The common fisheries policy : conservation of fishery resources and management of fishing activities

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) covers all aspects of the fishing industry. The EU has exclusive responsibility for the sustainable exploitation of living marine resources, which is subject to rules stating how, where and when different species can be caught in order, above all, to protect juveniles and marine habitats that are vulnerable to certain fishing techniques. A system of total allowable catches, divided into quotas for each Member State, rules, for many fish stocks, just how many fish may be taken. The capacity of all national fishing fleets must also be managed with a view to the availability of fish stocks. These conservation and management measures must be based on the best possible scientific advice and drawn up after consultation of all interested parties, particularly at the level of the maritime region concerned. As the measures' impact depends on compliance by those engaged in fishing, it is necessary to have an effective system of supervision and controls. The first proposals for the implementation of the new CFP guidelines, adopted at the end of 2013, for fishing to be based on maximum sustainable yield, avoiding discards at sea, demonstrated the challenges of converting these objectives into conservation and management measures, especially in the case of multiannual, multi-species plans. However, further legislative proposals are expected soon with a view to continuing the EU's policy of achieving the sustainable exploitation of marine life.