kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

Europaudvalget 2018
KOM (2018) 0452
Offentligt

EUROPEAN

COMMISSION

Brussels, 11.6.2018

SWD(2018) 329 final

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

Accompanying the document

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION

on the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy and Consultation on the Fishing

Opportunities for 2019

{COM(2018) 452 final}

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

Contents

Contents ..................................................................................................................................... 1

I. State of stocks ......................................................................................................................... 2

II. Specific actions for the Mediterranean and Black Seas ...................................................... 13

III. Report on the balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities ....................... 16

IV. Economic performance of the EU fishing fleet ................................................................ 27

V. The implementation of the Landing Obligation .................................................................. 35

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I. State of stocks

This section explains in detail the progress made on achieving maximum sustainable yield

MSY

) and the situation of stocks.

1. Progress report

Each year, the Commission requests the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for

Fisheries (STECF) to measure the progress made on achieving F

MSY

in line with the

objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The exploitation rate relative to F

MSY

calculated by the STECF, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and

the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).

In line with recommended best practice, all historical data series have been updated. This

means that some new methods have been introduced, new science taken into account, and

new data added.

The main findings of the STECF technical report

are summarised below.

1.1 Knowledge of the state of stocks

1.1.1 ICES area

The number of stocks for which there is scientific advice about fishing mortality compared to

the fishing mortality that would lead to the MSY has remained stable in general at 66. The

slight decrease in the number of F

MSY

assessed stocks from 2015 to 2016 is due to a

methodological change made by the STECF, whereby stocks with less than 5 years of data

were not included in the analysis.

2018-XX_STECF XX-XX:

Monitoring the performance of the Common Fisheries Policy (WP).

Reference to the ICES area or "North-East Atlantic" covers FAO area 27 and includes the waters of the Baltic

Sea, North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and adjacent waters.

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Figure 1 Number of stocks in the ICES area for which estimates of F/F

MSY

are available

by year

Table 1 Number of stocks in the ICES area for which estimates of F/F

MSY

are available by

ecoregion and year

Ecoregion

ALL

Baltic Sea

BoBiscay & Iberia

Celtic Seas

Greater North Sea

Widely distributed

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

1.1.2. Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea

In the Mediterranean and Black Sea, there was a strong increasing trend in the number of

stocks assessed between 2003 and 2009, up from 22 to 47; the number of stock assessments

remained stable until 2014, then decreased to 39 in 2015 and 21 in 2016. For 2016, there are

no results for any of the GFCM stock assessments and the indicator values for 2016 are based

on the results of only 22 stock assessments. As a result, the values are not comparable with

those of previous years. Hence in Figure 2, the 2016 value is represented as stand-alone, and

the indicators are plotted up to 2015 only.

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

Figure 2 Number of stock assessments in the Mediterranean a and Black Sea by year.

The totals include stocks in the following GSAs only: 1, 5-7, 9, 10-19, 22-23, 25 and 29.

1.2. Fishing compared to the maximum sustainable yield rate (F

MSY

)

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1.2.1

North-East Atlantic

On trends in F/F

MSY,

fishing pressure in the ICES area is decreasing steadily with the

indicator value close to 1 in 2016; this means that over all stocks, on average, the exploitation

levels are close to F

MSY

. In the ICES area, among the 65 to 71 stocks that are fully assessed

over the years, the proportion of overexploited stocks decreased from more than 70% to close

to 40% over the last 10 years.

Figure 3 F/F

MSY

trend

Figure 4 Number of stocks by year for which fishing mortality (F) exceeded F

MSY

Figure 5 Number of stocks by year and ecoregion for which fishing mortality (F)

exceeded F

MSY

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Table 2. Number of stocks by year and ecoregion for which fishing mortality (F)

exceeded F

MSY

Ecoregion

ALL

Baltic Sea

BoBiscay & Iberia

Celtic Seas

Greater North Sea

Widely distributed

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Figure 6 Number of stocks by year for which fishing mortality (F) did not exceed F

MSY

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Figure 7 Number of stocks by year and ecoregion for which fishing mortality (F) did not

exceed F

MSY

Table 3 Number of stocks by year and ecoregion for which fishing mortality (F) did not

exceed F

MSY

Ecoregion

ALL

Baltic Sea

BoBiscay & Iberia

Celtic Seas

Greater North Sea

Widely distributed

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

1.2.2. Mediterranean and Black Seas

In the Mediterranean and Black Sea, the trends in F/F

MSY

show a median level slightly

varying around 2.3 from 2003 to 2015, with no decreasing trend.

Figure 8 F/F

MSY

trend

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1.3 Biomass trends

In ICES area

the Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) has been genereally increasing since

2006 and was around 39% higher on average in 2016 than in 2003.

Figure 9 Trend in SSB relative to 2003 in the North East Atlantic

Reference to the ICES area or "North-East Atlantic" covers FAO area 27 and includes the waters of the Baltic

Sea, North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and adjacent waters.

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For the Mediterranean and Black Seas,

the level of uncertainty makes it difficult to

conclude anything about trend. The situation remains more or less unchanged since the start

of the series in 2003.

Figure 10 SSB trend relative to 2003 in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

In outermost regions,

the Commission has identified

the need for Member States to set up

the collection of fisheries scientific data and adopt management measures in line with the

CFP to ensure the long-term

sustainable development of Outermost regions’ fisheries.

2. Setting fishing opportunities

For 2018 the number of total allowables catches (TACs) set in line with F

MSY

increased from

44 in 2017 to 53

in 2018, representing 69% of the F

MSY

assessed TACs fished in the North-

East Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea. Of the overall expected catches for 2018, around

12% do not have F

MSY

advice, but are assessed by ICES based on precautionary advice.

During the discussions with Member States socio-economic considerations have been taken

into account, with Member States sending detailed submissions to the Commission.

Communication on “A stronger and renewed partnership with the EU’s Outermost regions”, COM(2017)623

final of 24.10.2017.

A TAC is considered in line with MSY if it is at or below the MSY TAC advised by ICES and if its biomass is

above Btrigger. An example of a TAC not listed on the MSY list in 2018 is western Baltic cod, Although the

TAC is in line with MSY 2018, its biomass is below Btrigger.

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Table 4: TACs with F

MSY

advice (volume)

TACs with MSY advice (volume)

2010

2012

2013

2014

% share of TACs in

50%

45%

49%

48%

line with MSY advice

(volume)

% share of TACs not

in line with MSY

22%

23%

21%

22%

advice (volume)

% share of TACs

28%

33%

30%

without MSY advice

2015

51%

2016

55%

2017

61%

2018

60%

20%

29%

20%

25%

19%

20%

27%

13%

Table 5: TACs with F

MSY

advice (volume in tonnes)

EU stocks

Total TAC volume

(MSY assessed stocks)

TAC volume fished at

MSY

TAC volume not fished

at F

MSY

% fished at F

MSY

% not fished at F

MSY

1.613.861

1.567.277

46.584

97%

EU/NO jointly

managed stocks Coastal state stocks

773.444

632.999

140.445

82%

18%

891.474

28.319

863.151

97%

Total

3.278.779

2.228.595

1.043.583

69%

31%

Table 6: Number of TACs with F

MSY

advice

Number of TACs with MSY advice

2005

TACs with MSY

advice

TACs set in

accordance with or

lower than advice

TACs set above

advice

% of TACs in

accordance with or

lower than advice

2007

2008

12%

2009

14%

2010

28%

2011

37%

2012

53%

2013

61%

2014

59%

2015

58%

2016

50%

2017

59%

2018

71%

Figures for 2005-2017 are taken from previous Communications.

