On Wednesday, July 29th, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Normunds Šmits participated in the informal meeting of EU fisheries ministers in Cork, Ireland, where Member States discussed the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and ways to promote generational shift in the fisheries sector.
The discussions were based on the European Commission’s (EC) evaluation of the CFP published in April this year, which identified generational shift as one of the key long-term challenges facing the sector. Member States agreed that the future of fisheries depends on making the sector more attractive to the younger generation while ensuring sustainable management of fish stocks and the development of coastal communities. Latvia also called for the current EU restrictions on fishing fleet modernisation to be reviewed and for sufficient EU funding to support fleet renewal.
“The Common Fisheries Policy must be able to adapt to today’s challenges. To ensure the long-term development of the sector, including generational shift, it is important to reduce the administrative burden, promote the modernisation of the fishing fleet and implement a fisheries policy focused on sustainability, economic progress and social viability,” stressed Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Normunds Šmits.
At the meeting, Latvia stressed that the future CFP needs to ensure a better balance between environmental, economic and social objectives. Any requirements must be proportionate and feasible, without creating unnecessary administrative burden for businesses operating in the sector.