Publication - May 29, 2015
The Common fisheries policy (CFP) has been in force for almost a year and a half now. It has delivered substantial progress on paper, but its success relies on the will of national governments to apply these rules back home. Greenpeace has looked at the main fishing countries in Europe and what they have achieved so far.
The ranking of EU countries’ performance (as of 15 May 2015) compiled by Greenpeace follows an initial assessment conducted in February 2015. It focuses on countries’ “contribution” to overfishing, the reduction - where necessary - of their fishing capacity and the promotion of low impact fishing.
The new policy requires European countries to end overfishing, to better manage their national fishing fleets and to promote a shift towards low-impact fishing methods.
Greenpeace’s assessment shows variable performance on capacity reporting but significant lack of action on a key issue: the development and application of environmental, social and economic criteria for granting access to fishing grounds. Most European countries have not yet changed their allocation system to grant preferential access to those fishermen who use low impact fishing methods and contribute the most to local economies.
Click here to check the detailed methodology used to assess countries’ performance.