• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

"Fishing in the EU maritime area is increasingly unsustainable." Discuss this statement with reference to the Common Fisheries Policy.

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

European Union Essay "Fishing in the EU maritime area is increasingly unsustainable." Discuss this statement with reference to the Common Fisheries Policy. Sustainability of fishing is the ability to continue the practice of fishing indefinitely. This means that the amount of fish removed, are naturally replaced. Not only does fishing contribute to the depletion in the amount of fish available, but also factors such as pollution and the destruction of natural habitats/ resources will cause lower amounts of fish to naturally occur. In the EU fishing is becoming more unsustainable, and evidence of this is clear as in 1985about 1750 thousand tonnes of cod, haddock and hake were caught in the EU, within five years this had fallen to just 1050 thousand tonnes, and ever since 1990 it has reached no higher than 1150 in 1995. One of the biggest problems that fishing faces is the fact that the seas are not owned by any one particular country. ...read more.

Middle

Fishing effort is controlled by reducing the number of fishing fleets and by limiting the number of days spent at sea. Since 1993 EU money has been available for restructuring the economies of areas which are heavily dependent on fishing. This especially includes areas of Scotland, Portugal, Denmark and the Mediterranean. These areas may also receive Structural Funds, and since 2000 Objective 1 and Objective 2 status. These will aim to help the areas economies by diversification, job-creation, re-training and education. However although these have helped maintain the current fishing levels, they are not improving the levels of fish within the EU. By 2000 the amount of cod in the North Sea was just 1/10th of the level it was at in 1970, and as a result fishermen could not even achieve their cod quotas. As the cod supplies became more scarce, smaller fish grew in numbers due to less predators. ...read more.

Conclusion

As a result of receiving support from the EU diversification is occurring which is causing the fishing industry in those areas to be abolished, or at the very least in decline. In the long term this means that the fishing industry is going to take a long time to recover from the current slump. Even if the stocks of fish do increase and the EU increase the quotas and fishing effort, it is likely to take a long time for the fishing industry itself to be able to increase again to its former levels of 1970. In conclusion to this statement I believe that unless drastic measures are taken, beyond the current measures which are being taken by the CFP I believe that fishing in the EU is becoming increasingly unsustainable to the extent that it may never recover. However with tight regulations introduced by the CFP, and a change in fishing techniques the industry may be able to achieve a harmony with the environment and once again become sustainable. Sources: Geography for A2 Clive Hart http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/doc_et_publ/cfp_en.htm Mark Johnston 01/05/2007 1 ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level European Union section.

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

or


Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level European Union essays

  1. A clear explanation of key underpinning economic theories relevant to the EU.

    The enlargement of the European Union has created opportunities and treats for UK businesses. These treaties have created opportunities and treats for UK businesses, the Treaty of Rome allows movement between countries without any barriers. This means people are allowed to move from one country to another no matter if its for work or for a holiday.

  2. Free essay

    Labour and Conservative parties policies on the EU have become increasingly similar. Discuss. discuss

    France and Germany's economy was very sluggish and they needed interest rates to stay down so the people in those countries will borrow and spend more, so because the majority ruled against increasing interest rates Ireland had no choice but to keep interest rates low.

  1. The UN is an ineffective Peacekeeper. Discuss

    During this time of inaction approximately 50,000 people died. Next, the UN must possess sufficient resources and have the ability to have them transported to where they are required in order to be successful in peacekeeping operations. In Rwanda, alongside a mandate which left UN troops unable to defend civilians

  2. EU actorness in relation to Environment policy and Development policy: An evaluation.

    to make available personnel to partake in external diplomatic representation, visits and negotiations such as the availability of policing (like that in Bosnia) and representatives for judicial missions to advise (as in Georgia.) It also relates to economic instruments for example the granting and/or withholding its economic presence such as market access, aid and imposing sanctions.

  1. In 1957 the Common

    for 26% of its labour force in 1955 feared Germany with 18% (El-Agraa, Ali.M. 2001 pg 232) may take its place as the dominant force in E.U industry. It was imperative for France to protect its Farmers. On this matter it is only when reforms are mentioned does the Common Agricultural Policy become controversial.

  2. Back ground information about the EU

    Also the EU competition policy means that UK businesses may have to change ways in which they conduct business with their customer. Monetary policy The European Monetary Institute was set up in 1994.

  1. Sustainable development or fish eat fish world? 'EU external trade policy'.

    At that time most attention was paid to the EC Treaty. In the context of external relations, this is due to mainly two factors. First, the EC Treaty established a customs union with common tariffs (now Articles 23 to 27)

  2. What do You Think are the Main Obstacles to a Coherent Common European Security ...

    In another words, the main obstacle to the development of a 'military Europe' is still from the national sovereignty of member states as decisions and implementations of CFSP/ESDP depends more on the political will of member states than on the EU level.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work