Sustainable fishing: Improving management

Improved fisheries management in Europe

In 2002 WWF's Stop Overfishing Campaign scored a major victory by helping to put environmental concerns and long-term resource sustainability at the heart of the EU’s fisheries policy.

A history of bad management
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was created in 1981 to manage the fisheries sector in the EU. But 20 years of inadequate quota systems, poor monitoring and enforcement, and inappropriate allocations of subsidies led to massive overfishing and destruction of the marine environment.

For example, in 2001 the European fleet was estimated to be 40% over capacity. As a result, two-thirds of the EU's commercially targeted fish populations are now over-exploited, with some on the verge of commercial extinction. And having fished out much of their own waters, EU fishing boats have moved to developing countries, where their destructive fishing practices continue today.

Long overdue reform
In 2001, the EU began to reform its CFP. WWF and others campaigned for a policy would avoid the mistakes of the past. Several changes were made that should lead to four major outcomes:

• reduced fishing capacity through the abolition of public aid (subsidies) for building new fishing boats after the end of 2004 and tougher conditions for subsidies for the modernization of old boats
  
  
• the incorporation of a more ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management through the introduction of recovery plans for threatened stocks and management plans for non-threatened stocks
  
  
• reduced fishing effort through increased premiums for the scrapping of vessels as part of fisheries recovery plans
  
  
• better promotion of sustainable development in developing countries through a new framework for negotiating fishing access agreements between the EU and other countries  
  

A good framework for sustainable fishing
The new CFP certainly sets out a framework that, if implemented properly, could lead to sustainable fishing and a healthy marine environment. The introduction of special recovery plans for endangered fish stocks and an end to subsidies for building yet more fishing boats are important successes for conservation.

The new ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management required now by the CFP should also ensure the precautionary approach is applied, through implementation of measures designed to ensure sustainable fishing and to minimize the impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems. A series of new measures for conservation and enforcement of the CFP also serve to protect the marine environment.

But weaknesses still exist
However, the effectiveness of the reformed CFP depends on the genuine commitment of EU member states to sustainable fishing. In the years since CFP reform, progress towards implementation has been disappointing. In addition, under current recovery plans for endangered stocks there is no obligation to reduce fishing effort. WWF believes that many stocks will not recover unless fishing pressure is reduced.

Work not over yet
WWF is campaigning for  the implementation of a number of specific CFP measures. These include ensuring that recovery plans are implemented for commercial European fish populations, and that long-term management plans are developed to ensure the sustainable management of fish populations. WWF is also monitoring the impacts of EU fishing access agreements on local economies and ecosystems, and supporting the EU in seeking coherence between the development and fisheries policies of the European Union.

Further information:

• Factsheet: WWF European Fisheries Initiative (pdf)
  
• Report: WWF manifesto for the review of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (2001; pdf)
  
• News: Stop overfishing or fishing will be over 
• Brochure: WWF's guidelines for successful fisheries recovery plans