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EFCA executive director, Pascal Savouret. (Photo: EC)
EFCA maintains EUR 9.2 million budget
 EUROPEAN UNION
Friday, October 12, 2012, 02:30 (GMT + 9)
The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) approved the 2013-2017 multiannual work programme, the annual programme and budget for next year, which will amount to EUR 9.2 million, the same amount as the final figure for accounts in 2012.
Next year's budget will have to be finally approved by the budgetary authorities of the European Union (EU) in the coming weeks.
It is expected that by 2013, the Agency addresses the implementation of joint deployment plans and coordination tasks to be undertaken from the EFCA operational room.
The ongoing deployment plans focus on cod and salmon in the Baltic Sea; cod in the North Sea and part of the western waters; the pelagic species in Western waters; areas and species regulated by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) and the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC); and bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.
Furthermore, the Agency will support Bulgaria and Romania to monitor the turbot.
The agency will carry out its main tasks "while adapting to the implementation of multi-specific control and inspection programmes that will be decided by the European Commission (EC) in line with the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)," the EFCA states.
In 2013, the fish inspection manual is nearing completion and, notes, "their contribution will be an important input for the implementation of the CFP to be performed in an effective and uniform way," the agency Europa Press reported.
Furthermore, "horizontal support activities" will be developed, such as reflection on banning discards, maritime surveillance and possible new developments, improved IT projects and the acquisition of new media by the member States.
The cooperation with third countries on the EC’s request will also be addressed, in particular with:
- Norway in the North Sea and the joint deployment plan for pelagic species in Western waters;
- Russia in the Baltic Sea and NAFO-NEAFC;
- Canada and the United States, and the Mediterranean and third countries in the Black Sea.
According to the EFCA executive director, Pascal Savouret, the reform of the CFP in 2013 will offer "a good opportunity to achieve sustainable fisheries and the compliance with the rules." And he emphasized that "the efficient control in Europe is central to achieving this goal."
So far in 2012, the EFCA has detected 400 infringements in almost 10,000 inspections, the newspaper Faro de Vigo reported.
Related article:
- EU agency records 'slight decrease' of fishing infringements
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
Photo Courtesy of FIS Member  European Commission - Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
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