Frontpage » News

Estonia can be satisfied with the results of the Fisheries Council

At the meeting of the Government held today, an overview was provided of the results of the session of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council held this month in Luxemburg, where the Member States agreed on the general principles of the European fishing policy reform.

"The disputes of the latest Fisheries Council were very hot in the issues of reform, compromise was reached as late as 4:30 AM and several countries still disagreed. This goes to show how important is the field of fishing for many European countries, including Estonia," said the Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus.
 
According to the Minister, it was agreed that where possible, fish resources will be taken to a good level by 2015, while by 2020 it shall be done with all fish species. "It is a rather ambitious, but undoubtedly right objective to stop overfishing and manage the resources on the basis of research," the Minister said. The recent research data show that Estonian resources of Baltic herring and sprat are in a better condition than claimed until now by the commission. "We are constantly in contact with the commission and I believe that we can expect better results than in previous years in the quota negotiations this autumn," she added.
 
Also, by 2019 at the latest, the throw-back of dead fish into the water shall be ended for all species regulated with quota. At the Baltic Sea, the prohibition concerning sprat, Baltic herring and salmon will take effect in 2014. For other fish species, prohibition of throw-back will be established at the Baltic Sea from 2015. "This is an important step, because throw-back is a serious problem in various regions. In Estonia it has been prohibited  for years already, so in this issue we are well ahead of the other Member States," Pentus explained.
 
Furthermore, the European Commission is proposing a new system of transferable fishing rights, which would allow the Member States to decrease bureaucracy related to the register of fishing vessels, as the need will disappear for entry of everything into the legislation of the EU. Europe is also planning to make adoption of decisions related to fishing more regional, which would allow the Baltic Sea countries, for example, to resolve the local problems among themselves.
 
This is an unofficial agreement of the Council, to be introduced to the European Parliament. After the first revision in the parliament, a new discussion will be started in the Council, but then from the currently agreed common position. According to the plans, the EU fisheries reform should enter into force from the coming year.