In his State of the European Union speech as the Netherlands took over the EU Presidency for the coming six months from the first of January, Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders made a brief mention of fisheries, sandwiched between agriculture and forestry.
He commented that with regard to fisheries legislation, the Netherlands aims to achieve more in-depth sustainability as agreed in the framework of the new Common Fisheries Policy.
‘Priority should be given to concluding agreements on multi-annual plans for sustainable fish stock management and expanding the landing obligation to prevent food waste. These issues, too, must be seen in both the European and the wider global context: clean oceans are essential for global food security. The Netherlands therefore wishes to take steps in the areas of Blue Growth and food security during its Presidency.’
According to an EU statement, a multi-annual plan for managing cod, herring and sprat is in the works for the Baltic. the first of its kind under the reformed CFP.
The Commission subsequently expects to propose a new North Sea mixed fishery plan to support the implementation of the discard ban that came into force for demersal fisheries on the 1st of January. Further issues include a review of the approach to technical measures, a revision of the Fishing Authorisations regulation and the need to achieve progress on the deep sea access regime.
Bert Koenders commented that these issues need to be seen within a wider global context and stressed that clean oceans are crucial for food security, and the Netherlands wishes to use its presidency in the areas of Blue Growth and food security.
