language version - Europa

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necessary synergies, for example between fleet management
and conservation of resources.
The new basic rules of the CFP have been in force since
1 January 2003. Its main themes are as follows:
CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES
The CFP provides for certain restrictions on access to waters
and resources. For example, a restricted zone is in force until
2012, restricting access to the 12-mile zone to fishing vessels
that traditionally fish in those waters. There are other examples
of restricted access, such as the Shetland Box. The principle
of relative stability, which governs access to resources
and is based on the allocation to each Member State of a fixed
percentage of catches for each stock, has been retained.
The CFP is far from having achieved the results anticipated in
terms of resource conservation. Thirty per cent of stocks are
currently below biological safety limits, and in the case of 80%
of stocks the sector’s yield is falling as a result of overfishing.
The 2002 reform was aimed at gradually implementing fisheries
management based on ecosystems. It adopted a longterm
vision with its implementation of multiannual plans
for attaining and/or maintaining safe stock levels. However,
deployment of the ecosystem-based approach comes up
against institutionalised decisions on the allocation of TACs
and quotas in the Council and, sometimes, against a lack of
the scientific knowledge needed to enable it to be applied.
The main conservation measures were more traditional, specifying
total allowable catches (TACs), a restriction on fishing
effort and technical measures (fishing gear and minimum
landing sizes). They also impose an obligation to record and
notify catches and landings.