- An important and encouraging proposal for reform of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy

- The reform proposals presented today signal a new direction for the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy. I fully support Commissioner Damanaki’s efforts to secure sustainable fisheries and I am especially satisfied with the proposal to introduce a ban on discards, said Norway’s Minister for Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Lisbeth Berg-Hansen.

The European Commission today presented its proposals for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy for 2013-2022. The European Union and Norway have a common responsibility to manage joint stocks in the North Sea and in Skagerrak. Therefore the reform is also of interest to Norway. The Commission proposes to introduce a ban on discard of fish over a period of three years starting from 2014.

- The reduction of discards is the most pressing issue for our joint management efforts. I am convinced that a discard ban in the EU-fisheries will be beneficial for the ecosystems, as well as for both the EU and the Norwegian fishing industries in the long run. A discard ban, accompanied by adequate technical measures enabling fishermen to respect the ban, is an integral part of a responsible fisheries management policy, and it is encouraging that Commissioner Damanaki shares this view, said Berg-Hansen.

The reform proposals also reflect that overcapacity is a serious concern for the European fisheries sector, and new measures are introduced to address the structural problem of overcapacity.

- Overcapacity is a fundamental challenge to fisheries management. Capacity adjustment measures are never easy to implement, but based on our experience such measures are necessary to improve industry profitability and secure sustainability, Berg-Hansen said.