Unreliable catch data, inspections of limited effectiveness, systems for following up infringements and imposing sanctions that are often inappropriate, in a context of overcapacity jeopardising compliance with the rules, are identified as the causes of the failure of the Common Fisheries Policy to maintain the sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources.
The report concludes that, “if the political authorities want the CFP to achieve its objective of sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources, the present control, inspection and sanction systems must be strengthened considerably”. The full report can be downloaded below.