Dutch Policy for the Northsea
fisheries and aquaculture sector
“The Dutch Approach”
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july 2012
European Union Common fisheries policy:
• Most important areas of action:
- Rules to ensure sustainability
- Monitoring size of the fleet
- Negotiation on behalf of EU countries
- Market: Fair price
- Supporting the development of a
dynamic aquaculture sector
- Funding scientific research and data collection
• Review policy in 2013: Focus: More sustainabililty; Greater role of
the markt and a more efficient Decision Making proces
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
The Dutch case !
• Fisheries sector faced problems:
- Decreased quota and days on sea
- Increased fuel costs
- Public criticism of methods
• Aquaculture sector is declining in size:
- Lack of entrepeneurship: not in line with market demands
- Market: consumer choose cheaper alternatives
- High labor costs
No sustainable future for the traditional fisheries and aquaculture
sector
Unless…………
3
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Key issues: Innovation & Coöperation
• Innovation to:
- save costs and energy
- increase the product quality, the value
of the chain
- reduce the impact on the ecosystem
• Coöperation with:
- other fisherman
- different parties in the fisheries/aquaculture supply chain
- the industry and the environmental groups
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Pillar 1: Fisheries Innovation Platform (FIP)
A Fisheries Innovation Platform was established tot support
fisherman in their search for innovation and cooperation
• Members: fishery/aquaculture-industry. NGO’s scientists, politics,
government. Supported by an advisory group (15 fisherman)
• Activities of the FIP:
- stimulate debate on the future of fisheries/aquaculture come up
with new ideas/solution
- increase awareness on the issues that have a change
Long term ambitions: To realise that the sea is our ecological and
economical gain; value creation is the key and …… fisherman
become maritime entrepeneurs
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Maritime entrepeneurs
• Fisherman should explore combining fishing with other maritime
business activities f.e.:
-
Maritime services at sea
Offshore
Seafarming
Maritime recreation and
eduction
- Ship maintenance and
- Mariculture
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Pillar 2: The European Fisheries Fund
• EFF Netherlands 2007 – 2014: € 120 mln
• Strong focus on measures of common interest; innovation/pilot
projects and collective actions
• Main instrument: tendering schemes in
order to support most promising projects
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Results in 2008 -2012
• 400 proposals submitted: 120 project selected
• More selective, sustainable gears:
(sumwing, pulstrawl, hydrorig)
• Fuel savings projects
• Pre selling
• Seafarming
• Hatchery breeding of
new species
• Fisheries Information and
Decision Support system
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Pillar 3: Fisheries study groups
• Fisherman formed study groups formulate
(with support of scientist):
- common questions and challenges
- answers and solutions
They:
• Meet on a frequent basis in free time
• Explore new techniques
• Exchange experiences
• Acces the knowledge of research
institutes (for free)
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Fisheries study groups:
• 14 fisheries study-groups organized by activity ex:
- twinrig fisheries, coastal fisheries
- pulse fisheries, mussel culture
- sustainable shrimp fisheries
- smart-entrepeneursship
• So: groups for and by fishermen
led by fisherman, not researchers
• Research budget is € 100.000
study-group year
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
The FIP <-> Blueports
•
2011: Shift: innovation
-> Bottom up instead of Top down
•
Realisation of 5 regional Blueports
•
‘Anchoring’ the national strive for
innovation and sustainability
by the FIP in the region
•
Also: one national Platform Fisheries
Innovation and Blueports
-> coordinating, facilitating
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
Some conclusions
“is the Dutch Innovation approach succesful? “
• The innovations climate in the North Sea Fisheries is changing,
progress is made in sustainability and profitability:
- up tot 120 pilot projects started
- 14 study groups of fisherman
- 150 fisherman have made a business plan
- 80% of the Dutch fisheriessector started MSC. ASC will be
developed.
- fishermen presented a Masterplan for the transition of the
whole Dutch beam trawler fleet
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Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation
"The Dutch Approach" Wilbert Schermer Voest
6 july
YES !!!!