At this time of year, French fishermen are deeply concerned about the approach taken by the Council of Fisheries Ministers, which sets out TACs and quotas. This year, their concerns are all the more acute as the European Commission’s proposals for TACs and quotas of 2017 leave them angry and struggling to understand the Council’s reasoning.
According to French fishermen’s association CNPMEM, while the European Commission takes care to congratulate representatives of the French fishermen when they come to Brussels, or when meeting Regional Committees or Producer Organisations as they adapt to responsible and sustainable fisheries, they appear unwilling to take into account French scientific programmes that have made it possible to refine scientific analyses and allow new management approaches.
By engaging in scientific programmes and engaging in working towards better selectivity, French fishermen have shown a willingness to change and a sense of responsibility, also by proactivity funding and participating in projects such as SMAC (eastern Channel sole), BARGIP (bass) or Celselect (selectivity). They have also worked on management measures contributing to limiting fishing effort and catches,, such as eastern Channel sole, bass, Bay of Biscay sole, scallops and much else.
While the number of stocks at MSY is increasing and trends are encouraging for a number of stocks as 2020 approaches, including Bay of Biscay sole, Celtic Sea haddock and North Sea cod, French fishermen do not have the impression that they are listened to, or that their efforts are likely to be rewarded.
CNPMEM states that while fishermen have been asking for a community management plan with a TAC for bass in the northern zone since 2012, the current proposals will only serve to result in an increase in discards without any advantage for the species and to the detriment of the industry.
Proposals relating to bass in the southern zone do not take into account the activities and realities of the industry on the one hand and, on the other hand, they are contradictory to the discussions in progress.
For eastern Channel sole, while a management rule has been established within the Advisory Committee for the North Western Waters (NWWAC) and approved by STECF, the industry finds the proposals incomprehensible and many fishermen find them unacceptable.
The frustration is all the greater as some parties, such as recreational fishermen, have not been inclined to take part in a dialogue, have not been prepared to adapt and use gear that is detrimental to the fishery. According to CNPMEM, recreational fishermen have continued their activities, failing to comply with regulations, including quotas.
CNPMEM has drawn the attention of the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Mr Vidalies, to the efforts made by French fishermen and their professional bodies, emphasising that a strong socio-economic fabric, united and structured along the French coast needs to be supported.
