Moving with the Tide of the Tyne the social implications of the EU Common Fisheries Policy on the fishing community in North Shields, UK

Despite regular reforms, problems under the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) persist. In order to identify priorities for future reforms of the policy, we developed an analytical framework consisting of 17 criteria and specifying indicators, derived from scientific, wider fisheries, and common resources literature. We applied the framework to the CFP governance system, its regulations, institutions, and processes at EU as well as member state level. The results show that the CFP does not fully meet any of the 17 criteria for an effective resource policy. Its performance was assessed as “neutral” regarding 10 criteria and “negative” regarding seven criteria. Trend analysis shows that there is a slightly positive trend regarding the CFP's performance, with five criteria trending positively, 11 showing a neutral trend and only one criterion trending negatively (simplicity of rules). The analysis identified five criteria which are performing badly and have not improved over time: simplicity of rules, user‐pays principle, resource efficiency, accountability, and compliance mechanisms. Future reforms of the CFP should first and foremost address these criteria while continuing efforts to improve the CFP's performance regarding other criteria. The evaluation of the CFP demonstrates the applicability of the analytical framework which can also be applied to other multilevel fisheries governance systems. Moreover, the results can inform reforms of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. Like the CFP, these institutions manage transboundary fisheries and have not effectively addressed the issues of resource rent capture and resource efficiency.

The EU's fishing fleet engages in extensive fishing activities in the Exclusive Economic Zones of non‐EU countries as well as in areas beyond national jurisdiction. These activities are regulated by an external dimension in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). We review the relationship between the CFP, including regulations for the Sustainable Management of External Fishing Fleets (SMEFF) and the role of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), and the internationally agreed aims and definitions of sustainability provided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG that most directly relates to fish and fisheries is goal 14, to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans." This paper, however, focuses on relationships between the CFP and SDGs that target social and economic dimensions, including those aiming to eliminate poverty (1) and hunger (2), improve health (3), provide decent work and economic growth (8), and achieve gender equality (5) and peaceful institutions (16). We identify several areas where the EU's external fishing fleet interacts with different facets of those goals, and suggest some important improvements that can be made to support the development of the EU’s external fleet into a contributor, rather than counterforce, to sustainable development in line with commitments under Agenda 2030. We provide a first and broad overview of an important area for future interdisciplinary research. We conclude by identifying specific questions that can provide starting points for further in‐depth analyses of the sustainability of EU fishing activities in external waters.

This article is a study of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, focusing in particular on the restructuring of the European fishing fleet and the EU's structural fund aid made available to the fisheries sector to help deal with the problem of over-capacity. Four generations of MultiAnnual Guidance Programmes (MAGPs) for the fishing fleet have been adopted, which cover the period between 1983 and 2001, to deal with the problem of "too many fishing boats chasing too few fish" in the EU's maritime waters. By the end of 1996, only the UK and the Netherlands failed to meet their fleet-cutting target in terms of tonnage. Although the percentage of the structural funds provided by the EU to its Member States has been relatively small, the funds made available under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) has been used by the European Commission to compel certain Member States to meet the EU's fleet-cutting plan under MAGP.

This article is a study of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, focusing in particular on the restructuring of the European fishing fleet and the EU's structural fund aid made available to the fisheries sector to help deal with the problem of over-capacity. Four generations of MultiAnnual Guidance Programmes (MAGPs) for the fishing fleet have been adopted, which cover the period between 1983 and 2001, to deal with the problem of "too many fishing boats chasing too few fish" in the EU's maritime waters. By the end of 1996, only the UK and the Netherlands failed to meet their fleet-cutting target in terms of tonnage. Although the percentage of the structural funds provided by the EU to its Member States has been relatively small, the funds made available under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) has been used by the European Commission to compel certain Member States to meet the EU's fleet-cutting plan under MAGP.

