DENMARK
The Danish Agrifish Agency
Reconciling sometimes conflicting interests
T
he Danish Agrifish Agency, part of the Ministry of Environment and Food, is responsible for creating the conditions necessary for the sustainable growth of fisheries, including aquaculture, and agriculture. The agency has three broad areas of operation – legislation, subsidies, and control – which are used to ensure that exploitation of the country’s natural resources balances the demands of the environment with that of industry. Bjørn Wirlander, Head of the EU and Fisheries Regulation Unit, and Anja
Gadgård Boye, Chief Advisor, speak here about some of the issues facing the Danish fisheries and aquaculture sector. Today there is increased focus on getting the maximum value from the catch for both economic and environmental reasons. Ensuring the catch is treated well from the very start of the value chain is a way to achieving this. How can the administration best support the fishermen in this process? This year although some of the quotas have declined, for
Bjørn Wirlander, Head of the EU and Fisheries Regulation Unit, Danish Agrifish Agency 34
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example cod in the Baltic, many of them have increased. For industrial species in the North Sea we are likely to have record quotas this year. Fishers are always interested in obtaining the best possible price for their catch and we are all part of a legislative framework that favours the sustainable exploration of stocks. This places many obligations on fishers, motivating them to target those fish species, which give the best price. These requirements have increased with the implementation of the landing obligation, which necessitates clever fishing to maximise profits. As the administration, we can assist the fishermen to obtain financial support through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for projects that can help them maximise value all along the value-chain, or develop ways of exploiting fish below the minimum size (the discard factor). In practical terms, we identify the possibilities they have and give them information about when they can apply and what they can apply for. For example, projects developing and testing more selective gear involving scientists, fishermen, and gear manufacturers have been funded. If they are found to work, fishers can seek a subsidy to switch to this equipment. Another initiative that is also funded through the EMFF is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, which is something that we support very strongly, as in some countries, Germany for instance,
Danish fish or mussels do not get on to the market unless they are certified. A new fisheries package that seeks to support the coastal fishery sector is currently being negotiated in the Danish parliament. What are the highlights of the package and what impact do you anticipate it will have on the coastal fishery sector? Two things that we can say for sure is that it will mean that the amount of fish distributed to the coastal fishermen is being increased to DKK80m or four times the amount of fish that was distributed in each of the last three years, making the small-scale fishers very satisfied. The package also includes a measure aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the coastal fisheries. This will divide the coastal fishers into two groups, one which locks the fishermen in against certain incentives, and the other which is open. So far about 60 fishermen have joined the locked group and about 140 the open category. Fishers who opt for the locked group will not be allowed to leave it. Their vessels, capacity, and quotas will enter the group and can only be sold to other members of the group. Renting quotas can also only be done within the group. These fishers will be entitled to an extra share of the additional amount that has been distributed to the coastal fishery. We anticipate that this group will consist of fishers who are the most