APPENDIX 7: MINISTERIAL LETTER ON FISHERIES
DISCARD PLANS FOR 2015[322]
Letter from George Eustice MP, Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State for Farming, Food, and Marine Environment,
to Lord Boswell of Aynho, Chairman of the Lords European Union
Select Committee[323]
…
As you are aware securing the new regionalisation
was a major UK priority throughout the negotiations to reform
the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). I was therefore keen to take
advantage of the new process at the earliest possible opportunity
but mindful that we needed to prove the concept and show that
taking a regional approach would be successful and deliver results
quickly.
The development of the pelagic discard plans was
the first formal application of the regional approach to fisheries
management under the new CFP and I have been extremely pleased
with how the process has worked. The appetite shown by the other
Member States in both the North Sea and North Western Waters to
employ the new processes was heartening and exceeded my initial
expectations. While the discussions between officials, and with
industry, have at times been challenging, they have been effective
in identifying problems and finding solutions.
The success of the process was proved as both groups
were able to agree Joint Recommendations which were adopted by
the Commission in the aforementioned Delegated Regulations.
While there have been some teething problems in setting
up the new process, I believe that we have been able to resolve
them quickly. We have agreed Memoranda of Understanding for how
the groups operate, developed clear work programmes, dividing
tasks to share the workloads effectively and set out a very clear
process of engagement with the relevant Advisory Councils to ensure
they work to a clear timetable and scope. That learning has already
been integrated into the processes and timelines for the development
of the joint recommendations that will define the content of the
more complex demersal discard plans.
You asked for my view on the availability of resources
to support these discussions with Member States. I can only speak
on behalf of my own department but I have been able to use existing
resources, from within my fisheries team, to develop the plans.
This is work that would have needed to be done under conventional
EU procedures if we had not done it in the new regional groups.
I have not needed to seek additional staff to deliver these plans.
It is important to recognise that the new regionalisation process
has changed the EU negotiation process. Previously, officials
would need to spend considerable time trying to influence the
content of a proposal that the Commission would bring forward.
Once that proposal had been adopted they would frequently spend
significant amounts of time in working groups in Brussels trying
to amend ill-fitting EU wide proposals and gather support for
alternative approaches. Overnight this has changed. Officials
have been able to work directly with their counterparts from other
regional Member States towards a clear set of outcomes from day
one.
You have also asked for my views on the survival
exemptions that have been included in these Regulations. These
exemptions are centred on the use of purse seine nets in mackerel
and herring fisheries. These are nets which are drawn in slowly
and can be opened to allow fish to escape unharmed. I am confident
that the exemptions are scientifically robust as the evidence
provided was reviewed and approved by the Scientific, Technological
and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
…
7 December 2014
322 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014
of 20 October 2014 establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic
fisheries in north-western waters (OJ L 370, 20 October 2014,
p 25) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014 of
20 October 2014 establishing a discard plan for certain small
pelagic fisheries and fisheries for industrial purposes in the
North Sea (OJ L 370, 20 October 2014, p 35) Back
323
This letter is part of a strand of correspondence between the
UK Government and the House of Lords European Union Sub-Committee
on Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy. The Sub-Committee
routinely scrutinises the UK Government's position on draft European
Union legislation and other significant documents. Back
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