EU to step up control over illegal fishing

The fisheries ministers of the member states of the European Union have reached a unanimous political agreement on the proposal to set up the Community Fisheries Control Agency.

The agency, to be based in Vigo, Spain, will take up its duties in early April 2006 and all the EU member states will be represented on its executive board. The European Commission will have six representatives on the agency, including Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg.

The agency's main task will be to coordinate, control and inspect fishing carried out by the member states, including the importation, transport and landing of fisheries products. This coordination role will be implemented by joint deployment plans and specific control programmes.

The agency will also help member states to guarantee the uniform application of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), thanks in large part to training for inspectors. The Council of Ministers has changed the Commission's initial proposal, adding new duties for the agency, including providing help to the member states and the Commission to harmonise the implementation of the CFP in the Community, helping with the research and development work carried out by the member states and the Commission in terms of control and inspection techniques, coordinating the training of inspectors and the sharing of experience by the member sates and initiating operations to fight illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing.

With regard to international obligations, the agency will be able to cooperate on control issues with the competent authorities of third countries, on the request of the Commission, under agreements concluded between the Community and such countries.

The minister responsible for fisheries, George Pullicino, who was at the meeting on Monday, said Malta welcomed the new initiative as it will enhance the cooperation between member states in the fisheries sector. He said small states like Malta will certainly benefit from such an agency especially in the area of monitoring and protection in the case of illegal fishing within EU waters.