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For the first time the EU is harmonising how catch data from recreational fishing in marine coastal areas is collected in a positive move that is seen as advancing the chances of the sport having a place within the all important Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA), the industry representative body for the sport in Europe, and the fishing lobby group on behalf of anglers, the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) have long campaigned for recreational fishing to have a voice on the CFP, a body that is dominated by the commercial fishing industry.
The two organisations have long advocated that, as an industry with an annual turnover of €6 billion across Europe, recreational fishing should have an influence on the Common Fisheries Policy at the same level as commercial fishing, which has a turnover of €3 billion.
Commenting on the data collection regulation, Joana Patrício, Fisheries Control Expert at the European Commission, said: “This is an achievement that we are proud of. However, it is only the first step in a longer objective. Via our work in the European Parliament, we are pushing for the inclusion of the recreational fisheries sector in the scope of the CFP and for a better implementation of its article 17 – allocation of fishing rights depending on environmental, social and economic criteria.”
The European Commission says that to manage fish stocks sustainably, it is important to understand the factors affecting them, including the impact of recreational fishing. “This new implementing regulation has been adopted to harmonise the reporting process for recreational fishing data from Member States.”
It says this will help establish a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the current recreational fishing landscape which has been described as a ‘critical knowledge gap’. It will also provide a clearer picture of the real effects of recreational fishing on the overall health of fish stocks.
“Accurate data collection is crucial for informed decision-making, enabling policymakers to balance the needs of recreational fishermen with the conservation of marine eco systems,” said the European Commission in a press release.
The European Commission will develop an electronic system that will facilitate data collection and catch reporting across the EU in collaboration with coastal countries. It will help eliminate existing disparities in data collection and improve the reliability of EU-wide assessments.
The Commission added that it will continue to collaborate with EU countries, the scientific community and the recreational fisheries sector to implement these measures.
