european parliament committee on fisheries public hearing are transferable fishing concessions...
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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTEUROPEAN PARLIAMENTCommittee on Fisheries Committee on Fisheries
Public HearingPublic Hearing
Are Transferable Fishing ConcessionsAre Transferable Fishing Concessions
appropriate tools for addressing appropriate tools for addressing overcapacity and fleet management?overcapacity and fleet management?
24 April 2012 - 15.30 to 18.30Room ASP 1G3, Brussels
Sean O Donoghue Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation &
Federation Irish Fishermen
Are TFCs appropriate tools for Are TFCs appropriate tools for addressing overcapacity & addressing overcapacity & fleet management?fleet management?
Answer NOAnswer NO
WHY?
Socio Economic issuesMajor Problems Safeguard Measures
Definition Fishing OvercapacityFinancing Issues
Transferable Fishing ConcessionsReminder
Commission’s Proposal Key Elements
Mandatory obligation all Member States
Time limited 15 years
Applies vessels greater than 12 metres
Special Provisions regarding concessions
Transferable Fishing ConcessionsSocio-Economic Issues
Why is mandatory nature major Why is mandatory nature major problem?problem?
Concentration of ownership of quotasInternally within Member StateExternally across Member States
No longer economic benefit to local fishery dependant areas
Demise Fishing Communities Example Killybegs
Socio –Economic Issues
Fishing Effort All Countries Irish EEZ
Socio- Economic Issues
Killybegs Impact Assessment Killybegs Impact Assessment StudyStudy
Report commissioned by EC/DG Report commissioned by EC/DG MAREMARE
Fish / 2006 / 06 European Commission
Studies in the Field of the Common Fisheries Policy and Maritime Affairs
Lot 4: Impact Assessment Studies related to the CFP
Regional social and economic impacts of change in fisheries-dependent communities
March 2011
One of 24 case studies in 5 One of 24 case studies in 5 fisheries dependent areas.fisheries dependent areas.
Killybegs Turnover 82% Dependence on Killybegs Turnover 82% Dependence on Seafood Sector Seafood Sector EU average 11%EU average 11%
Killybegs Killybegs Employment 68% dependant Employment 68% dependant EU average 14%EU average 14%
Transferable Fishing ConcessionsSocio-Economic Issues
Why is mandatory nature major Why is mandatory nature major problem?problem?
Concentration of ownership of quotasInternally within Member StateExternally across Member States
No longer economic benefit to local fishery dependant areas
Demise Fishing Communities Example Killybegs
Social fabric of Fishing Community destroyed
Transferable Fishing ConcessionsMajor Problems Safeguard Measures
Ruling ECJ Factortame Cases 1991, C-213/89 & C-221/89
Cannot discriminate on nationally grounds
Provides possibility for economic link criteria
Transferable Fishing ConcessionsMajor Problems Safeguard Measures
Economic link criteria ineffective UK (Defra) review 2009 shows :
After implementation number economic link criteria over ten years
Benefit to the UK from foreign owned vessels 10% approx. turnover of foreign vessels
Once TFCs mandatory economic link criteria ineffective
Commission cannot guarantee otherwiseCourt Rulings & Treaty provisions exist
Definition Fishing Overcapacity
Not defined existing CFP or proposal Court of Auditors Special Report No 12. 2011“ Existing definitions of fishing capacity did not
adequately reflect the ability of vessels to catch fish; Fishing overcapacity had not been defined or quantified; Fleet capacity ceilings had little real effect on adapting fishing capacity of the fleet to fishing opportunities”
Definition Fishing Overcapacity
Equals economic overcapacityIs an individual fishing vessel economically viable with available fishing opportunities?
Complex & variableTFCs not solution
instead Targeted scrapping
Transferable Fishing ConcessionsFinancial Issues
Economic overcapacity Over capitalisation remaining
vesselsBank lending present climate Increased fishing pressure
Conclusion
Transferable Fishing Concessions are not appropriate tools for addressing overcapacity & fleet management
ENDEND.