Monday, 15th December 2008
EU fishermen face tough new controls
A new tough control regime to ensure that EU fishermen comply with existing rules and regulations has been welcomed by Scottish Conservative Euro MP Struan Stevenson. Speaking in Strasbourg he said:
"For far too long there has been discrimination against fishermen from the Northern Member States compared to those from the South when it comes to penalties and fines for fisheries offences. For example fines in Italian courts for fishermen caught falsifying their logbooks averaged £80 in 2006, the latest year for which figures are available, while fines for UK fishermen found guilty of the same offence averaged over £6,500.
"The overall number of serious violations of fisheries laws in 2006 was 10,362 with over £8.7 million imposed in fines across the EU. The most common types of infringements were those concerning storing, processing, placing for sale and transporting of fishery products not meeting the marketing standards in force, although there were a substantial number of fines for unauthorised, or 'black' fishing. Nevertheless the wide discrepancy of fines across the Community appears to show a marked bias against UK fishermen. We cannot have a system where our fishermen are being penalised with gigantic fines while Mediterranean skippers get away with a smack on the wrist. I therefore welcome the new proposals from the Commission which will introduce a level playing field across the EU when it comes to penalties for fisheries offences.
"I also welcome the move to introduce tough new controls involving vessel monitoring by satellite, electronic logbooks and a comprehensive new traceability system that will monitor catches from ship to shop. I would also like to see CCTV monitoring on board all whitefish vessels, following a total ban on discards. This system is working well in Denmark and should be emulated across the EU. The concept of a new penalty point system for masters, operators or vessel owners is a good idea, similar to the system that applies to car drivers at the current time. Anyone accumulating too many points for a series of offences would automatically lose their fishing permit. Similarly, Member States which do not adhere to the rules and cause harm to fish stocks would lose financial assistance, see their quotas reduced and could even face the closure of some of their fishing grounds."
