ARCHIVE: Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Reform

In April 2009 the European Commission issued a Green Paper to stimulate debate through a wide range of questions on the reform of the CFP.  We share the Commission’s vision for European fisheries in 2020 set out in the Green Paper (page 4, section 1). It is in line with Fisheries 2027 – a long-term vision for sustainable fisheries (PDF 2MB), which we published in 2007, following widespread consultation.

Discussion paper: Achieving sustainable fisheries through CFP reform

In September 2009 Defra invited everyone with an interest in fisheries and the marine environment to help us to develop the UK response to the Green Paper by replying to the questions in our discussion paper: Achieving sustainable fisheries through CFP reform (PDF 506KB). In a nutshell, we want: 

  • fish stocks within safe biological limits;
  • a prosperous and efficient fishing industry;
  • recognition of the contribution of fishing to local communities; and
  • fisheries management integrated with marine conservation.

These four elements are our priorities for CFP reform and will help to deliver healthy ecosystems.

We wanted to ensure that the UK response sets out the best possible set of actions to deliver a sustainable future for our fisheries and for the wider marine environment.   We therefore sought views from a wide range of organisations and individuals on the discussion paper, including holding meetings, hosted with the Marine and Fisheries Agency, in Penzance, Plymouth, Brixham, Fleetwood, North Shields, Portsmouth Grimsby and Scarborough. We’ve published a summary of the responses (PDF 250KB) we received to the discussion paper and feedback (PDF 621KB) from the meetings we held around the coast.

UK response to the Commission’s Green Paper on reform of the CFP

The UK response (PDF 285KB) to the Commission’s Green Paper sets out the changes the UK Government would like to see made to the Common Fisheries Policy to deliver our four priorities. We’ll continue to work with stakeholders to develop the approach in our response into more detailed models for the future.

Background

You can find out more about the CFP at:

and about CFP reform at:

The European Commission launched a mid-term review of the CFP.

In September 2008. The Informal Ministerial Conference on Fisheries in September 2008 discussed a Presidency paper on CPF (see unofficial translation (PDF 42 KB))

Read about the European Commission’s Green Paper on CFP reform

The UK agrees with the European Commission that the CFP has not succeeded in achieving sustainable fisheries and has welcomed the Commission’s Green Paper consulting on options for the reform of the CFP.

The UK government’s priorities for CFP reform were set out by the Fisheries Minister at the May 2009 meeting of the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers draw on stakeholders’ views and the report of House of Lords inquiry into the Progress of the Common Fisheries Policy. The priorities are in our discussion paper.

Page last modified: 24 September 2010
Page published: 03 March 2009