By 2007 (last available complete figures), the total number of full time jobs in the EUfisheries sector (including catching, aquaculture, processing and ancillary services to theother segments) was close to 355,000. The catching segment accounted for close to145,000 (46%), processing for 137,000 (34%) and aquaculture for 55,000 jobs (16%).Ancillary services accounted for the remaining 4% (18,000). The small scale coastalfleets (vessels under 12 meters with passive gears) represent around 40% of theemployment in the catching sector and ca 80% of the EU fishing vessels.Compared with the whole of the EU economy, the EU fisheries sector represents lessthan 0.2% of total EU employment. However, in some Member States (e.g. Greece,1.5%), or regions (e.g. Galicia, Spain, 3%), or coastal communities (e.g. Killybegs,Ireland, 68%) the sector is an important source of jobs. Employment trends are negative,in line with the evolution of most primary sectors in the EU - since 2002 the employmentdeclined by 31% in the catching segment and by 16% in aquaculture. In processingemployment decreased only by 6.5% since this industry increasingly relies on importsfrom various MS or from third countries.2.W

HAT ARE THE SOCIAL ISSUES IN THE

FISHERIES SECTOR

In addition to the abovedecline in employment(particularly in the catching sector), theCFP reform Impact Assessment identified as a key problem alow attractivenessof thecatching sector, particularly for new generations of fishermen. A recent study of 24coastal communities shows that fleets have increasing difficulties to complete crews withlocal, well qualified people and have to resort to foreigners or –in small scale fleets- tocontinue working even beyond the legal retirement age.That lack of attractiveness is the result of relatively low wages (compared with jobsashore) combined with hard working conditions and safety concerns. In addition,thenumber of jobs depending on the fisheries sector is declining in the majority ofcoastal areaswhich puts some of them at risk of not being viable in the future.Furthermore the aquaculture activity in Europe has stagnated in recent years, thus failingto provide the much needed jobs in inland and coastal areas of Europe. Aquaculture hasthe potential to create more attractive jobs (average salaries being higher and workingconditions better than in capture fisheries) but the potential of this activity has not beenfully unlocked in Europe.3.W

HAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE

CFP

IS NOT REFORMED

Social sustainability is one of the core CFP objectives and the reformed CFP aims atachieving the following mid and long-term social objectives:•reversing the decline in employment in the fisheries sector, particularly in catching;•increasing the attractiveness of the fisheries sector and turning it into a source of highquality jobs;•ensuring the viability of coastal communities by promoting economic growth andjobs;•facilitating the transition to a sustainable fishing;•unlock the potential of European aquaculture to expand and create new jobs in inlandas well as in marine aquaculture.All tools of the new CFP would need to contribute to achieving these objectives;however the main tool of the new CFP in this respect is the new European Maritime andFisheries Fund (EMFF). Compared to the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), the EMFFbrings about a fundamental change of approach to public funding to the fisheries sectorthrough a focus on collective actions and on the viability of coastal areas rather than fleetsubsidies benefitting mostly vessel owners. Therefore, the EMFF proposes to eliminatemost of the current fleet measures and instead use this part of the funding for achievingeconomic viability of the fleets and aquaculture sector (innovation, value added andmarketing) and for the promotion of the development and diversification of areasdepending on fishing.5.H

OW

O REVERSE THE DECLINE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FISHERIES SECTOR

Achieving environmental sustainability as quickly as possible is a precondition for socialsustainability. The simulations in the CFP reform Impact Assessment show that onceMSY levels are achieved, TACs will go up; the overall increase being at least 20% by2020.Such a significant increase has a potential to create new jobs in the catchingsector,as shown by the fact that, according to the simulations, employment per vesselincreases already after 2017. This is also in line with experience of countries such asNew Zealand, where the use of management instruments allowing for the transition tosustainable fishing, very similar to those proposed by CFP reform, ultimately resulted inincreases in catches and, consequently, in employing more capital and manpower in thefleets.It is also in line with the EU's own experience as 13 EU stocks are already at MSY leveland some others will reach it in one or two years. That has allowed for TAC increases for2012 (e.g. herring in Celtic Sea, cod in Irish Sea, anglerfish in the South West Atlanticand North Sea Herring to mention only a few). It is precisely these TAC increases thathelp to maintain employment in the sector and represent a significant source of additionalincome for fishermen. As examples, these increases may represent an additional incomeof €10 million for herring fishermen in the Celtic Sea, an additional €13 million for codfishermen in the Irish Sea or €12 million more income for anglerfish fishermen in theWest Atlantic. The biggest increase will be felt by the herring fishermen in the North Seawhose income may double to €212 million following the sustainable management of thisstock towards MSY 2015.2

However, the problem associated to MSY objectives is the hard transition period, whereadditional short-term job losses are to be expected in EU fleets dependent on overfishedstocks and showing overcapacity, which characterises the majority of EU stocks. Supportwill be available under the new EMFF to help fishermen navigate the transition period toenvironmental sustainability. However, the above data are clear proof that the economicreward for the short-term difficulties is well worth the effort and what is more, theadditional economic wealth will have a positive impact on all coastal areas in the EU.Increased catches and aquaculture production would also createadditional employmentin processing.In that respect, estimations show that at least 4,500 additional jobs will becreated in processing, mostly in fisheries-dependent coastal areas.The increased focus of the CFP on aquaculture should also bring about additional jobs inthat segment, under the condition that Member States give the right priority toaquaculture in the context of their national management of potential inland aquaculturesites and coastal areas. It is also expected that jobs will be created under the current Axis4 of the EFF, which starts to bear fruit now and will continue to do so until 2015.Finally, estimations in the EMFF Impact Assessment, based on the experience ofLEADER on which Axis 4 has been modelled, show that abigger focus on theterritorial development pillar could allow creating some 12,500 jobs in coastal areasby 2022, both within and beyond the maritime sector.6.H

