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EU to overhaul fisheries policy | EU to overhaul fisheries policy |
(41 minutes later) | |
The European Commission has announced a full review of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, saying the current regime fails to protect fish stocks. | The European Commission has announced a full review of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, saying the current regime fails to protect fish stocks. |
The commission says that fishermen who obey the fishing rules are being penalised by the irresponsible behaviour of others who flout them. | The commission says that fishermen who obey the fishing rules are being penalised by the irresponsible behaviour of others who flout them. |
That "vicious circle" has undermined the ecological balance of the oceans, the commission says. | That "vicious circle" has undermined the ecological balance of the oceans, the commission says. |
The EU wants to cut the size of fleets and the time fishermen spend at sea. | The EU wants to cut the size of fleets and the time fishermen spend at sea. |
Overfishing threat | Overfishing threat |
The commission says there are still too many vessels chasing too few fish, and that ecological sustainability must take precedence over economic or social factors. | The commission says there are still too many vessels chasing too few fish, and that ecological sustainability must take precedence over economic or social factors. |
In other words, just because a community has traditionally depended on fishing does not mean it can continue to do so. | In other words, just because a community has traditionally depended on fishing does not mean it can continue to do so. |
The Common Fisheries Policy was established in 1983 and last reformed in 2002. | The Common Fisheries Policy was established in 1983 and last reformed in 2002. |
It sets quotas for catches and is aimed at curbing harmful practices such as "discards" - when trawlers throw organisms back into the sea. class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/6108414.stm">'50 years left' for sea fish | |
Overfishing is the main threat to the future of fish stocks, and the current policy rewards narrow-minded and short-term decision-making, the commission says. | Overfishing is the main threat to the future of fish stocks, and the current policy rewards narrow-minded and short-term decision-making, the commission says. |
In 2003, 29% of open sea fisheries were assessed as being in a state of collapse, defined as a decline to less than 10% of their original yield. | |
Fishermen are using ever more powerful boats, cleverer technology and bigger nets; but even so the global catch of fish is falling because there are fewer of them. Between 1994 and 2003 it declined by 13%. | |
Many species in EU waters are at risk of extinction, according to scientists. | Many species in EU waters are at risk of extinction, according to scientists. |
The EU is the world's second largest fishing power after China. | The EU is the world's second largest fishing power after China. |
While more than two million tons of fish products were exported in 2006, more than six million tons had to be imported to meet EU needs. | While more than two million tons of fish products were exported in 2006, more than six million tons had to be imported to meet EU needs. |
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