Introduction The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world's most extensive biodiversity hotspots, yet its biodiversity is increasingly degraded due to environmental pressures and socio-economic activities, particularly fishing. Although a comprehensive policy framework exists to balance socio-economic needs with environmental protection, tensions persist due to limited integration among relevant policies and institutions. Mediterranean fisheries provide substantial socio-economic benefits, but overfishing remains a critical challenge. Against this background, this paper examines the integration of marine environmental and fisheries policies in the Mediterranean. Methods The study adopts a multi-scale case study approach, covering the full Mediterranean regional level and two national contexts: the Italian North Adriatic and the French Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It employs a mixed qualitative methodology combining literature and policy reviews with semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic research. The analysis focuses on coherence between European Union and regional Mediterranean policies, as well as their implementation at the national level in French Mediterranean and Italian northern Adriatic waters. Results The analysis identifies key challenges in policy alignment and persistent tensions between biodiversity conservation and fisheries management at the policy level. Both the EU's Common Fisheries Policy and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean incorporate environmental objectives and coordinate with environmental policies and institutions. However, this coherence at higher policy levels diminishes during implementation due to entrenched sectoral silos, power dynamics, varying levels of political will, and differences in available funding. Discussion These findings highlight ongoing difficulties in achieving effective marine policy coherence in the Mediterranean. The dilution of high-level policy alignment during implementation underscores the need for stronger enforcement, enhanced cross-sectoral coordination at both institutional and stakeholder levels, and more adaptive governance mechanisms. Addressing these issues is essential to better safeguard Mediterranean biodiversity while balancing socio-economic objectives.

Lordan, C., Ó Cuaig, M., Graham, N., and Rihan, D. 2011. The ups and downs of working with industry to collect fishery-dependent data: the Irish experience. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1670–1678. Working with the fishing industry to collect fishery-dependent data for scientific and advisory purposes is essential in most countries, but despite the many advantages of working with fishers, it is not without challenges. The objectives and the ups and downs of 16 recent projects in Ireland are described, and four case studies are discussed in detail. Some common themes that characterize both successful and unsuccessful experiences are identified. One critical aspect is industry's sometimes unrealistic time-horizons and expectations when engaging in scientific data collection. Detailed communication of objectives, procedures, results, and relevance not only to industry representatives, but also to vessel owners and crew, is required throughout the life cycle of a project. For some projects, there is a clear need to include incentives in the design, but for others this is less critical. The critical needs for ongoing quality control and assurance, validation of data, and appropriate project design are discussed, along with the link between successful management systems and participatory research. Finally, comment is provided on how the expected reforms of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy will place new demands on joint research.

The protection of the Baltic Sea ecosystem is exacerbated by the social, environmental and economic complexities of governing European fisheries. Increased stakeholder participation and knowledge integration are suggested to improve the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), suffering from legitimacy, credibility and compliance problems. As a result, the CFP was revised in 2002 to involve fisheries representatives, NGOs and other stakeholders through so called Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) in the policy process. We address the RAC's task to incorporate stakeholder knowledge into the EU's fisheries governance system in empirical and theoretical perspectives. Drawing on a four-stage governance concept we subsequently suggest that a basic problem is a mismatch between participation purpose (knowledge inclusion) and the governance stage at which RACs are formally positioned (evaluation of management proposals). We conclude that, if the aim is to broaden the knowledge base of fisheries management, stakeholders need to be included earlier in the governance process.

The EU fisheries management, almost since the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was first implemented in 1983, has been unable to reach its major objectives. Despite tremendous effort and resources having been invested in improving the performance of the CFP little impact can be found. The Commission has clearly expressed the short-comings of the CFP in connection with its revision in 1992 (CEC, 1991) and its reform in 2002 (CEC, 2001) and the up-coming reform of the CFP (CEC, 2009). This paper synthesis the complex social, economic and political system influenced by – or perhaps defined by-the CFP. It concludes by proposing to by changing the institutional structure of the CFP into a suite of de facto eco-region fisheries policies to overcome the present problems of having a common policy for an extremely fragmented sector as the tool to enhance regionalization and devolution of management responsibilities to the fishing industry.

