Resolutions voted by the Annual General Meeting of the F.E.A.P.

(2009 - Torshavn, The Faroe Islands)

  RESOLUTION ON THE STRATEGY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN AQUACULTURE

  POSITION PAPER ON THE GREAT CORMORTANT

RESOLUTION ON THE STRATEGY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN AQUACULTURE

Concerns: The Commission’s Communication   “Building a Sustainable Future for Aquaculture”

The Assembly of the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers welcomes the publication by the European Commission of the Communication to the European parliament and the Council entitled, “Building a Sustainable Future for Aquaculture”.

FEAP recognises the document’s analysis of the achievements, importance and value of the European aquaculture sector.
The Federation also notes that the Communication highlights the most important objectives, challenges and demands of the industry.

FEAP wishes to put on record that the Federation and its members note the significant value added to the document and its preparation process by the intense consultation process involving the industry and its representative organisations.

FEAP observes that the publication of the Communication is the first step in a process of implementing a progressive, structured and workable policy to maintain and improve sustainable aquaculture in Europe. The process of implementing all the relevant objective points in the document should be fully elaborated with a transparent and detailed work programme outlining the responsibilities of the various offices and agencies of the European Commission, Parliament and Council.
The Federation recognises that the action points in the document may take some time to implement in full, but firmly believes that certain issues require priority treatment as short term objectives.Simplification of the legislative environment and the reduction of the administrative burden at EU level – immediate discussion with producer representative organisations, such as the FEAP, to identify the key obstacles in this area and prepare an action plan.

1. Simplification of the legislative environment and the reduction of the administrative burden at EU level – immediate discussion with producer representative organisations, such as the FEAP, to identify the key obstacles in this area and prepare an action plan.
2. Evaluation, adaptation or elimination of Community legislation that has unforeseen cumulative and/or contradictory effects (e.g. legislation on aquatic animal health and water resource use).
3. Establishing and improving pro-active public information programmes regarding the European aquaculture sector.
   In so doing, the Commission should also plan to ensure effective and appropriate labelling, ensure a level playing field between EU and third country production in the area of labelling, traceability, application and enforcement of environmental regulations in third countries, appropriate and truthful labelling of country of origin and regulations regarding thawing and refreezing of fish.
4. Ensure the compatible implementation of environmental legislation such as Natura 2000 with the socio-economic sustainability of communities dependent on aquaculture production.
5. Develop with the industry a set of objectives for future Financial Instruments and outline priorities for public finance, including capital investment in areas such as increased competitiveness, improving employment and economic sustainability of rural areas, environmental management, marketing etc.
6. Amend the CMO to ensure that rules and regulations relating to Producer Organisations are appropriate and workable for the aquaculture sector.
7. To maximise the potential for innovation and practical R&D which will involve the best use of public funds in R&D, the Commission must fully engage with industry and the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform.
8. Immediately call for a meeting of Member States to implement the plan of enforcing the objectives of the 2007 “Availability Task Force” on Veterinary medicines with a clear timetable and plan of action to ensure the appropriate and sustainable availability of medicines for fish welfare, environmental and food security purposes.

The Assembly of the FEAP unanimously accepted this Resolution.

POSITION PAPER ON THE GREAT CORMORANT

Concerns: the present situation on conflicts caused by the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Background

A meeting was arranged on the conflict concerning the Great Cormorant in Brussels on 31st March 2009, which was attended by several European Fish producer Associations and the European Anglers Association. Based on previous dialogues and the strength of the arguments regarding the predation of wild and fish stocks by cormorants in Europe, attendees expected significant progress on a sound, scientifically-based management plan for cormorants in the EU.
Aquaculture and angling representatives were surprised when the Chairman (Mr. Murphy of  DG ENV) declared at the meeting that the European Commission does not believe that an EU management plan would be an appropriate answer to the problem.

The position of the FEAP is that only a coordinated Pan-European Management Plan can solve the problem. Populations of cormorants are increasing all over Europe causing increasing damage to the environment, fisheries and fish farming.  The position of the FEAP is to find a solution, which is compatible with European legislation and policies, that takes into account the interests of fisheries/fish farming and the need to protect this predatory bird species.

The opinion of   the FEAP is that the large, existing Cormorant population (estimated at 1.7-1.8 million) is not sustainable in Europe and that the damage caused by this population to the environment, flora and fauna needs an immediate and community-wide response. In some of the Member States (France, Denmark, Hungary etc.) the authorities responsible for environmental protection recognise these problems and have applied for the derogation for population control. Other Member States have not followed this route (e.g. Netherlands, Poland, some Regional Länder of Germany) as well as Norway and Croatia, thereby allowing the migrating stock to continue to increase, putting pressure on wild and farmed fish stocks in other Member States of the European Union.

In the light of these observations, the Assembly of the FEAP unanimously accepted the following Resolution.

Resolution:

1. FEAP insists that the European Commission provide a clear explanation on the rationale behind its decision to deny the major sectors of aquaculture, recreational angling and fisheries the opportunity to achieve sound scientific management of a voracious predatory species.
2. In particular, the Commission must explain why it gives priority to scientific argument, rather than to the evidence given by the representatives of European citizens and industries that contribute both to society and the European economy through the production of high quality fish, employment and recreational and touristic activities.
3. FEAP requests that DG Environment identify the minimum population level for the European cormorant as a sustainable, self-sustaining population and explain the scientific basis for this target level.
4. The FEAP urgently calls for a pan-European concerted Action Plan on cormorants that encourages both the Commission and EU Member States to promote the sustainable management of the population of this species by means of scientific and administrative coordination, cooperation and communication.
5. The Federation calls on the Commission to provide a draft of a Europe-wide cormorant management plan by the third quarter of 2009.
6. FEAP believes that most of the following steps that are envisaged by the Commission are insufficient, will be costly and will delay further the implementation of concrete actions to tackle the European Cormorant problem.