The new EU Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries, the Cypriot Costas Kadis, visited Ostend (West Flanders) on Monday. There he met with the Flermish Deputy Prime Minister Hilde Crevits (Christian democrat), whose responsibilities include fisheries. During the meeting Ms Crevits called for a revision of the method used for setting fishing quotas. She believes that the quotas should take current scientific data on fish populations into account.
While in Ostend, Commissioner Kadis visited the fish auction and subsequently the Flemish Institute for the Sea (VLIZ), where marine science research is carried out. The Flemish Minister responsible for fisheries Hilde Crevits took the opportunity to call on Mr Kadis to modify the method used for calculating catch quotas by uising more up-to-date data on fish stocks. Ms Crevits said that the use of older data meant that the quotas fluctuated too much. She also called for a reduction in red tape for those involved in in the commercial fishing industry.
“It is no coincidence that we visited a vessel that is equipped to collect data on fish stocks. At the moment, we often rely on data that is 2 years old and this system needs to be changed”, Ms Crevits said. For the most part, European fishing quotas are set each year per species of fish and per geographical area. The total amount is then divided up into national quotas.
A final decision on fishing quotas is made at a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers. It is based on recommendations provided by the European Commission that takes the advice of scientists into account.
In the case of, for example, the North Sea talks are held annually with the UK to determine our respective fishing rights.