr Fischler welcomed the adoption by the December Council of the cod recovery plan which ushers in the application of long-term measures to stock management. He urged fishermen to look at the recently proposed recovery plan for southern hake and Norway lobster off the Iberian Peninsula as an investment in the future of their sector. Turning to the decision by the European Council to site the EU Inspection Agency in Spain, Mr Fischler said that this Agency would deliver the level-playing field that fishermen have long been calling for and encourage better compliance with CFP rules. The Commission intends to submit a proposal for the creation of the Agency in March. During his visit to Vigo, Mr Fischler met with representatives of the Galician fishing sector and visited the port of Vigo.

A new EU Control Agency in Vigo: Strengthening control and enforcement

Addressing one of the pillars of the CFP reform, strengthened enforcement, Mr Fischler welcomed the creation of an EU Fisheries Inspection Agency. He said that it was fitting that the Agency be located in Galicia, as it is one of the leading fishing regions of the Union.

Fishermen kept calling for a level-playing field. This is why the Commission had proposed the creation of this Agency which will play a crucial role in increasing consistency in control across the EU. Its multinational inspection teams will ensure mutual confidence in the uniform enforcement of CFP rules.

The tasks and mandates of the Agency will be defined in close co-operation with Member States. Its main task will be to ensure operational co-ordination of the deployment of the pooled national means of inspection and surveillance. Inspections will be assured by multinational teams according to inspection strategies, including the setting of benchmarks and common priorities, to be adopted by the Commission.

The Agency's activities will include the organisation of inspection and surveillance of licences, vessel characteristics, fishing activities on EU territory, in EU waters as well as in international and third country waters. The Agency will also co-ordinate inspections of landings.

The Commission intends to submit a proposal for the creation of the Agency in March. This proposal will then be debated by the Council and the European Parliament with adoption some time in 2004/2005. The Board and Director could be appointed in 2005 and the Agency's operations could start in 2006.

Experts from Member States will be closely involved in the setting up of this Agency and stakeholders will be consulted. A study was recently launched following the first meeting, on 15 January 2004, of the Steering Committee, involving national co-ordinators. This study will propose the arrangements for the operational functioning of the Agency.

Recovery plans

Turning to another pillar of the CFP reform, Mr Fischler welcomed the fact that the transition from short-term measures to long-term recovery and management plans could soon be implemented. At its December meeting, the Council adopted the Commission recovery plan for a number of cod stocks and reached political agreement on the plan for northern hake.

Furthermore, the Commission proposed a few weeks ago a recovery plan for sole, southern hake and Nephrops stocks off the Iberian Peninsula. Mr. Fischler stressed that these plans were important for the Galician vessels whose income depends on these stocks. A substantial part of the 9,000 Spanish vessels concerned by this proposed recovery plan are based in Galicia.

"I don't need to tell you that these stocks are in very poor shape. Inaction is not an option. It is our duty to ensure their recovery for the sake of the Galician industry and that of future generations. I therefore welcome the Council's declaration stating its desire for an early adoption of this plan. While it is true that there is no gain without pain, the plan proposed by the Commission will allow for a gradual reduction in fishing effort. The southern hake stock and Norway lobster stocks overlap to such an extent that the Commission proposes a similar reduction in fishing mortality of 10% per year", Fischler said.

Prestige

Mr Fischler recalled that only a year ago, the future looked bleak for the Galician fishing sector: the coast was heavily polluted by oil from the Prestige, the marine environment was ruined, local vessels were forced to stay in port and activities in aquaculture and shellfish harvesting were halted.

The Commission had immediately stepped in to help the 16,000 fishermen and 5,000 workers employed in aquaculture or shellfish harvesting whose livelihood was threatened by the oil spill. The Commission had proposed measures to compensate those affected on 19 December 2002. Underlining the sense of urgency, both the Council and the European Parliament gave the green light to the Commission's proposal the next day, Mr Fischler said.

A number of rules governing the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance were relaxed to extend the range and duration of aid. In addition, € 30 million were re-allocated from the fund that had been granted to the fleets which had to cease their fishing activities in the waters of Morocco when the EU agreement with this country was not renewed at the end of 1999. In all almost € 95 million of EU aid went to

compensate fishermen, fish and shellfish farmers forced temporarily to cease their activities

replace damaged fishing gear

clean, rebuild and repair affected fish and shellfish installations and

finance mussel restocking.