Better design, better targeting needed for sustainable development of aquaculture
A report published today by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) reveals that measures to support aquaculture in the period up to 2013 were not well designed and implemented at EU and Member State level, and that the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), as the funding instrument of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), failed to deliver value for money and effective support for the sustainable development of aquaculture.
Kevin Cardiff, the ECA Member responsible for the report, has commented that:
“We found that the main objectives for growth of the aquaculture sector have not been met, and the sector has stagnated for many years. While the financial crisis undoubtedly contributed to this stagnation, the overall framework to support the sector was not well designed, and the actual measures taken were weak. The projects we audited in the Member States were often poorly selected and, with some exceptions, did not deliver expected results or value for money, and contributed little to growth and employment. We hope that our observations and recommendations will be used as lessons learned for the implementation of the new EMFF measures for aquaculture starting this year. In that context, we note that the Commission has already indicated that it will act on various recommendations.”
Each year the EU produces about 1,3 million tonnes of fish from aquaculture, and the sector has a turnover of 4 billion euro. One of the aims of the CFP in the period up to 2013 was to encourage the sustainable development of aquaculture. Consequently, by May 2013, the EFF provided over 400 million euro to fund measures for productive investments in aquaculture, as well as environmental and health measures.
Special report (No 10/2014): The effectiveness of European Fisheries Fund support for aquaculture
Luxembourg , 16/09/2014