EAA and EFTTA representatives advocate inside the European Parliament for enhanced attention to Recreational fisheries

EAA President Fred Bloot, together with European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) representatives Ross Honey and Gerard Bakkenes visited the European Parliament early April to meet with the Chair of the European Parliament Forum on Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment MEP Niclas Herbst (European People’s Party, Germany) and the office of European Parliamentary Committee on Fisheries’ Chair MEP Pierre Karleskind* (Renew Europe, France).

Together with these lead MEPs and their office, EAA & EFTTA members discussed some outstanding, yet important issues that are of particular interest for the angling community and the recreational fisheries sector such as the Control Regulation, Nature Restoration Law & the proposed revision of Multi-Annual Plans. In light of the end of the current 9th European Parliamentary term, recreational fisheries representatives also shared their vision for the next European Parliament’s agenda, underlining the importance of an enhanced and collaborative attention to angling activities on EU level.

Both offices acknowledged the positive role played by EAA and EFTTA during the past mandate, this by their valuable socio-economic & scientific input and also the bi-annual meetings of the RecFishing Forum.

EAA & EFTTA’s timing of their visit was spot on, as in the same week the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (COM PECH) has met for the last time this mandate to discuss the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation as regards the targets for fixing fishing opportunities – i.e. revision of the Multi Annual Plans.

Members of the European Parliament held a debate on the published Working Document by MEP Pierre Karleskind (France, Renew Europe), all underlining the need for further discussions on this important and worrying Commission proposal.

Link to our article & views on the Revision of the Multi Annual Plans: EAA - Proposed amendments to the Multiannual Fisheries Management Plans (MAPs) put fish stocks at risk (eaa-europe.org)