Complementary roles of European and national institutions under the Common Fisheries Policy and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Exploited fish and shellfish stocks in European marine waters underlie the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The next round of reform of the CFP is due for completion in 2012. The exploitation at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) may be confirmed as the common environmental objective for good environment status (GES) of exploited fish and shellfish stocks of the reformed CFP and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The foreseen time horizon to achieve or maintain GES by 2020 appears inconsistent with the World Summit on Sustainable Development UN agreement in 2002, which stipulates that maintenance or restoring of stocks to produce MSY be realized by 2015. The MSFD requires instead that by 2015 the national programmes of measures be designed in order to become operational the following year (2016). The MSFD significantly strengthens Member States' competences and responsibilities to maintain or achieve GES for all exploited fish and shellfish stocks inside territorial waters and the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) with common goals. This will inevitably guide future European Fisheries Council decisions towards long term objectives even at regional levels instead of short term national socio-economic concerns. With such provisions, MSFD is thought to foster and harmonise European fisheries management with ecosystem approaches. For reasons of simplification, the future revision of the CFP should cover all exploited fish and shellfish stocks in all European Seas including territorial zones and EEZs. Member States will need to prepare both for the increased scientific advisory and monitoring efforts expected. The eligibility of additional costs for the Data Collection Framework (DCF) needs to be discussed and decided as soon as these costs are identified and quantified by the competent authorities.