EU fishers slam nature restoration plans

Representative body, Europêche says it recognises the importance of protecting the environment but argues the law as proposed ‘will feed the overwhelming bureaucracy and NGO lobbies but not the people of Europe’.

The Commission has failed to provide any concrete data on the positive outcome for member states, alleges Europêche, but is instead relying on ‘theoretical gains and potential undocumented benefits’.

“The regulation should only entry into force when the Commission provides robust and scientific data on the impact the new law will have on food availability and prices, company costs as well as fishing grounds affected,” said Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche.

“It is a real shame that in the end policymakers decided not to sustain this approach.”

Europêche argues that the Commission’s stance is contradictory with its plan to restore 20% of marine areas despite its own assessment identifying less than 2% is in need.

“Member states will be spending time and millions of euros in artificially identifying and restoring areas that are not in need of restoration,” says Europêche. “The sector will likewise suffer the consequences of uncalled additional area closures.”

Also of concern is a lack of funding to support implementation of the regulation, at a time when the EU fishing sector is already under pressure from a challenging global economy and the need to decarbonise.

“New legislative ambitions require adequate funding,” said Voces. “The proposal does not guarantee the creation of a dedicated fund, without which, targets will be unattainable and the policy will fail.”