Post by wnion on May 20, 2006 7:30:40 GMT -1
Written By: EAA, European Anglers Alliance and EFTTA, European Fishing Tackle Trade Association
On Date: 19/5/2006
- unhappy with no mention in the proposal for the new European Fisheries Fund
Yesterday, 18 May the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) and the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA)delivered a letter of concern to the European Council.
The Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries will meet in Brussels Monday 22 May. They are set to reach a political agreement on a Regulation that will establish the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) from 2007-2013.
Recreational angling or sportfishing has no mention at all on any of the Regulation’s 86 pages.
For years we have been informing the EU that there are recreational fishermen as well as commercial fishermen in the community. However, the EU continues to treat Europe's 25 million recreational anglers as an inferior group that 'fish for fun'.
What continues to be overlooked is the economic value and numbers of jobs that recreational angling generates. In many countries in the EU recreational angling is of higher economic value and creates more jobs than commercial fishing. Despite this the EU’s fisheries policies and funding programmes continue to shy away from any mention of the recreational angling sector.
Recreational anglers, sportfishermen and recreational fisheries are rarely used terms in the EU vocabulary.The EU could learn a great deal from the US, Canada and Australia where recreational fishing is a sector with its own identity and given an importance equal to commercial fisheries.
We are convinced from reading the European Fisheries Fund proposal that recreational angling is not excluded in benefiting from EFF funding programmes. However, to avoid any confusion in the future we urge ministers to make sure that recreational angling and its dependant industries is included in the final text.
ENDS
Further below: Letter to the European Council, Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries
--------------------------------
Note for editors:
Council meeting, Agriculture and Fisheries, agenda 22-23 May: www.eu2006.at/en/News/Background_Information/2205BackgroundAgriFish.pdf
FIFG, 'the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance' comes to an end in 2006.
The EFF is the FIFG successor programme, tabled by the Commission on 14 July 2004: 'Proposal for a Council Regulation on a European Fisheries Fund' eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2004/com2004_0497en01.pdf
EAA, the European Anglers Alliance is the pan-European recreational angling body representing more than five million affiliated anglers in 18 European States and acts to protect the interests of 25 million anglers throughout Europe. Anglers in Europe spend minimum € 25 billion per year on equipment, transportation and lodging etc.
EFTTA, the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association is an international, non-political, independent association to serve the European fishing tackle trade by campaigning to promote sportfishing, environmental issues and international business. Membership is open to manufacturers, wholesalers, agents, press and related organisations in the tackle industry. EFTTA currently has over 200 European members. There are, within the European Union, 2,900 companies, manufacturers, and wholesalers) trading in recreational fishing tackle, making an annual turnover of € 5 billion and representing 60,000 jobs. The fishing tackle trade serves Europe’s 25 mill. recreational anglers through 12,900 Tackle shops that employ another 39,000 people.
------------------------
Concerning the AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES COUNCIL -Brussels, 22 May 2006
Agenda item: European Fisheries Fund − Proposal for a Council Regulation
Att. The President of the Council Agriculture and Fisheries,
Mr Josef Pröll
Brussels 18 May 2006
Dear Ministers,
There is no explicit mention of recreational fisheries on any of the 86 pages relating to the new fisheries fund.
Perhaps there is a reason that it is not mentioned? However, it is not in line with equitable and modern thinking.
We hope you will consider giving recreational fishing a positive mention ’somewhere’ in the Council Regulation.
A single mention would suffice even this late in the day, such as the following sentence added in an appropriate
place: 'this regulation does not exclude funding of recreational fisheries programs'.
If more text is required, the US Magnuson-Stevens Act (*) is a good document from which to seek inspiration. In this basic document for fishery conservation and management in the US, recreational fishing is mentioned several times as a sector with its own identity and given an importance equal to commercial fisheries. A couple of quotes from the act:
FINDINGS. --The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) The fish off the coasts of the United States, the highly migratory species of the high seas, the species which dwell on or in the Continental Shelf appertaining to the United States, and the anadromous species which spawn in United States rivers or estuaries, constitute valuable and renewable natural resources. These fishery resources contribute to the food supply, economy, and health of the Nation and provide
recreational opportunities
104-297(..)
(3) Commercial and recreational fishing constitutes a major source of employment and contributes significantly to the economy of the Nation.’
(9) One of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats.
104-297
(3) The term "charter fishing" means fishing from a vessel carrying a passenger for hire (as defined in section 2101(21a) of title 46, United States Code) who is engaged in recreational fishing.
* Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Public Law 94-265, as amended through October 11, 1996. AN ACT to provide for the conservation and management of the fisheries, and for other purposes. J.Feder version (12/19/96).
A copy of the Act is available on the NOAA site:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/magact/magact.html
Yours sincerely,
Lelio Nahum, President of the EFTTA
Peter Mohnert, President of the EAA
--------------------
EAA and EFTTA Brussels office
47 Rue du Luxembourg,
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +32 (0)2 286 5956
Fax +32 (0)2 286 5958
E-mail: email@eaa-europe.org and info@eftta.com
On Date: 19/5/2006
- unhappy with no mention in the proposal for the new European Fisheries Fund
Yesterday, 18 May the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) and the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA)delivered a letter of concern to the European Council.
The Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries will meet in Brussels Monday 22 May. They are set to reach a political agreement on a Regulation that will establish the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) from 2007-2013.
Recreational angling or sportfishing has no mention at all on any of the Regulation’s 86 pages.
For years we have been informing the EU that there are recreational fishermen as well as commercial fishermen in the community. However, the EU continues to treat Europe's 25 million recreational anglers as an inferior group that 'fish for fun'.
What continues to be overlooked is the economic value and numbers of jobs that recreational angling generates. In many countries in the EU recreational angling is of higher economic value and creates more jobs than commercial fishing. Despite this the EU’s fisheries policies and funding programmes continue to shy away from any mention of the recreational angling sector.
Recreational anglers, sportfishermen and recreational fisheries are rarely used terms in the EU vocabulary.The EU could learn a great deal from the US, Canada and Australia where recreational fishing is a sector with its own identity and given an importance equal to commercial fisheries.
We are convinced from reading the European Fisheries Fund proposal that recreational angling is not excluded in benefiting from EFF funding programmes. However, to avoid any confusion in the future we urge ministers to make sure that recreational angling and its dependant industries is included in the final text.
ENDS
Further below: Letter to the European Council, Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries
--------------------------------
Note for editors:
Council meeting, Agriculture and Fisheries, agenda 22-23 May: www.eu2006.at/en/News/Background_Information/2205BackgroundAgriFish.pdf
FIFG, 'the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance' comes to an end in 2006.
The EFF is the FIFG successor programme, tabled by the Commission on 14 July 2004: 'Proposal for a Council Regulation on a European Fisheries Fund' eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2004/com2004_0497en01.pdf
EAA, the European Anglers Alliance is the pan-European recreational angling body representing more than five million affiliated anglers in 18 European States and acts to protect the interests of 25 million anglers throughout Europe. Anglers in Europe spend minimum € 25 billion per year on equipment, transportation and lodging etc.
EFTTA, the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association is an international, non-political, independent association to serve the European fishing tackle trade by campaigning to promote sportfishing, environmental issues and international business. Membership is open to manufacturers, wholesalers, agents, press and related organisations in the tackle industry. EFTTA currently has over 200 European members. There are, within the European Union, 2,900 companies, manufacturers, and wholesalers) trading in recreational fishing tackle, making an annual turnover of € 5 billion and representing 60,000 jobs. The fishing tackle trade serves Europe’s 25 mill. recreational anglers through 12,900 Tackle shops that employ another 39,000 people.
------------------------
Concerning the AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES COUNCIL -Brussels, 22 May 2006
Agenda item: European Fisheries Fund − Proposal for a Council Regulation
Att. The President of the Council Agriculture and Fisheries,
Mr Josef Pröll
Brussels 18 May 2006
Dear Ministers,
There is no explicit mention of recreational fisheries on any of the 86 pages relating to the new fisheries fund.
Perhaps there is a reason that it is not mentioned? However, it is not in line with equitable and modern thinking.
We hope you will consider giving recreational fishing a positive mention ’somewhere’ in the Council Regulation.
A single mention would suffice even this late in the day, such as the following sentence added in an appropriate
place: 'this regulation does not exclude funding of recreational fisheries programs'.
If more text is required, the US Magnuson-Stevens Act (*) is a good document from which to seek inspiration. In this basic document for fishery conservation and management in the US, recreational fishing is mentioned several times as a sector with its own identity and given an importance equal to commercial fisheries. A couple of quotes from the act:
FINDINGS. --The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) The fish off the coasts of the United States, the highly migratory species of the high seas, the species which dwell on or in the Continental Shelf appertaining to the United States, and the anadromous species which spawn in United States rivers or estuaries, constitute valuable and renewable natural resources. These fishery resources contribute to the food supply, economy, and health of the Nation and provide
recreational opportunities
104-297(..)
(3) Commercial and recreational fishing constitutes a major source of employment and contributes significantly to the economy of the Nation.’
(9) One of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats.
104-297
(3) The term "charter fishing" means fishing from a vessel carrying a passenger for hire (as defined in section 2101(21a) of title 46, United States Code) who is engaged in recreational fishing.
* Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Public Law 94-265, as amended through October 11, 1996. AN ACT to provide for the conservation and management of the fisheries, and for other purposes. J.Feder version (12/19/96).
A copy of the Act is available on the NOAA site:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/magact/magact.html
Yours sincerely,
Lelio Nahum, President of the EFTTA
Peter Mohnert, President of the EAA
--------------------
EAA and EFTTA Brussels office
47 Rue du Luxembourg,
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +32 (0)2 286 5956
Fax +32 (0)2 286 5958
E-mail: email@eaa-europe.org and info@eftta.com