Agreement on Fisheries Management Zone

Under the new rules both full-time and part-time fishermen will need to state how far out at sea they operate and their life-saving equipment must be in line accordingly.

For example, if a boat operates only three miles out, it would need less health and safety equipment than if it operates outside the 25-mile zone. The government will subsidise in part the cost incurred in meeting these requirements.

Can new fishing boats be registered?

The fishing effort in the 25-mile zone has today reached its maximum sustainable yield. For this reason, there can be no increase in fishing effort in the zone. A list of all the fishing vessels which have fished in the area will be drawn up by the Maltese authorities.

Only fishing boats registered on this list would be allowed to fish in the zone and there can be no increase in their numbers. This means that the Maltese authorities will not be granting any new licences for fishing boats and whoever wants to start fishing, whether a Maltese or EU citizen, must purchase an existing licence.

Lampuki

One of the most economically important fish for Maltese fishermen is the dolphin fish or lampuka. Malta negotiated the inclusion of lampuka among the EU fish for which a withdrawal mechanism exists. This means that when there is an excess of lampuki on the local market, the EU helps fishermen, through their producers' organisations, to withdraw a certain amount of fish from the market so that the price remains stable.

This ensures that the fishermen is left with a decent sum in his pocket and does not end up being paid a pittance for his catch.

This aid to producers' organisations exists only for fish that are on the EU list. Other fish of local economic importance are already included in various schedules of EU regulations and local producers' organisations will be able to receive this aid on a variety of species.

Producers' organisations

Producers' organisations are formed by fishermen or fish farmers to take measures to ensure the best marketing conditions for their products. While membership is voluntary, members must respect rules in their production and marketing operations.

In this way, they contribute to the objectives of the common organisation of the market. These organisations, which number over 160 in the EU, allow producers themselves to adapt production to market demand.

Producers' organisations must meet a number of conditions before they are recognised by the relevant member state.

They must represent a minimum level of economic activity in the area they propose to cover. They must not operate any discrimination in terms of the nationality or geographical location of potential members. And they must meet the necessary legal requirements in the member state concerned.

In order to be representative, the organisation must include in its membership at least a set percentage of vessels operating in the area and it must also ensure that a minimum amount of its members' production is sold in that area.

EU countries can provide financial support to help the creation and running of producers' organisations. Some EU funding may also be available but the objective is for the members, in the long run, to be self-financing.

Monitoring

One of the most important measures to be implemented is a monitoring system that will be utilised to control the management of the zone. This system would allow the Maltese authorities to monitor every vessel over 12 metres eligible to fish within the 25 mile zone.

These vessels would be required to carry what is known as a "blue box" on board which keeps track of what kind of fishing activity is being carried out and in which area.

Funding from the EU

The EU has a specific fund for fishermen. This is called the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). Its aim is to contribute to a sustainable balance between fisheries resources and their exploitation. It also seeks to increase the competitiveness of structures and the development of viable enterprises in the fisheries industry, improve the value-added to fisheries and aquaculture products and to revitalise areas dependent on fishing.

Assistance from the FIFG fund may be obtained after membership and the Maltese government is currently preparing a programme for the fisheries sector which would be financed by the EU after accession. The Maltese programme will request aid for the modernisation of the Maltese fishing fleet, for the improvement of port facilities and for the improvement at the local fish market - the pixkerija - including adequate cold storage facilities.

This fund has been used in other countries to promote various activities in regions where fishing is of high economic importance. For instance, in the Dutch town of Urk it funded the establishment of a museum dedicated to fishing. In Bremerhaven, an old port area was transformed into an educational centre for fishing related studies. In Greece the EU invested heavily with the local producers' organisation to promote aquaculture.

The type of projects that can be funded by the EU vary. It largely depends on how much the local producers' organisation will come up with projects that will benefit the fishing community in Malta and Gozo.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture has received financial support from the EU since 1971. Limited at first to inland fish farming, EU support was later extended to other areas.

Aquaculture projects can benefit from financial support from the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). Projects include the modernisation of existing premises or the building of new ones, the installation or improvement of water circulation systems on site, installation of new equipment; upgrading of hygiene standards and reducing the impact on the environment.

On aquaculture, the Maltese government has already negotiated trade concessions so that Maltese produce can be exported to the EU. Until 2001, Maltese exports to the EU had to bear a tariff of 15% in order to enter the EU market. This had a negative impact on the competitiveness of Maltese produce.

From this year, this tariff went down to 7.5% and it will be removed completely from next year. Maltese exports to the EU are also restricted by a quota which will be completely removed by the end of 2003.

For further information call the Malta-EU Information Centre on 2590-9192 or e-mail euinfo.mic@magnet.mt