On Wednesday (6 February) the European Parliament voted in favour of the European Commission''s proposal for a new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The approach put forward by the Commission was endorsed with a broad majority. 502 of the voting members supported a reform that will ensure that fish stocks are rebuilt above levels which can produce the Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2015, that discarding no longer happens in Europe and that European fisheries transition towards low impact fishing.
Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki said, "I welcome the vote and I am especially pleased with the Parliament's support for a policy that is based on exploiting fisheries resources sustainably (according to the principle of Maximum Sustainable Yield from 2015), a policy that introduces a discard ban with clear dates to put an end to wasteful practices that we can no longer afford. I would like to congratulate the Parliament on this success and I am looking forward to the work that the Council and the Parliament will soon start to ensure the adoption of the reform of the CFP."
The vote has also been welcomed by various organisations including WWF, Greenpeace, Oceana, and the Scottish Fisheries Federation.
“Today something truly exceptional has happened – the European Parliament voted for a strong fisheries reform to let our oceans recover and ensure the sustainability of fisheries in the EU,” said Roberto Ferrigno, Common Fisheries Policy Project Coordinator, WWF European Policy Office. “This is a triumph especially in these times of crisis and despite strong opposition from certain politicians with unsustainable industry interests”.
The Council of Fisheries ministers and the European Parliament will soon start negotiations, along with the Commission, to reconcile their respective positions and reach a final agreement on the reform by June 2013.
