Call for Increased Policy Coherence in Fisheries and Environmental Management

Advisory Councils Call for Increased Policy Coherence in Fisheries and Environmental Management

In a concerted effort to address growing concerns within the fishing industry, the North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) and the Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) have issued a joint call for enhanced policy coherence between environmental and fisheries management in the European Union.

This appeal was made in a formal letter to Ms. Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the European Commission.

In 2023, the NWWAC and PelAC established a joint Focus Group on the impacts of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) developments and conservation site designations. This initiative, known as the Focus Group on Spatial Dimension (FG Spatial Dimension), aims to address the ‘spatial squeeze’ increasingly experienced by the fishing industry and other marine resource users due to the proliferation of ORE projects and stringent conservation targets.

The letter highlights several key issues:

1. 1. Spatial Squeeze: The rapid expansion of ORE developments and the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s target to protect 30% of EU land and sea by 2030 have compounded pressures on fisheries. This ‘spatial squeeze’ is leading to significant displacement and potential closure of EU fisheries.
2. Need for Improved Coordination: The Advisory Councils stress the urgent need for better coordination between fisheries management and maritime spatial planning processes. This was acknowledged by the Commission in their recent Communication on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which also called for the phasing out of all mobile bottom fishing in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
3. Comprehensive Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): Effective MSP is crucial to manage the increased competition and potential conflicts between various marine uses. Mechanisms must be established to ensure that cumulative environmental effects of Blue Economy activities do not exacerbate climate change impacts or disproportionately affect specific sectors, such as fisheries.
4. Integration of Governance Frameworks: The letter calls for the integration and coherence of the Blue Economy framework with other governance frameworks, including those for international ocean governance, climate, and biodiversity. Regular coordination between expert groups addressing different aspects of marine policy is deemed essential for achieving sustainability.

The letter acknowledges the creation of a Special Group under the Marine Action Plan, which brings together environment and fisheries administrations to foster collaboration. However, it suggests that this integrated approach be extended to other expert groups. If this is not feasible, the Advisory Councils request access to these groups to ensure their input is directly heard.

In the letter the Advisory Councils’ call for increased policy coherence underscores the critical need to balance environmental conservation with the economic and social sustainability of the fishing industry, ensuring that marine resource management benefits all stakeholders.