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The following paints a more detailed picture for each sea basin:



The

Baltic Sea

is the sea basin with the longest experience of Member States and

stakeholders working together on fisheries management measures in regionalisation.

Considerable effort has been put into developing new gears and putting them in place

through joint recommendations that are sent to the Commission. The result of the

commitment of stakeholders and Member States to sustainable fisheries management can

be seen in the responsible decisions taken on the TACs for 2018. These followed the

Baltic Sea multiannual plan with 7 out of 8 TACs, for which we receive F

MSY

advice set in

line with F

MSY

. In terms of volume of landings this means thatv 95% of the total catch in

the Baltic Sea is from sustainably managed stocks in line with F

MSY

, while 4% is from

TACs where we have precautionary advice.

Herring and sprat were set in line with F

MSY

, and the TAC for the main basin salmon was

set below F

MSY

. The TAC for western cod was rolled over for 2018. TAC reductions were

adopted for eastern cod (-8%) and Gulf of Riga herring (-7%) under the precautionary

approach, and for Gulf of Finland salmon (-5%). The main basin salmon TAC follows the

MSY

approach and is kept at a low level to help improve stocks in the weakest salmon

rivers. In 2017, the Torneälven river was found to have the largest returns of wild Atlantic

salmon in the world, thanks to sustainable management.



In the

North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat,

for the F

MSY

assessed stocks that are

managed by the EU alone, 99.7% of expected landings are from sustainably managed

stocks. Thanks to the F

MSY

successes in the North Sea we increased TACs for cod in the

North Sea by 10% and in the Skagerrak by 39%. Thanks to F

MSY

management TACs were

increased for nephrops by 22% and for haddock by 23%. The TAC for sole was decreased

by 4%. These examples of F

MSY

management translate into higher and sustainable

incomes for the fishing industry. Turbot and brill represent another positive development

with the combined TAC increased by 44 % in line with scientific advice.

North-Western Waters,

for the F

MSY

assessed stocks that are managed by the EU

alone, 94% of the expected landings are from sustainably managed stocks.

This sea basin also boasts important success stories that poove that we are on the right

track. Examples are sole stocks in the Channel, where TACs increased by 2 % for the

Western Channel and by 25% for the Eastern Channel in line with F

MSY

in 2018. The

positive development for Eastern Channel sole is a major achievement of the Advisory

Council, who agreed a management approach for this stock in 2015. It is thanks to this

that Eastern Channel sole is nowadays a F

MSY

success story. Northern hake continues to be

the biggest demersal TAC and was decreased by 7% to keep it in line with F

MSY

There was also a significant improvement in the Celtic Sea, with the TAC for cod

increasing by 9% and being managed in line with F

MSY

in 2018. However, cod is also part

of a wider mixed fishery, where the setting of fishing opportunities for other stocks such

as haddock and whiting remains challenging. Improvements are needed to increase

selectivity as part of the package to prevent the early disruption of fishing opportunities

with the implementation of the landing obligation in 2019. Seabass management has been



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challenging, with further, worrying decreases in the stock biomass; this calls for even

more restrictive measures on both commercial fishing and recreational angling. While

stringent in the short-term, these measures agreed at the Council should allow this iconic

species to recover.

The

nephrops

fishery in the Celtic Sea is another F

MSY

success story with an increase of

TAC by 15% in the Irish and Celtic Seas. In the Irish Sea there was also a positive story

in the recovery of cod, which has seen a 376% increase in the TAC in line with F

MSY

after

several years of low biomass. Haddock and herring will also be fished at F

MSY

with a 23%

and 70% increase respectively in their TACs. All of these increases again translate

directly into higher and sustainable incomes for the fishing industry.



For

South-Western Waters,

of the F

MSY

assessed stocks that are managed by the EU

alone, 90% of expected landings come from sustainably managed stocks. An important

success story for this sea basin is the Advisory Council management approach to Bay of

Biscay sole which delivered a 6% increase in the TAC and a first ever listing of F

MSY

thanks to the efforts of the stakeholders. TACs were agreed in line with F

MSY

for Iberian

anglerfish and horse mackerel, Bay of Biscay anglerfish and horse mackerel, nephrops,

sole and megrim. The TACs for horse mackerel and megrim in the Bay of Biscay were

increased by 20% and 21% respectively in line with F

MSY

. For megrim and Norway

lobster in the Bay of Biscay, both TACs were reduced in line with scientific advice to

maintain F

MSY

status, as was the TAC for Iberian waters horse mackerel (-20%). Southern

hake saw a 12% decrease in the TAC with the aim of achieving F

MSY

in 2019. Anchovy

and anglerfish in the Bay of Biscay continue to be fished sustainably with unchanged

TAC levels. All of the increases again translate into higher and sustainable incomes for

the fishing industry.

For

deep-sea stocks,

fishing opportunities make up less than 1% of all landings in the

EU. They are fixed under a two-year cycle and TACs were set in November 2016 for

2017 and 2018. Roundnose grenadier in North Western Waters, was set in accordance

with F

MSY

. All other stocks are data- or assessment-limited.

For

stocks subject to Coastal States consultations

1 out of 10 TACs, for which we

receive F

MSY

advice, are set in line with F

MSY

, namely Atlanto-Scandian herring. This

represents 3% in terms of volume of landings of all Coastal States TACs. While

achieving F

MSY

by 2020 for all Coastal States stocks will be difficult, it is the

Commission's objective to make as much progress as possible together with our

international partners the Faroe Islands, Norway and Russia on achieving F

MSY

also for

these stocks.



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II. Specific actions for the Mediterranean and Black Seas

In recent years the Commission has stepped-up its efforts to advance towards sustainable

exploitation levels of marine resources in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, which are

threatened by intense overfishing. In particular, the signature of the

‘Malta MedFish4Ever

Declaration’

in March 2017 created a new strategic framework for fisheries governance in

the region and a set of five actions with measurable deliverables for the next 10 years

Increased cooperation and political engagement enshrined in the Declaration have also helped

make concrete progress.

The main achievements are summarized below.

A. Within the framework of the GFCM

At the 41st session of the GFCM (October 2017, Montenegro), 8 EU proposals were adopted

as binding recommendations. The adopted proposals covered three main areas: fisheries

conservation, control and Illegal, Unreported and Uregulated (IUU) fishing activities and data

collection. This includes:



On fisheries conservation: (i) a regional adaptive management plan for the

exploitation of red coral in the Mediterranean Sea; (ii) a fisheries restricted area

in the Jabuka/Pomo Pit in the Adriatic Sea; (iii) the management of blackspot

seabream fisheries in the Alboran Sea; and (iv) a multiannual management plan

for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea.



On control and IUU activities: (v) the implementation of an international joint

inspection and surveillance scheme outside the waters under national

jurisdiction of the Strait of Sicily

–

to complement the multiannual plan adopted

in 2016; (vi) the implementation of a regional plan of action to combat IUU

fishing in the GFCM area of application.



On data collection: (vii) the submission of data on fishing activities in the

GFCM area of application; and (viii) the reporting of aquaculture data.

In addition, the GFCM adopted a set of resolutions, in particular a regional strategy for the

sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, a network of

essential fish habitats and the creation of a permanent working group on vulnerable marine

ecosystems.

B. At EU level

Important steps were also taken at EU level to strengthen the implementation of the CFP in

the Mediterranean and Black Seas. This includes work on MAPs and discard plans,

improving the implementation of the Mediterranean Regulation in line with the objectives of

the CFP and strengthening enforcement and control. Member States have also launched some

encouraging initiatives to ensure sustainable fisheries also in these basins.

