On 11 October 2023, the Forum on Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment organised a lunch time event in the MEP Salon on the Alternative Fisheries Management Measures or how Angling Species could be managed in a more economic, social and environmental sustainable way.
Presentations were given by David Mitchell (EAA) and Kevin Haase (Thünen Institute) on how international examples and science can bring solutions to better consider the often much underestimated social, economic and environmental impact of not taking the recreational fishermen’s interests into consideration when taking fisheries management decisions.
PRESS RELEASE
European Parliament Forum on Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment
11.10.2023 – Brussels
Marine fisheries management decisions can only be fair and economically sustainable if they consider the recreational fisheries sector too.
MEP Niclas Herbst and MEP Ska Keller co-chaired the latest European Parliament Forum on Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment event on 11 October 2023.
Ahead of the end-of-the-year TAC & Quotas fisheries management decisions, the conference shed light on how they not only affect the commercial fisheries sector but also millions of recreational fishers at sea and the economic activities that they generate (the so-called “recreational fisheries sector”).
Presentations were made by David Mitchell (European Anglers Alliance –EAA- expert) and Kevin Haase from the Thünen Institute on Baltic Fisheries on how international examples and science can bring solutions to better consider the often much underestimated social, economic, and environmental impact of not taking the recreational fishers’ interests into consideration when deciding about fisheries management.
“We have a structural problem in the EU: the CFP does not recognise recreational fisheries as a fisheries management stakeholder. This should be addressed to consider the millions of EU angling citizens’ interests and the thousands of businesses depending on the sustainability of their activities.” (David Mitchell – European Anglers Alliance EAA).
“Very similar policy results can be achieved by more recreational-fishers-friendly management measures.” said Kevin Haase (Thünen Institute of Baltic Fisheries).
The EU Anglers represented by the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) and the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) called for science-based, long-term focused fisheries policy choices that consider the insights from the Recreational Fisheries sector. In this light, they urged for better data to be collected at the EU level - not only about the impact of recreational fisheries on the stocks but also about the economic value that their activities generate. Only with a full overview of the consequences of their decisions can policy-makers make the fair choices for the future.
The EU anglers and the recreational fisheries sector call for their interests to be acknowledged by the European Commission and Member States when deciding about the management of fisheries in EU seas.
“The problem is loud & clear. We need to keep the debate on about the allocation of fishing opportunities because the recreational fisheries sector is an important sector with an important direct & indirect socio-economic impact.” said MEP Niclas Herbst, Chair of the Forum on Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment.
Access the PDF version of the Press Release
here.