The European Landing Obligation

In 2011, European policymakers initiated a major reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to improve the Union’s fisheries management system, a challenge that proved necessary given the state of fish stocks in European waters. Balancing environmental and socio-economic objectives in fisheries management was imperative.

The main objective of the reform was therefore to ensure the preservation of marine resources while increasing the competitiveness of European fishing fleets. These two aspects are not antagonistic but complementary, because the preservation of fisheries resources constitutes a prerequisite for a successful fishing sector. This principle has been assimilated by fishers, who also understood that an overhaul was necessary to ensure the sustainability of their activities.

There is no need to remind the reader that the task incumbent on the European Parliament and the Council was far-reaching. After months of intense institutional negotiations, the revised CFP was introduced in 2013, articulated as two flagship measures:

(i) reach the objective of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in 2020 and

(ii) introduce the Landing Obligation.

Whether or not we consider the Landing Obligation as being adapted to the overall objectives of the CFP will not be the subject of my remarks. Whilst it is crucial that the Union’s fisheries management system should improve selectivity of catches and so contribute to the sustainability of fisheries, I have personally been a long-time opponent to the obligation to land.

But only time will tell whether this measure will prove successful. If the means of action might be controversial and open to debate, the overall sustainability objective is undeniable. For the past 5 years, we have gradually introduced the measures necessary for the
implementation of the CFP. In 2015, I was acting as the rapporteur for the implementation of the Landing Obligation (omnibus regulation) where my objective was to ensure a smooth transition for the fisheries sector while respecting the principle of sustainability and preservation of marine resources. The CFP imposes a step-by-step organisation of the Landing Obligation with full implementation on 1 January 2019.

This represents a huge challenge for both the fisheries sector, the legislators and the scientific community, whose support are essential to ensure the implementation of the Landing Obligation.

The scientific community is a crucial ally in this process and plays a central role in helping fishers and the sector to adapt to the Landing Obligation through innovative means. The Landing Obligation has been the subject of a lot of scientific research, regarding both its relevance and feasibility as well as the means to achieve it. The Committee on Fisheries that I chair at the European Parliament was regularly informed of the latest studies available. The main observation about the Landing Obligation remains the same: it will be hard to implement and will require a lot of mobilisation from the sector. The Landing Obligation may lead to clear socioeconomic consequences for the fisheries sector. A major challenge is the so-called choke effect in mixed fisheries.

This matter has real socio-economic consequences for many fisheries. Therefore, significant efforts must be made in research and development to ease the implementation of the Landing Obligation. For the Landing Obligation to prove successful, another crucial aspect must be taken into account – an appropriate and effective control regulation. Without proper control and enforcement, the Landing Obligation will fail in its objectives and will not fulfil its expectations. Scientific research and new technologies will also be very helpful in that area.

Once again, I would like to underline the importance of science in designing a sustainable fisheries management system. Reliable scientific data is a key component of the CFP. In that sense, scientists work in a remarkable way to help create a better understanding of maritime resources and ecosystems. The Landing Obligation is an example of the close interaction of the scientific community with the CFP, as shown by this book.

European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
August 2018

Alain Cadec