'Phenomenal loophole' in quotas could lead to massive overfishing
Pressure from EU fishing nations, including France and Spain, to weaken the way fish catches are reported could lead to massive overfishing of endangered species and even “questioning” the value of setting quotas, according to confidential EU documents seen by the Guardian.
The most commonly fished species in Europe – including mackerel, tuna, Atlantic herring and sprat – could be at risk under the latest proposal, which would apply to all vessels in EU waters.
The issue is how fish catches are recorded to ensure vessels are not overfishing. Block rules currently allow a 10% margin of tolerance between the catch declared for each species of fish in a vessel's logbook and the quantity declared after landing. But fishing nations want to expand a loophole applied to the Baltic in 2016 that widens the scope of the 10% margin on total vessel catches.
Such a "loophole phenomenal” removes no penalties for vessels that submit completely inaccurate estimates for vulnerable fish species, according to one of the European Commission documents. " data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">
The loophole has "incited hidden overfishing and even calls into question the usefulness of fisheries conservation measures, such than setting quotas, in a scenario where such quotas can be easily circumvented without any consequences,” the newspaper said.
The documents, distributed to diplomats and parliamentary negotiators in February, added: "This waiver has led to huge misreporting, in particular the under-reporting and overfishing of quota species. Misreporting of catches is the precursor to unsustainable fishing , which over time risks depleting fish stocks and ultimately disrupting the marine ecosystem.”
Preliminary EU audits have revealed that in the Baltic last year was 'prompted' by the derogation and accompanied by overfishing, says another document.
Sprat, for example, is a quota-protected species, but in samples from one EU state, sprat has been under -reported by 78%, while catches of out-of-quota species were over-reported by 819%, according to the audit, which is mentioned in EU documents. The average underreporting of herring and sprat in another state was 36% and 63% respectively.
Pressure from EU fishing nations, including France and Spain, to weaken the way fish catches are reported could lead to massive overfishing of endangered species and even “questioning” the value of setting quotas, according to confidential EU documents seen by the Guardian.
The most commonly fished species in Europe – including mackerel, tuna, Atlantic herring and sprat – could be at risk under the latest proposal, which would apply to all vessels in EU waters.
The issue is how fish catches are recorded to ensure vessels are not overfishing. Block rules currently allow a 10% margin of tolerance between the catch declared for each species of fish in a vessel's logbook and the quantity declared after landing. But fishing nations want to expand a loophole applied to the Baltic in 2016 that widens the scope of the 10% margin on total vessel catches.
Such a "loophole phenomenal” removes no penalties for vessels that submit completely inaccurate estimates for vulnerable fish species, according to one of the European Commission documents. " data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">
The loophole has "incited hidden overfishing and even calls into question the usefulness of fisheries conservation measures, such than setting quotas, in a scenario where such quotas can be easily circumvented without any consequences,” the newspaper said.
The documents, distributed to diplomats and parliamentary negotiators in February, added: "This waiver has led to huge misreporting, in particular the under-reporting and overfishing of quota species. Misreporting of catches is the precursor to unsustainable fishing , which over time risks depleting fish stocks and ultimately disrupting the marine ecosystem.”
Preliminary EU audits have revealed that in the Baltic last year was 'prompted' by the derogation and accompanied by overfishing, says another document.
Sprat, for example, is a quota-protected species, but in samples from one EU state, sprat has been under -reported by 78%, while catches of out-of-quota species were over-reported by 819%, according to the audit, which is mentioned in EU documents. The average underreporting of herring and sprat in another state was 36% and 63% respectively.
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