Reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy

On April 22, 2009, the European Commission adopted a "Green Paper on the future of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy". The paper analyzes the weaknesses of the current policy but offers no ready-made solutions. Instead it raises a number of open questions and invites the EU’s fishing and seafood communities, scientists and other interested parties to provide feedback on how to improve the policy. This public consultation is meant to be a first step towards a radical reform and will run until December 31, 2009.
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EU Fisheries Policy

One of the main objectives of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy is to prevent fish stocks from being overexploited. Key conservation measures include the adoption of annual Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and multi-annual conservation plans. Bilateral fisheries agreements between the EU and third countries ensure a substantial additional supply to the EU industry. Due to diminishing resources, the EU’s processing industry heavily depends on imports of fresh products and raw materials form third countries. For certain fishery products, the EU has suspended the import duties or reduced duties within tariff quotas. GAIN Report E48029 (April 2008)
 

EU Fishery Marketing

The EU is a net importer of fish products and the trade deficit continues to grow.  The EU depends more than ever on imports to meet its fish demand.  EU import volumes from third countries increased by a quarter over the past 5 years.  Norway remains the largest supplier of fish.  China has become the second largest supplier.  The third and fourth largest suppliers are the U.S. and Iceland, respectively.  The most important product group, in terms of volume, the EU imports from third countries is frozen fish fillets, mainly Alaska pollack, pangasius and cod.  The second and third largest product groups are frozen shrimp and prawns and tuna and skipjack, respectively. 

The U.S. is the third largest supplier of fish to the EU.  U.S. export volumes grew by almost 20% over the past 5 years.  In terms of value, exports doubled to over 1 billion dollars.  Roughly half of U.S. fish export is Alaska pollack.  Cod and surimi together represent another 20% of U.S. exports to the EU. GAIN Report E48031 (April 2008)