Malta MedFish4Ever Ministerial Declaration. Ministerial conference on the sustainability of

Mediterranean fisheries (Malta, 30 March 2017).

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

Rollout of MAPs and discard plans

In the last year, the Commission has proposed two MAPs: one for small pelagic stocks in the

Adriatic Sea, which was adopted in February 2017

and is currently being discussed with the

co-legislators; and one for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western

Mediterranean Sea

, which was adopted in March 2018. The Western Mediterranean plan sets

MSY

ranges and conservation reference points for the main demersal stocks,

i.e.

hake, red

mullet, deep-water rose shrimp, Norway lobster, giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp. In

line with a broad stakeholder consultation, the proposal introduces a fishing effort regime at

EU level for all trawls exploiting the concerned stocks. It is also complemented with

technical conservation measures such as closure areas. As with previous plans, this proposal

introduces provisions for the implementation of the landing obligation and regionalisation.

On discard plans, in 2017 the Commission extended the discard plan for demersal fisheries in

the Mediterranean, in term of species, area and fishing gears. In addition, the

de minimis

exemption to the landing obligation for certain small pelagic fisheries in the Mediterranean

has been renewed.



Improving the implementation of the Mediterranean Regulation

On the implementation of the Mediterranean Regulation, our focus is to align the national

management plans adopted under this Regulation

with the last CFP. In 2017, five national

management plans were reviewed by STECF and aligned to the extent possible with the CFP.

These include plans for fisheries conducted with boat seines, shore seines, gangui and small

purse seines in Croatia, France, Greece and Spain. This process will accelerate in 2018,

where we expect another 20 plans to be updated for the fisheries conducted by trawls and

purse seiners.



Strengthening enforcement and control

Given the importance of control and inspection activities in the Mediterranean and in

particular for the fisheries subject to multi-annual plans, Commission implementing Decision

2014/156/EU establishing a specific control and inspection programme (SCIP) has been

amended and enlarged to incorporate the fishery exploiting hake and deep-water rose shrimp

in the Strait of Sicily

COM(2017)097. Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multi-

annual plan for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks.

COM(2018) 115 final. Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a

multi-annual plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea

Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 (OJ L 36, 8.2.2007, p. 6).

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/17 of 5 January 2018 amending Implementing Decision

2014/156/EU establishing a specific control and inspection programme for fisheries exploiting stocks of bluefin

tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, swordfish in the Mediterranean and for fisheries exploiting

stocks of sardine and anchovy in the Northern Adriatic Sea (notified under document C(2017) 8687) (OJ L 4,

9.1.2018, p. 20).

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In addition, joint campaigns coordinated by the European Fisheries Control Agency have

been stepped up in 2017 (from 482 inspections in 2014

–

dedicated to bluefin tuna

–

2,855 inspections in 2017

–dedicated

to bluefin tuna, swordfish, albacore, small pelagics in

the Adriatic Sea and demersal species in the Strait of Sicily)



Member States initiatives

With the support of the Commission, Member States have adopted transitional management

measures at national level. For example, the French and Spanish national administrations, in

close coordination with stakeholders, agreed on common spatial measures for the

conservation of hake in the Gulf of Lion last November 2017.

EFCA activities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (direct link here).

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III. Report on the balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities

In line with Article 22(4) of Regulation 1380/2013 (the CFP Regulation), the

Commission must report annually to the European Parliament and to the Council on

the balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities, taking into account the

assessment by the STECF.

This report covers the year 2016. It assesses the annual capacity of all the EU fleet

segments

based on the information included in the Member States’ reports submitted

to the Commission in 2017

. These reports must follow the common guidelines

adopted by the Commission in 2014

and, for the fleet segments for which structural

overcapacity has been identified, they must contain an action plan. The action plan

must set out the adjustment targets, tools and a clear time-frame for its

implementation.

The submission of the annual fleet reports is an ex-ante conditionality under European

Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

. Not submitting the annual fleet report and /or

failing to implement the action plan could result in a proportionate suspension or

interruption of relevant EU financial assistance to the Member States for the fleet

segments concerned as provided by the EMFF Regulation.

1. Member States' annual reports and action plans

All 23 coastal Member States submitted their reports to the Commission for 2016, 13

of which include an action plan

. The Commission requested STECF to:



tassess balance indicators for all EU Member States fleet segments;



review national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance

between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities; and



assess action plans submitted for fleet segments where Member States

identified structural overcapacity.

The data used to compile the various indicators were collected under the Data

Collection Framework (DCF)

. All balance indicators provided and used in the

Article 22(2) Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December

2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No

1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision

2004/585/EC, OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22.

Guidelines for the analysis of the balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities according to Art

22 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council on the Common Fisheries

Policy, COM(2014) 545 final.

See Annex IV of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing

Council Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and

Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 149, 20.05.2014, p. 1.

Three (Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania) Member States made amendments to the previous year’s action plan

and ten (France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the UK) provided new

action plans.

Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of European Parliament and the Council on the establishment of a Union

framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific

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STECF Expert Working Group (EWG) 16-09 were calculated in accordance with the

2014 Commission Guidelines, which provide a common approach for estimating the

balance over time between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities. Regarding the

coverage of the data, the STECF concluded that, overall, there has been an

improvement in the data quality and coverage compared to previous years despite

some discrepancies.

Concerning the fleet segment coverage, the STECF noted that some of the indicators

could not be calculated for all fleet segments. This is either due to lack of data or, in

the case of economic and technical indicators, due to clustering of segments (done to

protect commercial confidentiality). Data deficiencies led to difficulties in the

calculation of balance indicators for fleet segments, making them unreliable or non-

representative. In some cases, only landings in weight were provided without the

corresponding landed values for all active fleet segments reported by a Member State.

The STECF analysis also confirmed a significant number of inactive vessels,

especially in the fleet segments with vessels under 10 m (small-scale costal fleets),

where many vessels are only used part-time and fishing is often not the only source of

income.

Since the entry into force of new CFP, 20 Member States

have identified, using

biological, economic or technical indicators and/or supplementary information, fleet

segments with fishing capacity not effectively balanced with fishing opportunities, or

showing latent signs of being imbalanced. Only three Member States concluded that

no fleet segments clearly demonstrated imbalance and did not submit action plans

advice regarding the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008, OJ 157,

20.06.2017, p. 1.

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,

Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

Estonia, Finland and Netherlands.

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Active fleet segments out of balance

Member

States

Total

number

of active

fleet

segment

Number of

fleet

segments

assesssed

Number of

fleet segment

out of

balance

Percentage of fleet

segment assessed

out of balance (%)

Area 27

Atlantic

Northeasat

Area 37

Mediterrea

n and

Blach Sea

CY*

GR*

Tot

625

227

165

100

55.2

100

33.3

100

83.3

100

72.4

43.5

No fleet segment was assessed, either due to the lack of data or because the available data are not considered

representative.

To address situations of imbalance, Member States proposed a variety of management

tools in their action plans including:

fleet measures

(ban of new vessels, fleet conversion, reduction of the fishing

capacity, permanent or temporary cessation of activities and modernisation of

fishing fleet);

technical measures

(monitoring of landings, more selectivity or energy-

efficient gear, permitting schemes for certain fisheries, space and time-related

fishing restrictions);

economic measures

(support for development of marketing initiatives or

assistance to improve competitiveness); and

other measures,

such as measures to improve the cost-effectiveness of fishing

vessels and safety at work on board; monitoring of landing through weighing

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of fishery products on automatic weighing and labelling machines; fishery

inspection measures; real time closures; support measures in the EMFF

Operational Programme (assistance for small-scale fleet vessels to meet

requirements of the landing obligation, transposition of the legal requirements

of the new CFP to promote a positive investment climate within the fishing

industry, reduction of fleet activity

Support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of

vessels was eligible for funding under the EMFF until 31 December 2017 only for the

fleet segments considered not in balance. In 2016, Member States used permanent

cessation measures to decommission vessels from their fleet and reduce capacity.

