Oceana deplores European Parliament approval of resolution to increase fuel subsidies

Today the European Parliament adopted a resolution that calls for an increase in ‘de minimis’ subsidies from 30.000 Euro to 60.000 Euro for a three year term..

Press Release Date: May 12, 2011

Location: Madrid

Contact:

Marta Madina | email: mmadina@oceana.org | tel.: Marta Madina

This type of subsidies is aimed at reducing the costs of fishing operations and grant cash that can be used to finance fuel expenses. Oceana is extremely disappointed in the approval of this resolution, as an increase in de minimis subsidies will incentivize fuel intensive and destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling. This resolution will also enhance fishing effort, causing further harm to the already overharvested European fish stocks.

“Efforts by the European Commission to steer fisheries funding towards reducing overcapacity in European fleets have been contradicted by the adoption of this resolution. Unfortunately today at the European Parliament short term economic interests won out over ecological sustainability and the protection of the environment and the fish resources,” said Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana Europe. This decision might please the short term interests of some large fishing companies but it in fact harms the economic interests of fishermen. Healthy fish stocks that are not overfished, are the economic foundation of their business. Oceana now urges the European Commission and Commissioner Damanaki to stand strong against this resolution and to reject the call to spend tax payers money on subsidies that add to the depletion of already overfished stocks”.

Learn more: Subsidies