Eggert discusses sustainable fisheries in the EU

Håkan Eggert, Associated Professor in Environmental Economics, University of Gothenburg, is one of the panelists in a European Parliament panel discussion on Sustainable fisheries in the EU – getting incentives right on April 25. Other panelists are other researchers, a Swedish Fishermen’s Federation representative and Members of the European Parliament such as Isabella Lövin, author of the renowned book Silent Seas (Tyst hav).

“EU fish stocks are to a large extent overexploited and EU fisheries have problems with overcapacity in terms of vessels and poor profitability.  EU must aim towards management where fishers and the industry are motivated by a long term stake in fisheries,” says Håkan Eggert, Associated Professor in Environmental Economics at School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg.

“Such incentives are given by Transferable Fishing Concessions (TFCs), which means that the right to catch a share of total landings for a fish species is well defined. Recent research shows that TFCs facilitate increased landing values and compliance with regulation and at the same time reduces the amount of fish that is wasted by discards. A more widespread use of TFCs within EU is one important step towards sustainable fisheries,” says Håkan Eggert.

A fisheries reform package is under discussion in the EU Parliament and the Council of Ministers with the aim of more sustainable Common Fisheries Policy. This includes both an overhaul of the basic regulation and the European Fund for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. This panel will discuss the use of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ incentives for sustainable fisheries and highlight how incentives in the CFP and EMFF proposals can reinforce or work against one another. Some of the incentives under discussion include the use of right based management (RBM) approaches under the form of the TFCs (transferable fishing concessions) and the use of subsidies.

The panel will critically assess how to ensure well-designed incentives (e.g. designed to accommodate fisheries’ individual characteristics and needs), and efficient implementation (including financial support) could lead to more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable fisheries.

The panel discussion takes place 25th April, 13.00 to 14.30, in the European Parliament, room ASP 3H1.

In the panel:Håkan Eggert, Associated Professor in Environmental Economics at School of Business, Economics and Law, University of GothenburgJesper Rakjaer, Professor and Head of Centre, Innovative Fisheries Management, Aalborg University, DenmarkChris Davies, MEP, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for EuropeGabriel Mato Adrover, MEP, Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats)Isabella Lövin, MEP, Group of the Greens/European Free AlliancePeter Olsson, Chair Demersal Committee, Swedish Fishermens FederationRaul Garcia, WWF Spain

Moderator:Erik Lindebo, PhD, Project Adviser, European Research Council Executive Agency, Brussels

Registration: Advance registration is required. No fee, but numbers are limited. Please indicate if you need an access pass to the European Parliament. A sandwich lunch will be provided. Go to registration: http://www.havsmiljoinstitutet.se/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=534196&lan…

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News | 19 April 2012