..Seas at Risk
EMFF: Ticking time-bomb for the ocean
The European Parliament plenary voted today on how to spend approximately EUR 6 billion of European taxpayers’ money on ocean-linked activities under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2021-2027.
The decision to reintroduce subsidies for vessel construction sees the European Parliament encouraging the small-scale fleet, in particular in the Outermost Regions, to fuel fishing overcapacity. This is despite warnings that such a move will lead to overfishing in European waters. These subsidies were withdrawn in 2004 because of their disastrous impacts on European fish stocks.
“Today, the European Parliament decided to use taxpayers’ money to plunder our seas”, said Andrea Ripol, Fisheries Policy Officer of Seas At Risk. “Reintroducing harmful subsidies represents a dramatic step backwards in the fight against overfishing. We are still paying the consequences of past mistakes, with most European fish stocks now overfished and, in some fisheries, fleets two-three times larger than sustainable fishing would allow. Instead of learning from previous mistakes and safeguarding the future of our seas and the fishing trade, Members of the European Parliament chose to play politics, two months ahead of the European elections, by choosing short-term economic gain over the long-term survival of the fish stocks and marine ecosystems on which the fishing sector and our climate resilience depend.”
List of provisions in the adopted proposal that support the reintroduction of harmful subsidies:
- Article 13 introduces the possibility of financing new engines and other operations that may increase the fishing capacity of vessels.
- Article 16 introduces subsidies for the construction of new fishing vessels and replacement of engines for the small-scale fleet (<12m).
- Article 29 (new) introduces subsidies for the construction of new fishing vessels in the Outermost Regions, together with the subsidy for the acquisition of new engines. These new engines’ power may exceed that of those they replace. The EU previously phased out these types of subsidies in 2004.
- Article 17 reintroduces subsidies for the scrapping of old fishing vessels. While its intended purpose is to support vessels exiting the sector, thus tackling overcapacity, the European Court of Auditors identified this type of measure as controversial, pointing to the potential unintended effect of encouraging fishers to stay in business. The current EMFF phased out these types of subsidies from 31 December 2017.
- Article 18 allows for the possibility of paying fishers while they are not fishing and weakens the current conditions to access this type of subsidy. Although money for “temporary cessation” is often described as supporting conservation objectives, these schemes maintain excessive fishing capacity and the associated damaging environmental and economic effects, by artificially increasing profitability in the short-term.
On a positive note, in response to a recent citizens’ appeal, Members of the European Parliament have taken a significant step forward by opting to ringfence a generous proportion of the new EMFF for the protection of marine ecosystems. By contrast, the share of the fund dedicated to control and data collection – and ultimately guaranteeing sustainable fishing – is insufficient to be truly effective. This decision goes against the recognised need for more resources. Lack of sufficient funding means lack of effective enforcement, thus the likely proliferation of overfishing and destructive fisheries.
What’s next?
The Parliament will now use the adopted proposal as the basis for its negotiations with the European Council and the European Commission. Seas At Risk calls on all three institutions – particularly the European Council, whose position is as yet undecided – to agree a future-facing EMFF, one without harmful subsidies, that ensures truly sustainable fisheries and the protection of the ocean.
Background
The marine environment is facing unprecedented environmental degradation, as a result of pollution, unsustainable fishing and seabed destruction.
The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, is the financial instrument which aims to support the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Integrated Maritime Policy, as well as environmental legislation for the protection of the marine environment, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives. The programme runs for the 2021-2027 period.
