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Fisheries Subsidies Where are the benefits?. Environmentally harmful subsidies – a real threat to biodiversity Policy Dialogue Brussels, 11 th January 2010. Effects of fisheries subsidies. Subsidies. Overcapacity. Catch limits too high. Illegal (IUU) fishing. State of EU Fisheries. 88%.
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Fisheries Subsidies Where are the benefits? Environmentally harmful subsidies – a real threat to biodiversity Policy Dialogue Brussels, 11th January 2010
Effects of fisheries subsidies Subsidies Overcapacity Catch limits too high Illegal (IUU) fishing
State of EU Fisheries 88% 30%
A “Simplified Food Web for the Northwest Atlantic” • Little knowledge about the effects of over-fishing; • High levels of by-catch and discards; • Impacts on marine habitat.
Selected Fisheries Subsidies Per Year EC contribution to control and enforcement is limited to € 46 million
Amount of Fisheries Subsidies • In some Member States management costs are higher than the value of landing. • 80% of the wealth generated in France, 70% in Italy, 75% in Denmark 60% in Spain.
Annual Total FIFG income per fisheries sector employee Source: Poseidon 2010
Exacerbating overcapacity Tuna Purse Seiner Fleet in the Mediterranean FIFG 1994 - 2006: • > € 9 Mill. of aid for modernisation • > € 8 Mill. for construction • ~ € 70.000 to scrap one single vessel Bluefin Tuna is on the brink of collapse due to over-fishing.
FIFG 2000-06 Spending on Key Fleets Source: Poseidon 2010
“Just” spending? FIFG spending for vessels 1994 – 2006 • 87% of aid to 20% of the ports • 78% of aid to 20% of the vessels • 7-30% of vessels have received aid, the majority received no aid • Top recipients got up to €5 Million • Vessels get repeat funding (up to 17 times) • Vessels engaged in illegal fishing activities received aid
No one said it is easy • Discussion dominated by loud, vested interests • Crisis is under the surface • Fish is just not a polar bear • Lack of transparency • Lack of public scrutiny • Lack of political will and courage • Lack of champions and opportunities for political profiling Stop over-fishing or fishing will be over
Thank you for your attention mknigge@pewtrusts.org