Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the South Devon and Channel Shellfishermen (W18a)
This supplementary memorandum comments on oral
evidence taken from the South Devon and Channel Shellfishermen
on 14 December 2004
Q234, Q241, Q242 Expansion of the inshore
fisheries (inside of 12 miles) in the South West would be sustainable
if we had exclusive use of our own territorial waters (12 miles).
At present French and Belgium boats can fish into six miles around
the coasts of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. Since this concession
was given in 1972 the size and efficiency of these boats has increased
several fold, yet no restrictions have been placed upon them.
This prevents expansion of our fishing activity.
These arrangements are also contrary to the
requirements of the Treaty, that there must be no discrimination
between citizens of members states (Articles 7 and 40[33]). Quite
clearly this is discriminatory as, for example, Spanish and Portuguese
boats are not allowed to fish between our six to 12 miles zone.
The only way to avoid this discrimination is to allow access for
all (which, if the rules stand as they now are, will happen in
2112) or have the 12 mile limit of every state for the exclusive
use of that nation's fishermen only. This would be non-discriminatory
as all states would be the same and the waters could then be managed
for the benefit of local communities by local communities (eg
Sea Fisheries Committees). We could then expand our inshore fisheries.
Q237 These Irish boats have been built with
huge EU grants enabling them to undercut us substantially. Even
though these grants finish this year (plus those still in the
pipe-line) we will forever have to compete against their initial
subsidy. This puts us at a big disadvantage.
Q238 We believe that money would be better
spent having scientists on board fishing vessels rather than spending
millions on building research boats.
Q249 The gentleman's offshore agreement.
This agreement has been in operation now for 25 years. It is an
agreement made by fishermen (officials are not involved) and is
modified/ratified at a meeting of fishermen every year. It works
reasonably well, but, as it is only an agreement, there can be
no sanctions for those who break it (which some of the French
do when it suits them—and at a huge cost in lost gear for
our members). If Great Britain managed its own 200 miles/median
line EFZ then this agreement could be enforced to the benefit
of the fisheries and the majority who do obey it.
It is our firm belief that nations should not
only manage their own 12 mile limits, but their EFZ as well. Everyone
admits that the CFP has failed (fish stocks in danger, boats decommissioned,
communities broken up, marine environment damaged). The idea of
equal access to a common resource managed by 25 ministers each
with his/her own political agenda can not work. As Aristotle said
many hundreds of years ago: "If no one owns it, no one looks
after it." The CEP proves that! National control (for all
nations) with foreign boats licensed to fish under the host nation's
rules, regulations, conservation policy and enforcement regime
would, we are certain, benefit all the EU fishermen in the end.
22 December 2004
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