Venue shifts and policy change in EU fisheries policy

Global marine biological diversity—A strategy for building conservation into decision making: Elliott A. Norse (editor), Island Press, Washington, DC, 1993, 383 pp., Cloth US $50.00, ISBN 1-55963-255-0, Paper US $27.50, ISBN 1-55963-256-9

Will regionalisation improve fisheries management in the EU? An analysis of the Swedish eel management plan reflects difficulties

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has developed into a useful methodology to assess energy consumption of fishing fleets and their derived seafood products, as well as the associated environmental burdens. In this study, however, the life cycle inventory data is used to provide a dimensionless ratio between energy inputs and the energy provided by the fish: the edible protein energy return on investment (ep-EROI). The main objective was to perform a critical comparison of seafood products landed in Galicia (NW Spain) in terms of ep-EROI. The combination of energy return on investment (EROI) with LCA, the latter having standardized mechanisms regarding data acquisition and system boundary delimitation, allowed a reduction of uncertainties in EROI estimations. Results allow a deeper understanding of the energy efficiency in the Galician fishing sector, showing that small pelagic species present the highest ep-EROI values if captured using specific fishing techniques. Finally, results are expected to provide useful guidelines for policy support in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

The fishing industry in Europe has been subjected to a range of national, international and, under the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, supranational systems of management. With overfishing still rife and conflict between fishermen commonplace, none of these systems has yet provided a political-geographical structure within which fishery resources are effectively managed. Therefore, the idea of devolving greater management responsibility to regional or local bodies such as Producer's Organisations (POs) is gaining ground. This paper introduces an additional regional dimension into the debate by examining whether the transnational "Atlantic Arc" concept has the potential to facilitate greater cooperation and less conflict among rival national groups of fishermen operating off the EU's western shores.

The aim of the paper is: 1) to determine the key changes in the evolution process of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Croatia’s fisheries policy and 2) to describe the structure and dynamics of macroeconomic and budget performance related to Croatian fisheries in the period 2007-2016. Two methods were used: the historical method and the descriptive analysis of macroeconomic performance and budget structure. The CFP was officially introduced in 1983, bringing the management of fisheries in all EU member states under one system. Its aims were: to resolve sea conflicts between member states, to provide stability to the fisheries sector, to prevent a total collapse of fish stocks and to provide higher quality of life to the fishermen. However, the CFP has constantly been criticized for poor enforcement of environmental measures and scientific recommendations, and for the lack of a common language between the EU institutions and local stakeholders. Both the European and Croatian fisheries sector faced many problems, especially during the transition period in the 1990s. Some of them included a serious decrease of catches, outdated technology and fisheries fleet, depletion of demersal species, lack of developmental trends in mariculture, absence of measures of rational exploitation and protection of economically significant species. The negotiation period was an opportunity for the fisheries sector in Croatia to adapt its goals, measures and stakeholders in order to achieve a more sustainable and internationally competitive fisheries sector in the future. The membership facilitates trade in the EU area, along with providing significant funding and technical assistance. The budget support structure and the existing policy framework point out an increase in the implementation of structural measures which should assist in an overall improvement of social, economic and environmental aspects of fisheries.

The serious overfishing of most Mediterranean stocks demands urgent reforms of the management measures aiming to guarantee the sustainability of resources, notably when compared with the improvement observed in other European areas. The new EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) constitutes an excellent opportunity to introduce the changes needed for such a reform. According to this CFP, all European fish stocks should be brought to a state where they can produce at MSY by 2020 at the latest. The CFP also establishes that the objective of sustainable exploitation should be achieved through multiannual plans (MAPs) adopted in consultation with relevant stakeholders having fisheries management interests such as fishermen, non-governmental organizations, and policy makers. Together with the MSY and MAP approaches, the new CFP contains several other measures, directed to guarantee the ecological and socio-economic sustainability of fisheries by means of the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM). With this new perspective, the CFP wants to avoid past failures of fisheries management based on monospecific approaches. This study is a first step toward the application of the EAFM in the Balearic Islands by means of the development of a harvest strategy with defined objectives, targets, limits, and clear management control rules aimed at optimizing socioeconomic and ecological objectives in the framework of the new CFP. Different management scenarios designed to achieve that goal were modeled for the main demersal commercial fisheries from the study area, the bottom trawl, and small-scale fisheries. The work begins with a general description of those fisheries, their main fishing grounds, and assessments of the exploitation status of the main target stocks in order to establish the current situation. Secondly, alternative management scenarios to maximize catch and profits while considering societal objectives were evaluated by means of bio-economic models. Thirdly, management measures were provided based on the previous modeling and discussions with stakeholders. Finally, a monitoring scheme was outlined to assess the progresses of the proposed management actions. This work is intended to be a working example of co-management (fishers, policy-makers, and scientists) in the Mediterranean in the framework of the new EU CFP