Shift Fisheries Subsidies, Says the Public

Issue Brief
Projects: OCEAN2012
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Shift Fisheries Subsidies, Says the Public

The results of an EU-wide poll by OCEAN2012 member group Green Budget Europe on the public’s perception of fisheries subsidies clearly indicates that they have a strong opinion on how their money should be spent in the European fisheries sector.

  • 68 percent of respondents expressed the opinion that subsidies should invested in stock maintenance and rebuilding measures, such as data collection and control and enforcement, instead of fleet-related issues;
  • 76 percent of respondents want fisheries subsidies not to be granted before proper fleet assessments have been carried out;
  • 80 percent do not agree with giving subsidies to fishermen who have broken fisheries law.

Public discussion about subsidies for energy or agriculture has been widespread and thorough, however, there has been little public debate on fisheries subsidies and their negative effects. Despite, or perhaps because of this fisheries subsidies are commonly linked to overfishing.  

"Public opinion of EU citizens should be taken seriously when EU Fisheries Ministers decide on the future of fisheries subsidies", said Damian Ludewig, Director of Green Budget Germany (GBG). On October 22 & 23 2012, EU Fisheries Ministers are scheduled to reach a preliminary agreement on how the EU should subsidise the European Fisheries sector in the future.

“Public opinion of EU citizens should be taken seriously when EU Fisheries Ministers decide on the future of fisheries subsidies”

Damian Ludewig, Director of Green Budget Germany