European Union fisheries ministers on Tuesday adopted an outline to further develop aquaculture in EU waters as part of reforming the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
At a meeting in Luxembourg, EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg supported the outline, which calls for simplifying and improving the regulatory framework for the fish-farming industry, particularly the cumbersome licensing process, among other things.
The goal is to foster a more competitive, more sustainable aquaculture industry.
“The [European] Commission shares your views on the importance of establishing a proper balance in the conditions for the development of aquaculture,” said Borg. “I fully agree on the need to bolster the competitiveness of the sector by enhancing the position of aquaculture in the spatial-planning and water-management processes that are developed at national and regional levels.
“We all agree that it is important to promote EU aquaculture products and technology and to ensure a level playing field for domestic and imported aquaculture products. But the EC must be consistent in the positions it adopts, particularly when discussing trade rules and possible associated conditions,” added Borg. “In this context we all support the need to promote sustainability globally, in particular by advocating environmental protection, through the pursuit of international cooperation, notably on labeling and certification.”
The fisheries ministers are calling on the EC to produce a concrete plan by year’s end, building on the outline it adopted on Tuesday.
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