OW TO INCREASE THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE FISHERIES SECTOR

Improving the attractiveness, particularly of the catching sector, requires actionsintended, on one hand, to increase income and wages, and, on the other, to improveworking conditions, training and safety.Fishing on sustainable stocks would also increase income and wages: simulations donefor the Impact Assessment of the CFP reform show that theaverage wages under thereformed CFP will nearly doublein comparison to what would happen in the absenceof reform.The following measures under the EMFF aim atreducing fishing costs or increasingincome:•Measures to facilitate the transition to environmentally sustainable CFP: the purchaseof selective gears, investment in equipment allowing storing discards on board andinvestments on the necessary port facilities to land unwanted catches, etc;•support to marketing and business development intended to improve income throughmore involvement in selling and marketing their products. Support to product quality,labelling and certification, and to the development of new markets;•better market organisation through the reinforced support to Producers Organisationsand through promotion of collective projects carried by fisheries organisations; and•focus on innovation in order to promote new ideas and products across the valuechain.•support to new activities carried by fishermen which might complement their income(involvement in NATURA 2000 management, litter collection).The EMFF will be also an important tool forimproving working conditions, trainingand safety.In that respect, it will support:3

•safety and health measures, including both on board modernisation and individualsafety equipment and contributing to better working conditions;•professional advice and training eligible to spouses of fishers and helping them to runfamily's fisheries business; and•vocational training, re-qualification and life-long learning.All these actions should significantly improve the attractiveness of jobs, particularly ofthe catching sector. They need however, to be given priority by Member States in theEMFF Operational Programmes. CFP reform tools give Member States a significantmargin of manoeuvre to define and achieve social objectives with the only condition thatnational preferences do not jeopardise the potential of the CFP reform to achieveenvironmental sustainability in the short term.A quick ratification by MS of two important Conventions concerning fishermen, i.e. theILO Convention C 188 on work in fishing and the IMO Convention on Standards ofTraining, Certification and Watchkeeping for fishing vessel personnel will be importantto further enhance the attractiveness of the sector.The Commission will give an immediate boost to the aquaculture sector so as toovercome the stagnation that has characterised this economic activity over the last 15years in the EU. In order to do so, the EMFF proposes to enlarge the scope of eligibleactions to foster aquaculture activities. These actions will aim at improvedcompetitiveness and viability of farms and will also focus on the improvement of imageand consumer perception and on tailored planning of production and marketing. Newforms of income in aquaculture would also be stimulated by promoting high-valueproducts, niche market development, inland aquaculture, multi-trophic aquaculture, etc,and increased respect of norms on environment, health and animal welfare. Aquacultureoperators would also receive support for advisory services on business development, andon conversion to eco-management and organic aquaculture and providing ofenvironmental services.Member States should also contribute to developing EU aquaculture by administrativesimplification, securing allocation of waters and space and facilitating new entrants to theindustry. They should also take an active role in the future open method of coordination,which can be a powerful tool for national strategy development.7.H

OW TO ENSURE THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF COASTAL COMMUNITIES

The EMFF focuses on people, particularly small scale fishermen and on coastal areasdepending on fishing.The focus on small scale fishermen is achieved by the inclusion of dedicated measures(such as business advisory services), by a higher aid intensity and by the creation of thelink between the financial allocation and the share of these fleets. Beyond the EMFF, thenew CFP would maintain the current access limitations in the 12 nautical miles watersand existing provisions in relation to control, such as the derogation to the vesselmonitoring system equipment.Regarding coastal communities, the EMFF builds on the success of the current Axis 4 ofthe EFF with increased funding options for sustainable development of fisheries areas,optional co-ordination of EMFF with local funding strands available under ERDF andEARDF, and with more funding available overall.4

Integrated local development strategies should become a tool for coastal areas to promotenew employment opportunities, within and beyond the fisheries sector. The potential forthis economic diversification is broad and includes job creation in the dynamicallyexpanding new maritime sectors, such as pesca-tourism and valorisation of fisheriescultural heritage. At the same time, they can support the increase of the contribution offisheries and aquaculture activities to local economies through actions aiming atincreasing their value.The EMFF also includes, for the first time, an IMP pillar, managed centrally. Itsimplementation will help to explore new possibilities of growth and jobs the maritimeeconomy and coastal regions.Member States can also take additional measures under EFF, by directing more towardsAxis 4 as a way to speed up the process of job creation which in many coastal areas hasalready started.Finally, closer co-ordination of EU funding – through Common Strategic Framework,Partnerships Contracts and Community-led Local Development – opens up newpossibilities for creation of jobs in fisheries dependent areas. For example, EuropeanSocial Fund can be used for re-training and getting new skills for fishermen whileprojects aiming at urban re-generation funded under ERDF can directly benefit coastalcommunities.

HAT IS THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF THE

S FISHERIES SECTOR