France has already exhausted its supply of fish
From this Tuesday, June 14, the fish will be on the shelves of foreign origin. In any case, this says a study published by the NGO OCEAN2012 and Nef (new economics foundation). Dubbed "the EU's growing dependence compared with fish from elsewhere," the survey said that from Tuesday, "We go fishing for fish other" because the reserves in the waters of the European Union are exhausted . For the Hexagon, "the date of self-sufficiency in marine products now comes six weeks earlier than in 2000." Without aquaculture, France even become dependent upon May 7
The country is obviously not the only one to get his fish outside EU waters. Further, where the fisheries sector is less developed, starting much earlier. This is the case of Austria, an enclave in the mountains, has to import from January 15, or of Germany (April 27)."It is surprising to note that this is also the case in some Member States with access to substantial EU marine waters, including Portugal (April 26), Italy (April 30), Spain ( May 8), "says the report.
Overall, the rate of self-sufficiency of the French following a downward trend common to all 27 EU countries. The average date on which member countries must import is currently July 2. "Last year was July 9, this indicates a decline of fishery resources in the EU of about 200,000 tons in twelve months," adds the study.
"We play with the future of stocks"
The French situation is, however, made more remarkable by the boom in demand for fish.The French consume twice as effects of seafood (34.2 kilograms per person per year) than the global average (17.1 pounds) according to 2008 figures from FAO and Eurostat, cited by study. The EU average stands at 22.1 pounds. "By eating more fish than the waters of the EU can not produce, we play with the future of fish stocks and communities dependent on fishing. We are risking the jobs and livelihoods, both within the EU and beyond, "says Rupert Crilly, co-author of the report no faxing payday loan.
"Fish stocks are a renewable resource. Yet, according to figures from the European Commission, we draw the fish faster than the stocks are able to rebuild, "says the study.The conclusion is clear: "In the EU, most of overexploited fish stocks is valued and many of them face a high risk of exhaustion."
Reforming the CFP
How then to match the ever increasing demand for and supply of fish within the EU? For the authors of the study, the answer is in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This must be reformed next year for an application to January 1, 2013. To put the stocks in good condition, OCEAN2012 therefore demands a review of access rights to resources for each country. "We should set up an evaluation grid with criteria such as environmental impact on the capture of juveniles, on the release of CO2, illegal catches," said Stephan Beaucher policy adviser for fishing OCEAN2012 and co-author of the study."The criteria are also social because 100 tonnes of fish can provide 15 permanent jobs." Based on this grid, a bonus-malus loaded weight of the fishing rights for the member countries would be established.
While waiting to present his ideas to the European Commission, the NGO has read the first draft of reform. It includes bans on ocean dumping, an objective of maximum sustainable yield by 2015 expected to provide only the surplus fishing stocks and the introduction of individual transferable fishing quotas between countries."We must focus on environmental sustainability but the Commission refuses to make this a priority," says Stephan Beaucher which provides that "power relations are being put in place and it'll be hot."
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