Aquaculture in the Common Fisheries Policy Reform

Viktoria Varga Lencses

DG for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Brussels, 22/5/2013

Aquaculture in the EU• 1.3 million tons production:

50% shellfish, 28% marine finfish, 22% freshwater

• Worth 3.1 billion €

• 80.000 direct jobs

• Many different species and production systems

Fish stocks: reduce overfishing

• 75% of EU fish stocks are overfished.

• The CFP reform aims at ensuring that our fish stocks are replenished and fished sustainably.

• However, even at Maximum Sustainable Yields (MSY), capture fisheries alone will not meet our growing seafood demand

Filling the gap

EU Captures25%

EU Aquaculture

10%

Net imports65%

EU seafood consumption

Blue growth: job creation in coastal and inland areas

• With current labour productivity, every 1% of our seafood consumption produced by EU aquaculture will help creating 3-4.000 full-time jobs

• Mostly in coastal and rural areas, important local impact

Aquaculture in the "CFP reform package"

• new "Basic Regulation"

• new "Market Regulation"

• Financial instrument: EMFF

• Aquaculture and EU Research: "Horizon 2020"

• Aquaculture Advisory Council

Aquaculture in the new basic regulation: the Open Method of Coordination

• "Soft" approach – no change in EU legislation

• Union strategic guidelines: common priorities and targets

• Multiannual national strategic plans

• Exchange of information and best practices

1. Reduce administrative burdens

2. Facilitate access to water and space

3. Improve competitiveness

4. Exploit competitive advantages –"level playing field"

Union Strategic Guidelines COM(2013)229

• Time to get a licence for a new…

• Agricultural farm: 4-6 months

• Offshore wind farm: 18 months

• Aquaculture farm in Norway: 6 months

• Aquaculture farm in the EU: often 2-3 years,sometimes even 7 years

• Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan: this should not take more than one month

• Costs? Uncertainties?

1. Reduce administrative burdens

• "Lack of space" or "No access to space"?

• Use of spatial planning to identify best location and make aquaculture development:

• More sustainable

• More socially acceptable

• Less uncertain (and more interesting for investors)

2. Facilitate access to space and water

3. Increase competitiveness• Promote R&D, innovation, business differentiation

• Exploit business opportunities (e.g. integration with angling and tourism, offshore wind farms)

• Valorise environmental services (e.g. extensive ponds and habitat conservation)

• Stronger producers organisations

4. Exploit competitive advantages –"Level playing field"

• EU aquaculture offers high standards of:

• Environmental protection

• Health

• Consumer protection

• Inform consumers (food labels, information campaigns)

• Exploit niche markets (certification schemes, organic aquaculture)

Multiannual national plans

• Based on Strategic Guidelines and specific conditions in the Member States

• Define Member States' objectives and the measures to achieve them

• Should be submitted by end of 2013

• Cover the period 2014-2020

• Consistent with EMFF planning

Advisory Council for Aquaculture

• A consultation body

• To bring together all relevant stakeholders

• To provide legitimate, reliable and useful recommendations to policy-makers

Thank you for your attention!