According to the annual implementation reports for 2016, 147 fishing vessels were

decommissioned with public support, with a total public expenditure (certified

payment) of almost EUR 342 million, of which EUR 171 million came from the

EMFF.

See STECF-17-18, p.109-134.

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2. T

VERALL

APACITY OF THE

EU F

ISHING

LEET

As of December 2017, 82.912 vessels were registered in the EU fleet register with an

overall capacity of 1.487,983 in gross tonnage (GT) and 5.763,933 in kilowatts (KW).

This shows a reduction in 2017 of 1.45% in number of vessels, 6,54% in KW and

9.59% in GT. The fishing capacity of the EU fleet was 19,51 % below the capacity

ceilings for tonnage and 13,14 % below the power ceilings. Scrapping has contributed

to these results.

The Commission attaches great importance to the accuracy of the information

recorded in the EU fleet register. To this end, on 6 February 2017, it adopted a new

regulation on the Union fishing fleet register

. This regulation introduces a new

procedure that guarantees the update of the EU fleet register in real time. It gives the

Commission the possibility to check the correctness and correspondence between the

data submitted by Member State for any event and the data included in the snapshots.

Compliance with capacity ceilings on

December 2017

Effective capacity as percentage of capacity ceiling by Member State

100,00%

90,00%

80,00%

70,00%

60,00%

50,00%

40,00%

30,00%

20,00%

10,00%

0,00%

TOT

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2018 of 6 February 2017 on the Union fishing fleet

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

3. R

EGIONAL

SSESSMENT

In the North East Atlantic, the fishing capacity continues to decrease both in GT and

KW. However, according to the STECF

, there are fleet segments which are not in

balance with their fishing opportunities. According to Stock Harvest Indicator, in this

area, out of 625 fleet segments active in 2015, 93 were out of balance. The inactive

vessel and use indicators show a decreasing trend for most of fleet segments.

In the Mediterranean and Black Sea, a large number of fleet segments may not be in

balance with their fishing opportunities. These fleet segments rely on different stocks,

among which turbot, red mullet, Mediterranean horse mackerel, anchovy, pilchard,

common sole and swordfish. According to the STECF analysis, the inactive vessel

indicator shows a decreasing trend. By contrast, the vessel use indicator shows an

increasing trend.

Finally, the fleet in the outermost regions (OR) is composed of 4.164 fishing vessels,

which represents 5% of the total EU fleet. The fishing fleets in the outermost regions

are primarily composed by small-scale vessels targeting inshore and offshore

resources. Fleets in the outermost regions are also below their respective capacity

ceilings. In the period between January 2014 and December 2017, fleet capacities in

the outermost regions decreased in total by 3.9 % in GT and KW. STECF noted that

some fleet segments were out of balance and rely on overfished stocks. Because of

lack of data, it was not possible to assess the balance or imbalance of all fleet

segments. The ratio between current revenue and break-even revenue and for vessel

use indicator shows an increasing trend.

Total vessels in OR in Dec 2017

774

2.200

1.190

France

Portugal

Spain

See STECF-17-08, table 4.7.1 p.105 and tables from 7.1.1 and 7.1.4 p. 151 and 158.

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Total GT in OR in Dec 2017

22.622

27.050

France

14.068

Portugal

Spain

Total KW in OR in Dec 2017

51.461

70.703

309.329

France

Portugal

Spain

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4. C

ONCLUSIONS

The capacity of the EU fleet continued to decrease, following the same trend as in

previous years. Between December 2016 and December 2017, the EU fleet decreased

by 1.45% in number of vessels, by 6.54% in kilowatts (KW) and by 9.59% in gross

tonnage (GT).

In 2017, all 23 coastal Member States complied with their obligation to report

information on the capacity of their fleet segments.

13 of the Member States’ reports

included an action plan. Action plans contain a large variety of measures to address

overcapacity. These masures range from fleet measures, such as temporary or

permanent cessation, to technical, economic and control measures.

For the fleet segments that are not in balance, EMFF support for the permanent

cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of vessels was eligible until 31

December 2017. Partly due to permanent cessation measures, in December 2017, the

fishing capacity of the EU fleet was 19,51 % below the capacity ceilings for tonnage

and 13,14 % below the power ceilings. This is expected to have a positive effect on the

conservation of marine biological resources.

Evolution of KW capacity between

Dec 2016 and Dec 2017

8.000.000

6.000.000

Axis Title

4.000.000

2.000.000

-2.000.000

Dec-16

Series1

6.375.340

Dec-17

5.763.933

6-2017

N(%)

-9,59%

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Evolution of GT capacity between Dec 2016 and

Dec 2017

8.000.000

6.000.000

4.000.000

2.000.000

-2.000.000

Axis Title

Dec-16

1.592.057

Dec-17

1.487.983

6-2017

N(%)

-6,54%

Series1

Evolution in number of vessels betveen Dec

2016 and Dec 2017

2.000.000

Axis Title

Dec-16

-2.000.000

Dec-17

82.912

6-2017

N(%)

6-2017

-1,45%

Series1

Dec-16

84.134

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Table 1: decrease of the EU fishing Fleet capacity per Member State

Evolution of the fleet between 2008-17

-2%

-4%

-6%

-8%

-10%

-12%

-14%

-16%

-18%

-20%

Figure 1: Reduction of the EU fishing fleet between 2008 and 2017 by number of vessels (N), power (KW)

and gross tonnage (GT)

N (%)

KW (%)

GT (%)

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Coastal MS

2.000.000

1.900.000

1.800.000

1.700.000

1.600.000

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

1.500.000

Figure 2: correlation between number of costal Member States and EU fishing Fleet gross tonnage (GT)

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IV. Economic performance of the EU fishing fleet

The 2017 Annual Economic Report (AER) on the EU fishing fleet

provides a

comprehensive overview of the latest information available on the structure and economic

performance of the 23 coastal EU Member State fishing fleets. The results indicate that the

profitability of the EU fleet improved further in 2015, compared to 2014. This improvement

is expected to have continued into 2016 mainly as a result of increased landings and low fuel

prices. Forecasts for 2017 suggest that developments are offset by higher fuel prices

compared to 2016.

Direct employment generated by the sector amounted to 152,700 fishers, corresponding to

114,863 FTEs. Average annual wage per FTE was estimated at EUR 24.8 thousand, ranging

from EUR 1.4 thousand for Cypriot fishers to €UR 75 thousand for Belgian fishers.

The EU

fleet spent almost 4.8 million days at sea and consumed 2.3 billion litres of fuel. According to

the DCF data, the EU fleet landed 5 million tonnes of seafood in 2015 with a reported landed

value of EUR 7 billion.

The amount of Gross Value Added (GVA) and gross profit (all excl. subsidies) generated by

the EU fishing fleet (excl. Greece) in 2015 was EUR 3.9 billion and EUR 1.6 billion,

respectively. GVA as a proportion of revenue was estimated at 54%, up from 52% in 2014

and gross profit margin at 23%, up from 22% in 2014. With a total net profit of EUR 798

million, 11% of the revenue generated by the EU fleet in 2015 was retained as net profit.

