EU Common Fisheries Research Articles

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

ABSTRACT The EU's common fisheries policy (CFP) has successfully reduced the size of the fishing fleet and the amount and type of fish landed. However, these interventions have had significant social consequences for fishers and their communities that are often overlooked. This article focuses on how social dynamics within fishing communities are shaped by the EU CFP, with a particular focus on the longstanding and well-known fishing town of North Shields in the UK. Ethnographic field research conducted between 2017 and 2020 reveals a significant exodus of fishers from the industry, with the remaining individuals experiencing dramatic changes in their lives. Their social relationships, identity, sense of place, and even the fabric of the town itself were profoundly affected. The findings will contribute to the development of more socially inclusive interventions and policy-making in the fisheries sector.

The European Union's fishing activity outside of European waters and the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract 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.

Evaluating fisheries systems: A comprehensive analytical framework and its application to the EU's Common Fisheries Policy

Abstract 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.

Edible Protein Energy Return on Investment Ratio (ep-EROI) for Spanish Seafood Products

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.

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

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

The ups and downs of working with industry to collect fishery-dependent data: the Irish experience

Abstract 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 Regional Advisory Councils: What is Their Potential to Incorporate Stakeholder Knowledge into Fisheries Governance?

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.

Venue shifts and policy change in EU fisheries policy

Venue shifts and policy change in EU fisheries policy

The Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union: Restructuring of the Fishing Fleet and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance

Abstract 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.

The Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union: Restructuring of the Fishing Fleet and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance

Abstract 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.

The Atlantic Arc concept : a step towards more cooperation and less conflict among european fishermen ? / Le concept d’Arc Atlantique : une étape vers plus de coopération et moins de conflits entre les pêcheurs européens ?

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.