56
3.3.1.2 Mitigation of a Basic Confl ict Through Long-Term Planning
In 2002, the EU’s CFP underwent a substantial reform process aimed to ensure
sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources. This was a landmark shift in EU
fi sheries governance. Since then, the conceptual basis for fi sheries management
under CFP is the maximum sustainable yield ( MSY ) principle, the precautionary
approach and the ecosystem approach to fi sheries management (EAFM). Key elements of this reform include (EC 2002 ):
– The adherence to the precautionary approach to protect and conserve living
aquatic resources and to minimise the impact of fi shing activities on marine
ecosystems
– Adoption of a more long-term approach to fi sheries management involving the
establishment of multi-annual recovery plans for stocks outside safe biological
limits and of multi-annual management plans for others stocks
– Reduction of fi shing effort as a fundamental tool in fi sheries management, notably in the context of multi-annual recovery plans
– Aim to progressively implement an ecosystem-based approach to fi sheries
management
– Increased involvement of the fi sheries industry and other groups affected by CFP
through the creation of stakeholder-led Regional Advisory Councils
Interviewees suggested that the move to a long-term approach to fi sheries management has mitigated (or has potential to mitigate) confl ict around TAC levels
between scientists and conservation groups on the one hand and fi shers and managers on the other hand. This confl ict arose because management decisions in the past
usually were only ‘moderately responsive to ICES advice in setting TACs’
(Patterson and Résimont 2007 ). Generally, ICES advice is an answer to the question: ‘How much fi sh can we take this year without running the risk of not having
enough left over for long-term exploitation?’ (cf. Wilson 2009 : 10). Over the last
two decades, as Wilson argues, the TAC fi nally decided upon by the Council of
Ministers is close to but not as much as ICES has advised. According to scientists,
conservation groups and also Commission staff interviewed, the TACs decided
upon are not based on carefully weighted biological and social and economic considerations. Instead, they claim that the divergence is due to putting short-term economic and social interests before long-term ecological imperatives. Short-term
decision-making along with poor enforcement is seen as the main cause for increased
stock depletion risk and economic risks for fi sheries and fi shers, an issue exhaustively discussed in the scientifi c literature (cf. Aps and Lassen 2010 ; Villassante
et al. 2011). Over the last 15 years, despite the growing importance of sustainable
development, it is believed by many including the media that scientifi c advice has
largely been ignored in European fi sheries (Wilson 2009 : 28). In recent years, however, there is some indication that TAC decisions by the Council of Ministers have
been more in line with scientifi c advice. As a result, the percentage of European
stocks considered as overfi shed has declined (Lassen 2009 , p. 6; EC 2012 ).
P. Sellke et al.
3.3.1.2 Mitigation of a Basic Confl ict Through Long-Term Planning
In 2002, the EU’s CFP underwent a substantial reform process aimed to ensure
sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources. This was a landmark shift in EU
fi sheries governance. Since then, the conceptual basis for fi sheries management
under CFP is the maximum sustainable yield ( MSY ) principle, the precautionary
approach and the ecosystem approach to fi sheries management (EAFM). Key elements of this reform include (EC 2002 ):
– The adherence to the precautionary approach to protect and conserve living
aquatic resources and to minimise the impact of fi shing activities on marine
ecosystems
– Adoption of a more long-term approach to fi sheries management involving the
establishment of multi-annual recovery plans for stocks outside safe biological
limits and of multi-annual management plans for others stocks
– Reduction of fi shing effort as a fundamental tool in fi sheries management, notably in the context of multi-annual recovery plans
– Aim to progressively implement an ecosystem-based approach to fi sheries
management
– Increased involvement of the fi sheries industry and other groups affected by CFP
through the creation of stakeholder-led Regional Advisory Councils
Interviewees suggested that the move to a long-term approach to fi sheries management has mitigated (or has potential to mitigate) confl ict around TAC levels
between scientists and conservation groups on the one hand and fi shers and managers on the other hand. This confl ict arose because management decisions in the past
usually were only ‘moderately responsive to ICES advice in setting TACs’
(Patterson and Résimont 2007 ). Generally, ICES advice is an answer to the question: ‘How much fi sh can we take this year without running the risk of not having
enough left over for long-term exploitation?’ (cf. Wilson 2009 : 10). Over the last
two decades, as Wilson argues, the TAC fi nally decided upon by the Council of
Ministers is close to but not as much as ICES has advised. According to scientists,
conservation groups and also Commission staff interviewed, the TACs decided
upon are not based on carefully weighted biological and social and economic considerations. Instead, they claim that the divergence is due to putting short-term economic and social interests before long-term ecological imperatives. Short-term
decision-making along with poor enforcement is seen as the main cause for increased
stock depletion risk and economic risks for fi sheries and fi shers, an issue exhaustively discussed in the scientifi c literature (cf. Aps and Lassen 2010 ; Villassante
et al. 2011). Over the last 15 years, despite the growing importance of sustainable
development, it is believed by many including the media that scientifi c advice has
largely been ignored in European fi sheries (Wilson 2009 : 28). In recent years, however, there is some indication that TAC decisions by the Council of Ministers have
been more in line with scientifi c advice. As a result, the percentage of European
stocks considered as overfi shed has declined (Lassen 2009 , p. 6; EC 2012 ).
P. Sellke et al.