European aquaculture should be developed in order to help meet the future demand for fish, EU fisheries ministers have said, reports Zoë Casey.
Meeting at an EU Fisheries Council in Luxembourg towards the end of June, ministers adopted a European Commission strategy on the sustainable development of aquaculture in the EU which aims to improve the competitiveness and management of the sector, as well as simplifying legislation and improving aquaculture's image.
Jakub Sebesta, Czech Agriculture Minister, said that the EU has not taken sufficient advantage of aquaculture. “World-wide, half of the fish consumed come from aquaculture, but in the EU it is only 11%”, he said.
Joe Borg, European Fisheries Commissioner, said the move would give “new political emphasis to the sector”, adding that EU aquaculture should be boosted in a way that is “sustainable in all respects”.
But Greenpeace hit back over the proposals, saying that the expansion of intensive aquaculture for species such as salmon and shrimp could lead to environmental degradation, and have a negative impact on wild fish populations. Farmed fish are fed on wild fish creating an “inefficient ratio of protein use”, Saskia Richartz, EU oceans policy advisor at Greenpeace said.
Ministers called on the Commission to draw up more concrete proposals by the end of the year, however the Commission said the plans would form part of the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Bluefin tuna success
At the same Fisheries Council, Commissioner Borg declared that the 2009 bluefin tuna fishing season in the Atlantic and Mediterranean has so far been a success and has not been marred by infringements of EU laws.
Purse seiners have respected the closure of the fishery since 15 June, he said. “I am very pleased with the commitment shown to responsible fishing”, he added.
Last year member states overshot their bluefin tuna quotas and the Commission accused France and Italy of illegally under-reporting their catches.
The change in 2009 could be attributed to increased sea patrols, satellite surveillance and reconnaissance flights carried out by the community Fisheries Control Agency, Commissioner Borg said.
