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Outcome of Agriculture/Fisheries Council of May 2004
EU - Two main items were on the agenda for discussion by the May 2004 Fisheries Council. Noting that this was their first Fisheries Council meeting since Enlargement on 1st May, Commissioner Fischler welcomed the Fisheries Ministers from the 10 new Member States.
The first agenda item concerned the creation of Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) specifically designed to enable the fishing industry and other stakeholders to have an input in the Common Fisheries Policy management process. The second related to the modification of a number of provisions under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) to make funding available for the implementation of the strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture.
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector
The Council discussed the Commission proposal on changing some provisions under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) to allow for the implementation of the strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture which was part of the CFP reform (IP/02/1340). It also discussed some proposed changes in relation to the catching sector.
In aquaculture, the changes agreed include the allocation of compensation to shellfish farming businesses forced to suspend harvesting due to the presence of toxic algae for more than four consecutive months or over shorter periods of concentrated sales when their losses represent more than 35% of their annual turn-over. Turn-over will be calculated as an average over the previous three years.
Other changes involve the granting of financial support for small-scale, applied research and technological development projects in aquaculture; a reduction of public support rates for investment in the construction of new intensive fish farms from a maximum of 60 to 50% of eligible expenditure in Objective 1 regions and from a maximum of 40 to 30 % in other regions; an increased public contribution for fish farming projects which have a positive impact on the environment to a maximum of 70% and 50% respectively for regions under Objective One and those outside Objective One and the identification of priorities for aquaculture in the programmes benefiting from FIFG support..
The proposed changes in funding to the catching sector concern principally the allocation of aid in relation to the establishment of recovery plans for stocks in danger of collapse and aid to acquire acoustic devices for some fishing nets.
In the case of recovery plans, the rate of compensation for fishermen leaving the industry because they lose their jobs due to the scrapping of the vessel on which they were employed or its reconverting to other fisheries, will be increased. Aid will also be available, under certain conditions, for the replacement of fishing gear onboard vessels forced by a recovery plan to end their participation in the fisheries concerned and to use different fishing gear to target other species. The Council also decided that expenditure linked to the fitting of acoustic devices (pingers) on fishing nets in application of the Council rules designed to reduce by-catches of small cetaceans in the fisheries concerned will be eligible for EU support (MEMO/04/69).
Source: European Commission - 26th May
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