JRC107883; 19-23 June 2017, Italy -- The 2017 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet - (EWG

17-01 and EWG 17-06). (pub:2017.08).

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Figure 1: Increase in fleet profits since 2008

Results however varied by fishing region, as discussed below:



The overall performance of fleets operating in the

North Sea & Eastern Arctic region

was positive in 2015, and improved further compared to previous years. Overall, fleets

operating in the region spent almost 485 thousand days at sea in 2015, and landed 1.66

million tonnes of seafood valued at EUR 1.8 billion. The most profitable fleets were the

large (over 40 m) pelagic trawlers, with average gross profits estimated at around EUR

30,000 per day at sea. Factors that may have contributed to the positive situation include:

(1) recovery of several stocks, such as the North Sea common sole, plaice, herring,

haddock, saithe and cod; (2) increased TACs for a number of species such as plaice, hake,

cod, nephrops, sandeels and sprat; (3) higher average prices for a number of important

species, such as sole, plaice, common shrimp, cod and nephrops and (4) low fuel prices

resulting in lower energy costs. On the other hand, factors that may have hampered

economic performance in the region include reduced TACs and quotas for certain key

stocks, such as Atlantic mackerel.

Figure 2 : Revenue and profits trends for Member States fleets in the North Sea & Eastern Arctic

region



Overall, the EU

Baltic Sea

fleet spent almost 426 thousand days at sea in 2015, to land

approximately 613 thousand tonnes of seafood valued at EUR 217 million. A slight

increase in revenue (3%), combined with significant reductions in operating costs (e.g. -

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17% in fuel costs), helped the overall situation of the Baltic Sea fleet move from a loss-

making position in 2014 to post a modest net profit in 2015. The main factors that may

have contributed to the positive situation, include: (1) decreasing fuel prices resulting in

lower energy costs; (2) policy management instruments in quota allocation and ITQs (as

introduced in some countries); (3) several pelagic fisheries that are exploited at F

MSY

and

thus at sustainable levels; (4) vessel decommissioning schemes (these measures positively

influenced Polish and Latvian fleet profitability) and (5) EMFF support, such as measures

aimed at increasing the added value of products (prioritised for Small Scale and Coastal

Fleets) and by-catch from landing obligations (for large-scale fleet). Conversely, factors

that may have negatively influenced the performance, include: (1) lower average prices

for several commercially important species, such as sprat, herring and cod; (2) reduced

TACs and quotas for Baltic cod, which has decreased consistently since 2014; (3) limited

fishing activity, especially for the SSCF which is highly dependent on weather conditions

and even in the favourable economic conditions could be the limiting factor for fleet

performance and (4) the long service life of the vessels, obsolete equipment and

insufficient investments increase the maintenance costs and may therefore reduce the fleet

profitability.

Figure 3: Trends on gross value added and

gross profit for Member States fleets

operating

the

Baltic



The major players in the

North East Atlantic

are the Spanish, French, British,

Portuguese and Irish fleets. The most important species include mackerel, horse mackerel,

hake and Norway lobster. Fleets operating in this region spent an estimated 1.5 million

days at sea and landed 1.4 million tonnes of seafood valued at EUR 2.4 billion. Despite

the decrease in landings, overall performance improved, with the majority of Member

State fleets generating net profits in 2015. In 2015, fuel price decreased and remained low

in 2016, while most fish prices remained stable or increased (including plaice and

common shrimp). Therefore, it is expected that economic performance further improved

as revenues are likely to have increased while costs decreased. Factors that may have

contributed to the positive situation include: (1) recovery of some stocks, such as herring

and Northern hake; (2) low fuel prices resulting in lower energy costs, especially for

pelagic fisheries; (3) increased TACs for Northern hake, herring and anglerfish; (4) stable

or higher average prices for some species, such as common sole and Nephrops have

helped maintain profitability and (6) capacity reduction (with or without public support)

leading to decreased fixed costs. Factors that may have hampered economic performance

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in the region include: (1) reduced quotas for mackerel, common sole, plaice and cod; (2)

lower average prices and total landings for commercially important species, such as,

plaice, common shrimp, herring and mackerel.

Figure 4: Trends on landings in weight and value from Member States fleets

operating in the NE Atlantic fishing region

Figure 5: Trends on gross profit for Member States fleets operating in the NE Atlantic

region

Data source: Member States data submissions under the DCF 2017 Fleet Economic (MARE/A3/AC(2017));

All monetary values have been adjusted for inflation; constant prices (2015).

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

Figure 6: Trends on net profit for Member States fleets operating in the NE Atlantic

region



Overall, the economic situation of EU fleets operating in the

Mediterranean & Black

Sea

improved: 2015 was the best year so far analysed, in particular for the Italian fleet,

which is the main player and contributor to trends in the region. The main species include

anchovy, sardine, and hake. Overall, fleets operating in the region spent almost 2.1

million days at sea in 2015, and landed 368 thousand tonnes of seafood valued at EIR 1.3

billion. Factors that may have contributed to improved economic performance in the

region include: (1) higher revenues brought on by increased landings and higher average

prices; (2) low fuel prices, which reduce energy costs; (3) more fisheries where stocks are

being exploited at rates consistent with achieving F

MSY

and fleets are showing positive

trends, particularly in landings (e.g. deep sea rose shrimp in North Tyrrhenian-Ligurian

Sea). Other factors that affected fleet performance in this region include: (1) overfishing

and stock status - only very few demersal stocks are currently being exploited at rates

consistent with achieving F

MSY

; (2) marine resources and ecosystems under increased

pressure, driven by diversification and intensification of marine and maritime activities;

(3) high competition between professional fishers and recreational fishers; (4) new

management measures, in particular the introduction of a TAC for swordfish and for

pelagic fisheries in the Adriatic Sea - fishers are concerned that these TACs will have a

negative impact on their profits in the future; (5) introduction of two Fisheries Restricted

Areas (RFAs) in the Strait of Sicily and (6) lack of investments in fishing gears with

lower environmental impact and greater energy efficiency (energy efficiency has not

improved in the region in the recent years).

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Figure 7: Revenue and profits trends for Member States fleets operating in the Mediterranean &

Black Sea

Preliminary results for 2016 indicate a 69 % increase in net profits compared wih 2015,

registering record high profits of EUR 1,3 billion for the EU fleets. Results suggest that the

EU fleet as a whole was profitable in 2016, with an estimated net profit margin of 17%.

Gains in 2016 are offset slightly in 2017 and 2018 due to the increase in fuel costs, however

the EU fleet remains profitable with an average net profit margin above 15%. It should be

noted that EU fleet moved from marginal profits in 2009 (32 millions) to register 1,3 billion

of net profis in 2016. Similarly, gross value added and revenue increased significnatly over

the period 2009-2016.

The active EU small-scale coastal fleet (SSCF) employes 77,708 fishers or 47,789 in FTE

(including Greece). In 2016, the number of small-scale coastal vessels increased (+7%)

mainly due to a significant increase in licenced Croatian SSCF vessels, while FTE increased

by only 2.5%. As a whole, the EU SSCF was profitable in 2015: lower energy and capital

costs in 2015 together with higher revenues fostered a 6.5% increase in GVA, 28% increase

in gross profit and 98.4% increase in net profit compared to 2014. Net profit increased from

EUR 46.4 million in 2014 to EUR 92.1 million in 2015 (excluding Greece). Projection

results suggest that fishing effort, in days at sea, decreased 2.3% in 2016. The reduction in

fishing effort combined with low fuel prices, indicate that energy costs decreased by 22%.

