EU Fisheries Ministers fail to support funding for an ambitious reform

In the early hours of this morning, Fisheries Ministers reached an agreement on a partial general approach on the Commission's proposal for a new European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF), replacing the existing European fisheries fund (EFF). This agreement allows subsidies for vessel modernisation (15% of the funds Member States can access through the EMFF to be used for fleet restructuring until 2017), new engines and to cover losses incurred by fishermen as a result of temporary fishery closures.

WWF believes that overall Fisheries Ministers failed by accepting a compromise package which does not support the objectives of an ambitious reform, ensuring that indeed EU public funding contributes to overcapacity and overfishing. Only five Member States (Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the UK and the Netherlands) opposed aid for modernisation and supported more aid for data collection and control. A majority of other Member States were in favour of modernisation as well as keeping EU financial support for the temporary cessation of fishing activities.

“Despite rhetoric on the need to stop current unsustainable fishing practices, EU governments are keeping to business-as-usual by using taxpayers money to subsidise a spate of destructive, unrealistic and unjustified fishing and aquaculture activities. EMFF funds should support measures aimed at improving data collection and scientific knowledge of fish stocks, promoting the dissemination and adoption of co-management approaches, use of selective fishing gears and ultimately improving the state of fish stocks and well-being of coastal communities and fishing industry. Governments should stop spending public money on destroying a public good – the fish in our oceans." said Dr. Sergi Tudela, Head of the Fisheries Programme at WWF Mediterranean.