The Role of Partnerships in the Governance of Fisheries Within the European Union

Abstract

There is a lack of confidence in the ability of the European Union (EU) to solve outstanding and urgent problems, and there is criticism of its institutions and distrust of the way power is exercised. The loss of faith is especially strong over the management of fisheries. After 30 years of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), those fisheries are in a state of crisis. Emergency measures have been imposed following years of management failure. One of the most obvious flaws has been the failure of the Commission to involve stakeholders in shaping fisheries policy and delivering fisheries management measures. Yet people often give of their best when they are brought together to resolve problems and take decisions themselves, with experts serving as advisers and facilitators. Within the North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership (NSCFP), fishers have recently been working together with scientists and technical experts to resolve some of the difficulties in assessing the state of the North Sea fish stocks. Soon, a new organisation — the North Sea Regional Advisory Council (NSRAC) — will be formed to take this initiative further and provide advice on fisheries management directly to the Commission. The new Council will require a significant change in working culture on the part of all those involved, and especially by the European Commission.

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