Landed weight remained stable at around 284 thousand tonnes while landed value, estimated

at EUR 851 million in 2016, increased 2.6%. These preliminary findings suggest that the EU

SSCF generated EUR 650 million in GVA, an increase of 5.4% compared to 2015. Labour

productivity (GVA per FTE) also increased, from EUR 21.4 thousand in 2015 to EUR 22

thousand in 2016. Gross profit was estimated at EUR 236.7 million, a 10.8% increase on

2015. Positive economic developments can also be seen in the performance indicators - GVA

to revenue estimated at 67% (+3%%) and gross profit margin estimated at 24.4% (+8.2%) in

2016. With increased capital costs, net profit was estimated at EUR 72.3 million, a decrease

of 21.6% compared to 2015, year with the highest net profit (EUR 92 million) observed over

the period analysed (2008-2015). Net profit margin moves from 10.1% in 2015 to 7.7% in

Data source: Member State data submissions under the DCF 2017 Fleet Economic (MARE/A3/AC(2017)).

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

2016. However, the 2016 gains are offset slightly in 2017 with fuel costs increasing 10.3%.

The SSCF remains profitable with gross and net profit margins of 23% and 7.1%,

respectively.

While the EU SSCF as a whole was profitable over the time period analysed, results at the

regional and Member State level are mixed. At the regional level, results suggest that the

North Sea, Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean & Black Sea and Outermost region SSCFs

were profitable in 2015, generating 2.8%, 8.4%, 6.6% and 8% net profit margins respectively.

Conversely, the SSCFs operating in the Baltic Sea suffered net losses, amounting to

EUR 18.37 million in 2015. The Danish, Finnish, Polish and Swedish Baltic SSCFs were the

most unprofitable, collectively suffering over EUR 19 million in net losses in 2015.

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Figure 8: Main indicators for the EU small-scale coastal fleet 2008-2015 and projections for 2016 and 2017

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V. The implementation of the Landing Obligation

1. Progress Report

For years fishers have adopted uncontrolled discarding practices, returning unwanted catches

to the sea, dead or alive. The 2014 reform of the CFP aims to gradually eliminate this

wasteful practice of discarding. For this purpose, Article 15 of the CFP Regulation introduced

the obligation to retain and land all catches of species subject to catch limits and in the

Mediterranean also under minimum sizes, caught both in EU waters or by Union fishing

vessels outside EU waters, except in waters under the national jurisdiction of a third country.

The CFP provides for the progressive phasing-in of the landing obligation, with full

implementation as of the 1 January 2019.

Figure 1: Percentage of TACs partially or fully subject to the LO by sea basin and year*

* DP: Discard plans; JR: Joint Recommendations

By 2016, the proportion of EU landings value under the landing obligation (LO) was

estimated to be 21%. The Member States with the highest proportion of landings (excluding

pelagics) under the landing obligation were Belgium (61%), the Netherlands (43%), Sweden

(39%) and Denmark (38%). By 2019, when full implementation is planned with all EU quota

species and those with minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) in the Mediterranean

subject to the landing obligation, it is estimated that 40% of landed value will be under the

landing obligation. The Member States identified in 2016 still show the highest proportion in

landings under the landing obligation (Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark & Sweden) and

are joined by France, the UK, Ireland, Greece and Slovenia; all with at least 40% of landings

under the landing obligation.

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Table 1: Cumulative increase in dependence on species under LO (excluding pelagics)

Member State

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Germany

Denmark

Spain

Estonia

Finland

France

Greece

Croatia

Ireland

Italy

Lithuania

Lativia

Malta

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Sweden

Grand Total

Value (€)

81,894,230

2,393,024

6,076,738

122,209,222

243,002,674

771,947,670

3,807,057

8,438,019

959,036,329

753,189,858

102,344,168

29,966,958

149,258,776

730,485,586

3,974,335

4,313,157

6,053,717

268,498,596

24,041,154

187,939,450

4,005,922

1,091,636

65,359,031

4,529,327,309

Pelagics

17%

42%

46%

24%

41%

23%

21%

37%

27%

33%

21%

18%

49%

38%

21%

11%

43%

87%

29%

10%

33%

others

83%

58%

54%

76%

91%

59%

77%

79%

63%

73%

67%

79%

82%

51%

91%

93%

62%

79%

89%

57%

13%

71%

90%

67%

2015

2016

61%

20%

38%

11%

27%

33%

32%

43%

39%

21%

2017

61%

25%

44%

11%

27%

33%

32%

15%

43%

39%

45%

22%

2018

61%

25%

44%

11%

27%

33%

32%

15%

43%

39%

45%

22%

2019

83%

22%

34%

39%

48%

27%

51%

46%

47%

28%

45%

33%

15%

14%

53%

39%

23%

57%

47%

40%

total no. total no.

% of segmentsof top 10*

fleet segments

segments >50% >50%

fleet segments

75%

13%

20%

17%

57%

60%

63%

70%

10%

30%

33%

70%

52%

50%

62%

60%

39%

50%

36%

40%

13%

40%

10%

57%

60%

57%

12%

10%

50%

71%

Based on the obligation to report on the implementation of the landing obligation in

Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013, the Commission has obtained information from EU Member

States, Advisory Councils and other relevant sources on



the steps taken by Member States and the producer organisations to comply with the

landing obligation;

the steps taken by Member States regarding the control of compliance with the landing

obligation;

the socio-economic impact of the landing obligation;

the effect of the landing obligation on safety on board fishing vessels;

the use and outlets of catches below the minimum conservation reference size of a species

subject to the landing obligation;

port infrastructures and of vessels’ fitting with regard to the landing obligation, for each

fishery concerned; and

Source: "Evaluation

of Member State's Annual Reports on the Landing Obligation (for 2017)",

dated March

2018, DG MARE Contract No. ARES(2018)1564295.

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel



the difficulties encountered in implementing the landing obligation and recommendations

to address them.

In 2016, a STECF Expert Working Group developed a voluntary questionnaire to facilitate

Member States and Advisory Councils to report on the impact of the landing obligation and

on national steps taken to implement it. For the exercise covering 2017, the Commission

addressed two additional questions to Member States, focusing on enforcement of the landing

obligation at sea and reported infringements.

For 2017, the Commission has received reports from 15 Member States and 2 Advisory

Councils. As a consequence, care is required in interpreting year on year change since the

composition of respondents in the different areas has changed. It is also important to

recognise that changes reported in a questionnaire do not necessarily imply a successful

outcome related the landing obligation. Such an outcome will depend on confidence that there

has been significant change in fishing practice at sea and adequate monitoring and control of

all fishing operations to ensure that catches are fully accounted for. Moreover, it needs to take

into consideration that the quality of the reports received vary widely: the level of detail they

contain therein varies extensively, as many reports repeated information already included in

the previous reports.

Information on discard quantities presented by Member States is scant and, based on the

questionnaires, it is not possible to say whether there have been any changes in discard

quantities. Member States continue to indicate that difficulties encountered so far have been

minimal but several highlight that the most significant issue they face is the industries’

reluctance to implement the landing obligation despite considerable efforts to disseminate

information to them. They also report that fishermen seem slow to change behaviour and in

the Mediterranean, in some Member States in the Baltic and in the Black Sea, a “business

usual”

mentality seems to prevail.

