This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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European Fisheries Control Agency proposed
14/03/2005
Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie today welcomed agreement on proposals for the creation of a Europe-wide Fisheries Control Agency.
The Agency will co-ordinate fisheries enforcement activity across Member States, in particular the monitoring of and compliance with regulations on threatened stocks.
European Ministers meeting in Brussels have now agreed final management arrangements for the Agency.
Speaking at the Council meeting Mr Finnie said:
"Effective enforcement plays a key role in conserving stocks and maintaining the viability of our industry. Creating a level playing field in fisheries enforcement across Member States is to the commercial advantage of Scottish fishermen.
"We want to see an agency that co-ordinates but does not control national enforcement activity and that sets common standards.
"We argued for, and were instrumental in securing, key reforms to the Commission's original proposals. These guarantee greater involvement of fisheries interests and ensure that operational control rests with Member States.
"This agreement on a Community Fisheries Control Agency delivers our objectives."
The establishment of a Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) stems from the European Commission's Road Map on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) published in May 2002.
The main objectives of the Agency are to ensure effective implementation of the CFP and uniform inspection and enforcement throughout the Community. The core task will be the operational co-ordination of inspection and surveillance by Member States.
In particular the Agency will be responsible for the implementation, in agreement with Member States, of joint deployment plans to carry out control and inspection programmes for fish stocks subject to recovery plans.
It will also carry out a variety of functions currently carried out by the Commission, including ensuring the implementation of the EU's international enforcement obligations and bilateral fisheries agreements, the co-ordination of training of inspectors and joint procurement of goods for control and inspection purposes.
The Agency will be headquartered in Vigo, Spain, and will be established early in 2006.