Does the Common Fisheries Policy lack 'sustainability'?

In our series of ‘CAFÉ CROSSFIRE’ evening debates

Tuesday 28 April 2009

17.30 – 18.00  Welcome of Participants
18.00 – 19.00 Café Crossfire Evening Debate
19.00 – 19.30 Networking Cocktail

Bibliothèque Solvay, Brussels 

In the 40 years since its inception, the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has never been long out of the headlines. The tensions between safeguarding employment in traditional fishing centres and the need to conserve fish stocks have been inexorable. The position today is more alarming than ever amid increasing job losses in the fisheries sector and dire warnings by environmentalists that Europe’s fishing fleets still need further drastic cutbacks.

With Brussels and EU governments once again conducting a wide-ranging review of the CFP, what is the outlook for private certification schemes like that of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) which recognises and rewards sustainable fishing practices and encourages consumers to buy fish caught by sustainable standards? Are EU and national policy instruments and private sector initiatives complementary and can they be mutually supportive in the future?

Featuring:
- Poul Degnbol, Scientific Adviser at the European Commission Directorate  General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
- Rupert Howes, Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Stewardship Council
- Jürgen Marggraf, Vice President of Operations for Frosta
- Aaron McLoughlin, Head of the WWF European Marine Programme

Moderated by Giles Merritt, Secretary General of Friends of Europe

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