There continues to be a wide divergence in the approach to promoting compliance with the

landing obligation. Member States have continued to make significant efforts into

disseminating information to fishermen and to engage with the relevant Advisory Councils

(for example in conducting choke species analysis - a generally more prominent activity in

2017). A number of Member States reported changes in 2017 to ensure compliance with the

landing obligation. Specific training and dedicated workshops for inspectors on control

elements of the landing obligation have continued with facilitation by EFCA. Some Member

States elaborated on their risk based approach to control and monitoring and some provided

data on last haul analysis. This approach seems to have bedded down well in some areas such

as the Baltic. New control tools such as remote electronic monitoring and CCTV continued

to be tested in 2017 by several countries although there is little evidence of them being used

on a mandatory basis. A number of the reports for 2017 raised the issue of ensuring a level

playing field before being prepared to commit to these new approaches.

A number of Member States have undertaken specific studies and pilot projects to test

selective gears or avoidance strategies and some have reported outcomes for 2017 and

strategies for increasing uptake of these gears. Fewer actions have been taken by Member

States in the Mediterranean and Black Sea where fewer difficulties with implementing the

landing obligation have been reported.

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Member States have continued to apply for various exemptions included under the regional

discard plans and a few have adjusted their national quota management systems. Inter-species

quota flexibility has mostly not been used but inter-annual flexibility mechanisms have.

Most Member States report that it remains difficult to assess the socio-economic impacts of

the landing obligation, indicating that problems have been minimal so far but could increase

as more species are included. For 2017 one Member State provided details of a completed

study which highlighted problems for some, but not all, sectors. During 2017, there was again

no clear evidence of the landing obligation causing safety issues on board fishing vessels and

reports from Member States were identical to the previous year.

Landings of fish below minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) reported for 2017 by

Member States are generally low across the different regions. The landed material below

MCRS has been used for fish meal, pet food or as bait for pot fisheries. One study of

alternative uses suggest that low prices, limited volume and variable composition of below

MCRS material makes the alternatives economically unattractive. The reports for 2017 saw an

increase in the extent to which EMFF funding to improve the infrastructure of ports as well as

modifications on board fishing vessels has been applied for. Specific actions so far include the

provision of cold storage facilities onshore and aboard vessels for storage of unwanted

catches.

Responses for 2017 continue to articulate the issues raised already last year (i.e. choke

species, confusion in interpretation of regulation). Of greatest concern is the uncertainty over

the reporting by fishermen of fish discarded under exemptions (i.e. de minimis and high

survivability), discards of fish currently not subject to the landing obligation and catches of

fish below MCRS. In part this has been due to the Electronic recording and reporting system

(ERS) not being adapted to make it possible to record such catches and, operational facilities

need to be fit for purpose to ensure information is correctly recorded.

Overall, it appears that the impacts of the landing obligation on Member States and the fishing

industry are low. However, the majority of Member States and the Advisory Councils indicate

these will increase with full implementation in 2019. While Member States and Advisory

Councils seem to be working more closely under regionalisation the reluctance of the fishing

industry to embrace change is a major concern. The lack of accurate reporting of fish

discarded under exemptions allowed for under the landing obligation, the very low volumes

of fish below MCRS being landed and the difficulties experienced by Member States in

monitoring such catches are major concerns and hint to compliance problems.

2. State of play of discard plans

In principle, details of the implementation of the landing obligation must be specified in a

multiannual plan (MAP). These include technical measures, the fixing of MCRS where

appropriate, high survivability exemptions, and

de minimis

exemptions of up to 5% of the

total annual catches. The two MAPs agreed under the new CFP so far, the Baltic MAP and the

North Sea MAP, contain indeed provisions on the implementation of the landing obligation

and introduce regionalisation as a way to shape delegated acts establishing discard plans for

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

these sea basins. The first delegated Regulation on the implementation of the landing

obligation under a MAP, the Baltic MAP, entered into force earlier this year

In the absence of MAP, the European Parliament and the Council (the co-legislators) initially

empowered the Commission to adopt discard plans through delegated acts on a temporary

basis and for a period of no more than three years. However, due to delays in the preparation

and adoption of MAPs, the initial three year period was proved to be too short: several discard

plans were expiring at the end of 2017, with no MAP to rule the details of the implementation

of the landing obligation. Practically, this meant that the flexibilities referred to in Article 15

CFP, in particular the possibility to introduce exemptions would be lost for the sea basins for

which no MAP was in place.

To tackle this issue the Commission rapidly prepared a proposal to amend Article 15(6) of the

CFP Regulation and extend the possibility to adopt discard plans for an additional period of 3

years, in the absence of a MAP. This proposal was agreed by the colegislators

and all the

discard plans expiring at the end of 2017 were renewed in time.

The full list of discard plans adopted under Article 15(6) CFP currently in force follows

(chronological order of adoption):

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2438 of 12 October

2015 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in

north-western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2439 of 12 October

2015 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in

south-western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2440 of 22 October

2015 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in the

North Sea and in Union waters of ICES Division IIa

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2250 of 4 October

2016 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in the

North Sea and in Union waters of ICES Division IIa

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2374 of 12 October

2016 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in

South-Western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2375 of 12 October

2016 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in

North-Western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2376 of 13 October

2016 establishing a discard plan for

mollusc bivalve Venus spp. in

the Italian territorial waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2377 of 14 October

2016 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1394/2014

establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in

South-

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/306 of 18 December 2017 laying down specifications for the

implementation of the landing obligation as regards cod and plaice in Baltic Sea fisheries (OJ L 60, 2.3.2018,

p. 1).

Regulation (EU) 2017/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2017 amending

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the common fisheries policy, (OJ L 302, p. 1).

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

Western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/86 of 20 October 2016

establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in the

Mediterranean Sea

Commission Delegated Regulation EU) 2017/87 of 20 October 2016

establishing a discard plan for turbot fisheries in the

Black Sea

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2167 of 5 July 2017

amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2374 establishing a

discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in

South-Western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/45 of 20 October 2017

establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in the

North

Sea and in Union waters of ICES Division IIa

for the year 2018

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/44 of 20 October 2017

amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2374 establishing a

discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in

South-Western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/46 of 20 October 2017

establishing a discard plan for certain demersal and deep sea fisheries

North-Western waters

for the year 2018

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/153 of 23 October

2017 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/86 establishing a

discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in the

Mediterranean Sea

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/211 of 21 November

2017 establishing a discard plan as regards salmon in the

Baltic Sea

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/188 of 21 November

2017 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1394/2014

establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in

South-

Western waters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/189 of 23 November

2017 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014

establishing a discard plan for certain small pelagic fisheries and

fisheries for industrial purposes in the

North Sea

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/190 of 24 November

2017 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014

establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in

North-

Western waters.

3. Use of the EMFF for measures linked to the implementation of the landing

obligation

The prohibition to discard is a radical change in the management of the fishing activity.

Therefore several measures are eligible for funding under the European Maritime and

Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to facilitate the implementation of the landing obligation. The

Commission commissioned a study to assess the use of the EMFF to support the landing

obligation

"FAME

Support Unit, AT01.2 ad-hoc consultancy Landing Obligation Final Report (AT1.2 5/5)",

Version 1,

Febriuary 2018.

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According to this study, to date, an overall amount of EUR 49 million in EMFF funding is

committed or planned to support the implementation of the landing obligation, i.e. less than

1% of the total funds allocated to sustainable fisheries under Union Priority 1:

Promoting

environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge-based

fisheries (UP1).

Another EUR 59 million was spent under the previous funding instrument,

the EFF.

The main findings of the study are discussed below:

Four Member States (DK, IE, PT, UK) reported an uptake of measures to limit the impact of

fishing activities on the environment and to implement the landing obligation. Most projects

relate to the improvement of fishing gear selectivity and avoidance of protected species. Some

Member States also funded studies on the handling and valorisation of unwanted catches.

