European fisheries–Latest developments and future challenges (EUROPEAN FISHERIES) (39668)

Since the entry in force of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009 the EU Parliament (EP) exercises co-legislative powers in fisheries. The Committee of Fisheries of the EP (PECH) is responsible for diverse aspects of fisheries, comprising the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), structural policies, common organisation of the market, integrated maritime policy, and international fisheries agreements and relations. On this basis, the PECH has wished to commission a research study about recent developments and, particularly, concerning the prospective dimension of EU fisheries for three of the topics under its responsibility: fisheries management, common organisation of the market and external dimension. 

This research study constitute a reference document for the new EU Parliament members to familiarize with the complexity and technicalities of EU fisheries and the future challenges that will require policy attention. For addressing the study objectives, the project analyse and discuss current and future scenarios for the three topics within institutional and policy context. 

The aim is to discuss whether the current framework of the CFP is achieving its intended policy objectives and might withstand the global challenges of fisheries in the future. As a result of this analytical exercise, gaps of the current and planned policy are identified and highlighted. To achieve this objective, the analysis has build both on a general approach and on 10 specific Case Studies. 

DTU Aqua has mainly been involved in Topic 1 with the following Case Studies listed below with respect to Case, Sustainability Issues and Specific Issues. 

Topic 1 Fisheries Management: 
- Baltic Sea, Near collapse of the traditional cod fisheries, Rapid changes in the hydrodynamic conditions, poor productivity, increased seal predation;
- Mediterranean Sea (Adriatic), Strong decline of the small pelagic stocks, Scientific uncertainty on the dynamics of the stocks, Overcapacity and ineffective management; 
- Irish Sea / Celtic Sea, Several “zero catch advice” stocks, Mixed fisheries, bycatches and choke species, Relative stability.

Partners
DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources
Fundacion AZTI, Spain (coordinator)
Université de Bretagne Occidentale, France
Sakana Consultants, France
FishFix, Portugal

Funding
The project is funded by the European Commission.

Research area: Fisheries Management