7 CONCLUSIONS
7.1 The profound failures of the CFP demand far-reaching and fundamental reform of EU fisheries policy. At the core of reform is the delegation of decision-making as regards fisheries management, with scope to develop approaches which bring an end to discards. A regionalised approach will move us away from a centralised CFP and allow:
- development of policy appropriate to each fishery leading to improved sustainability and reduced discarding;
- greater engagement of stakeholders in policy development, allowing managers to harness the innovation and experience of fishermen positively and enhancing the responsiveness of policy to environmental changes;
- improvement of co-ordination of science and compliance activities across a region;
- alignment of fisheries policies and regional conservation and marine planning activities.
7.2 The evidence from Scotland indicates that there is a strong appetite for change and greater responsibility from stakeholders. That provides the opportunity for real reform of EU fisheries management and we urge the Commission to take notice.
7.3 The Scottish Government consultation revealed a number of important themes which require to be addressed if reform is to be meaningful. These are identified as:
- decision-making delegated to those closest to the fishery;
- changes to fisheries management to bring about an end to discards;
- efforts of Member States and stakeholders to manage fisheries recognised, encouraged and incentivised; and
- improvements to the data underlying fisheries management decisions.
7.4 Work must now focus on developing a regional model capable of delivering these benefits. The IFFM interim report has helped to stimulate that discussion across the EU and Scotland stands ready to work with partners to develop the model further. It is particularly important that this work be undertaken with the European Commission, for without genuine engagement and willingness to allow for regionally flexibility in management, the opportunity to secure improved management of EU fisheries will be lost.
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
December 2009