However, most Member States reported a delayed start of operations under UP1 in relation to

the need to finalise administrative and technical arrangements to manage applications and

projects. Nine Member States (BE, BG, CZ, FI, FR, HU, NL, RO, SK) could not start UP1

implementation for this reason.

Over the 2014-2016 period, DK and UK appear to be the two Member States having

committed significant EMFF funding to the implementation of the LO. Measures include

support to vessel operators to reduce the impact of fishing on the environment, innovation,

use of unwanted catches, and port measures to facilitate compliance with the obligation to

land all catches.

3.1 Extent of EMFF support for the implementation of the landing obligation to date

Regarding the extent of EMFF support, a filtering exercise was undertaken with the Infosys

database

to identify projects that would be relevant for the implementation of the landing

obligation. This process identified an interesting distinction: some projects to reduce

‘unwanted catch’ are related to by-catch

of non-commercial species such as birds or seals.

Therefore, although at first they they appeared to be relevant for the landing obligation, they

are not directly supporting its implementation.

The analysis below is based on aggregated responses from Member States Managing

Authorities, who reviewed the filtered Infosys data (where some projects related to the

landing obligation had been identified) and provided an update. Based on this, the table below

comprises an overview of total EMFF share of support per Member States and the focus of

supported operations. The table is divided in two columns: the first column relates to

operations which wete carroed pit under the EMFF up to the end of 2016 and which are

considered to have contributed to the implementation of the landing obligation.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 1242/2014 of 20 November 2014 laying down rules pursuant

to the EMFF Regulation with regard to the presentation of relevant cumulative data on operations and

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 1243/2014 of 20 November 2014 on the information to be sent

by Member States, as well as data needs and synergies between potential data sources.

kom (2018) 0452 - Ingen titel

Table 3: Overview of EFF and EMFF support per Member States

EFF

M e m be r

Sta te

Be l g i u m ( BE)

Bu l g a ri a ( BG)

Cro a t i a ( H R )

Cy p ru s ( CY)

D e n m a rk ( D K)

Es t o n i a ( EE)

Fi n l a n d ( FI )

Fra n ce ( FR )

Ge rm a n y ( D E)

Gre e ce ( EL)

I re l a n d ( I E)

I t a l y ( I T)

La t v i a ( LV)

Li t h u a n i a ( LT)

M a l t a ( M T)

N e t h e rl a n d s

( N L)

Po l a n d ( PL)

Po rt u g a l

( PT)

€

372 963

867 069

€

133 671 451

59 045 857

29 286

3 429 501

€

19 121 529

€

49 501 978

€

3 697 688

303 222

€

3 697 688

332 508

3 429 501

R o m a n i a ( R O)

Sl o v e n i a ( SL)

Sp a i n ( ES)

Sw e d e n ( SE)

Un it ed

Ki n g d o m ( U K)

t o t a l re ce i v e d

EFF m i n u s

I t aly

€

4 233 892

33 239 184

€

1 656 414

€

337 500

€

5 890 000

€

2 674 028

758 683

74 625 594

€

233 679

€

1 469 264

77 390

3 526 000

€

637 500

€

5 250 000

370 000

1 315 000

€

5 250 000

2 072 943

1 392 390

3 526 000

637 500

337 500

7 546 414

€

3 100 000

€

1 800 000

€

8 201 708

€

6 578 147

€

150 000

1 009 029

4 500 000

€

150 000

4 500 000

€

15 788 884

EM FF

to 2 0 1 6

€

122 000

€

Associa t e d spe n d

€

12 000 039

2017

105 500

P la n n e d

€

Tot a l

227 500

613 151

€

14 285 738

€

16 094 711

EMFF potential total end

2018:

€

49 501 978

By the end of 2017, around EUR 30 million of EMFF had been committed to projects related

to the landing obligation across ten Member States. Denmark has committed the most for LO-

related projects at EUR 14.7 million, accounting for around 49% of total EMFF support up to

2017. Out of around EUR 8.2 million EMFF support in Denmark up to 2016, about EUR 4

million was focused on gear selectivity, EUR 2 million for ports, EUR 1 million for

innovations.

By the end of 2016 the UK had committed EUR 3.4 million to port investments and the

Netherlands continued its significant funding support to LO implementation with EUR 1.7

million committed to vessel-based research and fleet investment.

In 2017, the level of commitment accelerated with EUR 16 million of EMFF support

committed (compared to EUR 14 million in total from 2014-2016), resulting from the

delayed start to EMFF programme implementation in most Member States as well as the

increased demand to help address the landing obligation as it was being phased in. In 2017,

EUR 6.6 million of EMFF funding supported additional fleet investments in Denmark and

EUR 3.7 million supported fleet investments in Spain. Ireland and Sweden also made

commitments to port investments.

Latvia committed EMFF funds to a major processing investment of EUR 3.5 million related

to the landing obligation. The projects involve fishermen’s groups and an NGO and aim to

increase added value and the use of unwanted catches related to the production of fish protein

and oil.

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3.2. Planned EMFF support for LO implementation

The table below shows an overview of Member States estimations of planned EMFF funding

related to the landing obligation. In total, a planned EUR 19 million of EMFF funds is

reported to be allocated to address the implementation of the landing obligation from 2018

onwards.

Table 4: Overview of planned EMFF support from 2018 onwards per Member State

EM FF

Me m be r Sta te

fr om 2 0 1 8

Focu s

Cyp ru s ( CY)

€

150 000

port investment

D en m ark ( D K)

€

1 009 029

fleet investment

Est o n ia ( EE)

€

4 500 000

processing investment

Greece ( EL)

€

5 250 000

3m innovation, 1,5m added

value, 0,75m port investment

I rel an d ( I E)

€

370 000

gear selectivity

I t aly ( I T)

€

1 315 000

fleet investment

Li t h u an ia ( LT)

€

637 500

port investment

2,6m gear investment, 2,5m

research, 1m handling

unwanted catch

N et h erlan d s ( N L)

€

5 890 000

To t al

19 121 529

*MS not listed report no planned LO-related commitments

Source: MA responses, FAME 2018

The Netherlands plans the biggest spend of EUR 5.9 million on gear investment, research and

handling unwanted catch. Greece, which has made no commitments to date, is planning

similar levels of support from 2018 onwards with EUR 3 million on innovation, EUR 1.5m on

value-added and EUR 0.75m on port investment. Denmark is continuing its significant fleet

investment with EUR 1.5m of support planned. Lithuania and Cyprus are planning some port

investment related to the landing obligation.

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Similar to Latvia in 2017, Estonia reports that it plans support of EUR 4.5 million for a

processing investment to a fishermen’s group under Article 68 (processing

for non-human

consumption).

3.3 EMFF operations completed

Not many EMFF operations related to the landing obligation have been completed as yet.

Most relevant projects are still ongoing. Notable exceptions are:

•

Project “Valduvis” in Belgium, concerning

traceability and certification;

“Fast Track –

Sustainable and cost-efficient solutions in fisheries under the landing

obligation” in Denmark; the project includes establishing a platform for cooperation in

order to identify, collect and distribute knowledge and best practice as well as cost

efficient trials of selective gear in order to ensure sustainable fisheries and improved

management under the LO;

Pilot project with scientific observers on board commercial bottom trawlers in

southwestern waters, testing different gears in order to increase knowledge on selectivity

and catch composition, including the use of video cameras attached to the net to know its

performance in the water while trawling but also the performance of fish caught into the

net;

Project “Added value, product quality and use of unwanted by-catch” in Lithuania.

•