Institute of Fisheries Management welcomes moves to reform Common Fisheries Policy

News release from the Institute of Fisheries Management

The IFM warmly welcomes the content of the proposed reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Common Organisation of the Markets (CMO) in Fishery and Aquaculture Products.  The scale of the reform required became apparent in the responses to the 2009 Green Paper. The reforms proposed demonstrate a positive step forward.

Amongst the proposals, the Institute strongly supports any moves to reduce discarding particularly the obscenity of so-called ‘economic discarding’, but is concerned about exemptions for species with high survival rates or the possible promotion of measures that increase landings of juvenile or immature fish.

The Institute, in its response, highlighted the omission of consideration of requirements under the Water Framework Directive, which will have a considerable influence in local inshore fisheries management. Additionally, it appears that the interests of recreational sea anglers have been overlooked in the review. It is the view of the Institute that any holistic and sustainable future management regime must fully include the legitimate interests of all concerned, including recreational sea angling.

Steve Colclough, Chair of the Transitional and Marine Waters Specialist Section of the Institute, said “We hear a lot of talk today about the eco-system approach to marine management. This is a once in a decade opportunity to achieve a step-change in that direction, bringing clear benefits to the marine environment and all of the associated interests.”