At the Informal Council of European Ministers in Lisbon

Planas proposed a debate on financing the renewal of the fishing fleet in light of the forthcoming CFP reform

2021.6.15

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The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas proposed that, in light of the talks that the Member States of the European Union (EU) must commence for the next reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), scheduled for 2023, a "calm debate" should be held on the possibility of financing the renewal of the EU fleet "in order to have modern, safe and efficient vessels without the need to increase fishing efforts".

According to Planas, the open process of reflection should aim to "guarantee the maintenance of a sustainable and competitive EU fisheries sector, which generates wealth and employment with a horizon of stability and future".

The minister highlighted some of the achievements of the 2013 reform, such as the application of Maximum Sustainable Yields (MSY) in most fish stocks, and the regionalisation of the CFP, in which he believes more progress needs to be made, taking into account the particularities of the different fisheries.

Planas pointed out that European fisheries production barely meets a third of consumer demand for products, and called for a reform that does not forget economic and social profitability and "that takes into account fishermen and their families". "Fishermen are the main interested parties in having healthy and productive oceans to ensure the continuity of their activity," the minister explained.

Among the challenges for the future that the reform should address, he cited the improvement of working conditions on boats, their safety and habitability, as well as promoting generational change in the sector.

Non official translation