Fishing for a Future: The Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy

This paper outlines the history of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) from an Irish perspective, before identifying the perceived failures of the current policy and proposing nine options for reform. These options seek to set out realistic and practical steps to secure the future of the Irish and European fishing industry.

This paper is published in the context of a broad-based consultation by the European Commission with Member States and stakeholders, with a view to bringing about fundamental reform of the CFP. This offers a timely opportunity to address the cycle of decline in which the Irish and European fisheries industry has been trapped in recent decades.

It is against this background that the IIEA has submitted this paper to the Irish and European consultation process. The paper, which was compiled by Killian Kehoe and informed by dialogue with industry stakeholders, is being circulated to key policy-makers and thought-leaders in the sector with a view to stimulating further debate and encouraging vital changes to the CFP. This follows a successful panel discussion on 8th October 2009 at the institute on 'the Reform of the CFP' with Dr. Reinhard Priebe of the European Commission, and Lorcán Ó'Cinnéide, Chief Executive of the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation.