Management Plan 2017 - European Commission · Management Plan 2017 DG Maritime Affairs and...

Management Plan 2017

DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Ref. Ares(2017)552077 - 01/02/2017

Contents

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 3

PART 1. MAIN OUTPUTS FOR THE YEAR ......................................................................... 5

PART 2. MAIN ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT OUTPUTS FOR THE YEAR ... 26

INTRODUCTION

DG MARE aims to contribute to the following four general objectives of the Commission:

General objective I: A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment

General objective II: A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate

Change Policy

General objective III: Towards a New Policy on Migration

General objective IV: A Stronger Global Actor

Three specific objectives contribute to the general objectives of our policies as indicated in the graph below. It represents the main inter-linkages between the specific objectives

and the general objectives. It does not exclude other links such as the contribution from

specific objective 3 to general objectives I, II and III taking into account that improved ocean governance creates business opportunities for EU operators (general objective I),

promotes ocean energy (general objective II) and contributes to sustainable use of resources in developing countries, thereby limiting migration incentives (general objective

III).

Oceans and seas are a source of jobs, growth and investment. However, this depends on

keeping them healthy and well-managed. To boost ocean-related jobs, growth and investment, we need to take better care of our marine and maritime resources – both in

Europe and around the world.

Building on the President's Agenda for Jobs and Growth and Commissioner Vella's Mission Letter, and in pursuit of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14

"Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resource for sustainable development", DG MARE will therefore focus on two main political priorities for 2017:

implementing the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP); and promoting ocean governance, in particular in the Mediterranean.

The reformed CFP recognises that preventing overfishing and allowing overexploited stocks to recover is the best way of keeping European fishermen in business. That is why

it aims to ensure sustainable EU fisheries by 2020 at the latest. Implementing the CFP will

continue throughout 2017, with multi-annual management plans, new discard plans and the Commission's proposal for a new technical measures framework featuring as

prominent elements.

More broadly, DG MARE intends to build on the EU's position as a global champion of

sustainably managed oceans by following up on the Joint Communication on International Ocean Governance, in particular in the context of the Maltese Presidency and the Our

Ocean conference to be hosted by the EU in October.

The Commission is working towards a ministerial declaration of all riparian countries for

sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean ('the MEDFISH4EVER Declaration'), as

follow-up to the Declaration of the ministerial conference for the sustainable development of fisheries in the Mediterranean adopted in November 2003 ('the Venice Declaration').

This new ministerial declaration is envisaged for March 2017.

DG MARE is preparing an initiative for 2017 on the sustainable development of the blue

economy in the Western Mediterranean, following up on the Union for Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration on the Blue Economy endorsed in November 2015.

The blue economy offers new opportunities: through new technologies such as underwater robotics or DNA sequencing, new targets such as reduction of carbon

emissions, new skills coming from a more-educated workforce and new demand from

rapidly developing economies in Asia, as well as shortages of land and freshwater.

All blue economy sectors stand to benefit, whether it's by developing new products and

services in traditional maritime areas like shipping, shipbuilding, aquaculture and coastal tourism, or developing entirely new industries like ocean energy or marine biotech.

Taken together, our work on the CFP and ocean governance in 2017 will put the EU firmly on the path of a sustainable fishing sector and thriving coastal communities.

PART 1. MAIN OUTPUTS FOR THE YEAR

General objective I: A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment

The Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) indicator measures the potential for economic growth derived from the sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources. Fishing at

MSY means fishing at a rate such that the average long-term catches are the highest that the stock can provide over the long-term. This ensures stable revenue for fishermen. The

fishing mortality rate is the annual catch divided by the annual average biomass of exploitable fish in the sea.

In line with the new CFP, multiannual plans should be introduced and contain conservation measures to restore fish stocks at level capable of producing MSY. Such a

multi-annual management plan has already been adopted for the Baltic Sea, whereas

another one is under negotiation for mixed fisheries in the North Sea. In order to fulfil the obligation of the new CFP and achieve MSY, it is considered necessary to develop new

multiannual management plans for the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, in particular, for South Western and North Western Waters, as well as small pelagic species in the Western

Mediterranean, demersal species in the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea and at a later stage demersal species in the Aegean Sea and small pelagic species in the Aegean Sea.

In addition, for all catches of species which are subject to catch limits and, in the

Mediterranean, also catches of species which are subject to minimum sizes defined in

Annex III to the Mediterranean Regulation, the landing obligation is to be applied

progressively and by 2019 at the latest.

The adoption by the legislators of a new technical measures framework will be an

important step towards the reduction of unwanted catches, the elimination of discards,

better selectivity and protection of juveniles and spawning grounds, thus contributing to

the sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources.

By helping Member States remove barriers to the development of aquaculture, technical

workshops on reducing administrative burdens organised in an Open Method of

Coordination will contribute to jobs, growth and investment in this key sector.

Through the exchange of fishery data, landing obligations are better monitored avoiding

discards and protecting juveniles or fish below minimum conservation reference size,

thereby contributing to sustainability.

The new national plans under the data collection framework will provide data for sound

scientific advice needed for the implementation of the CFP.

Relevant general objective I: A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment.

Specific measurement of Growth for Fisheries: Economic growth potential and

environmental sustainability measured by the proportion (Atlantic) or number of

stocks (Mediterranean and Black Sea) that are fished at MSY levels1.

Main outputs in 2017:

All new initiatives and REFIT initiatives from the Commission Work Programme

Output Indicator Target

Important items from work programmes/financing decisions/operational programmes


Implementation of a harmonized message standard (FLUX) based

on the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic

Business (UN/CEFACT) standard allowing automating the

collection and dissemination of

the fishery catch and sales data needed for sustainable fishery

management and for detecting and combatting IUU2 fishing.

Effective installation and use of the updated electronic reporting

system by the Member States as foreseen by Commission

Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1138.

1 November 2017

Other important outputs


Fishing opportunities for

2018:

Adoption by the Commission

Communication from the

Commission to the EP and

Council on Fishing

Opportunities and on the

implementation of the

Landing Obligation

(2017/MARE/005)

Q2 2017

Proposal for a Council

Regulation on fishing

opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2018

(2017/MARE/019)

September 2017


Regulation fixing the fishing

opportunities in Union

waters and, for Union fishing

vessels, in certain non-Union

waters, for 2018

(2017/MARE/008)

November 2017

1 In the Mediterranean and Black Seas, the "proportion" of stocks fished sustainably is not provided because the total

number of stocks is unknown. The respective catches, in live weight, of the known stocks correspond to a limited part of the total catches (i.e. approx. 495 Kt out of 1.4.Mt total estimated, Source: STECF, GFCM-SAC, and FAO Capture Production). The total number of known stocks may therefore be still very limited compared to the total number of stocks.

2 Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.


Regulation fixing for 2018

the fishing opportunities for

certain fish stocks in the

Black Sea (2017/MARE/029)

December 2017

Proposals for multiannual

plans for:


Northern Adriatic small

pelagic fisheries

(2016/MARE/001)

Q1 2017

demersal fisheries in north-

western EU waters

(2016/MARE/004) and south-

western EU waters

(2016/MARE/005)

Q2 2017

small pelagic and industrial

fish species in the North Sea

(2017/MARE/020)

Q3 2017

demersal species in the

Western Mediterranean

(2016/MARE/021)

Q4 2017

Commission Delegated

Regulations establishing discard

plans for:


deep-sea stocks in the North

Western Waters of the

Atlantic (PLAN/2016/77) and

South Western Waters of the

Atlantic (PLAN/2016/78)

Q3 2017

demersal fisheries in the

North Sea (2017/MARE/013)

October 2017

small pelagics in the North

Sea (2017/MARE/014)

October 2017

Commission Implementing

Regulation on organic shrimp

feed (PLAN/2016/172)

Adoption by the Commission Q1 2017

Annual report on Member States'

efforts in 2015 to balance fishing

capacity and fishing

opportunities (2017/MARE/006)


Preparation (inception impact

assessment, public

consultation(s), draft IA report)

for multiannual plans for:

Preparatory work finalised

small pelagic species in the

Western Mediterranean

Q4 2017

demersal species in the

Adriatic and the Ionian Sea.

Q4 2017

Proposal on a Union framework for the collection,

Adoption by EP and Council

Q1-Q2 2017

management and use of data

in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice

regarding the CFP (recast) (COM(2015) 294 final).

Proposal for a Regulation of EP

and Council on technical

measures for the protection of

marine organisms (COM(2016)

134).

Negotiations in EP and Council

2017


and Council on the sustainable

management of external fishing

fleets, repealing Council

Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008

("Fishing Authorisations

Regulation", COM(2015) 636).

End of negotiations in EP and Council

Q4 2017

For the current programming period (2014-2020), the fundamental objective of the

operational programmes of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) implemented by the Member States, is to support the implementation of the CFP and IMP,

thus contributing to sustainable and competitive fisheries, aquaculture and coastal area

development. This requires implementing the relevant provisions of the EMFF regulation and of the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR). In 2017, the Commission will examine

the compliance with the ex ante conditionalities, on the basis of reports received from Member States.

Following the submission by Member States of the final documents, the programme under

the European Fisheries Fund (EFF, 2007-2013) will be closed in a way which ensures that only properly used EU support is paid for.

Finally, for the post-2020 programming period, a stakeholder consultation and an impact assessment will be prepared to provide the basis for the necessary legislative

framework.


Specific measurement of Jobs for Fisheries: Employment created and

maintained with support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

(EMFF).


All new initiatives and REFIT initiatives from the Commission Work

Programme


Important items from work programmes/financing decisions/operational

programmes


EMFF support to sustainable and

competitive fisheries and

aquaculture.

EMFF payment requests by

EMFF Managing Authorities

2017



EFF Closure. Submission by Member

States of their closure

document.

Examination and financial

closure by the Commission.

2017

Designation of authorities

responsible for EMFF

implementation.

Completion by the Member

States

2017

Annual accounts for MS with

payment claims for 01.07.2015-

30.06.2016.

Completion by the Member

States.

Examination and acceptance

by the Commission.

2017

2017 EMFF Annual Implementation

Reports (AIR) as per CPR Art. 50(2)

(including Financial Instruments, Ex-

ante conditionalities, etc.).

Submission by the Member

States.

Analysis and approval of AIR

and assessment of the

fulfilment of actions plans for

EMFF EACs by the

2017

Commission.


Decision(s) on revised EMFF

operational programme submitted

by (some) Member States.

Adoption by the Commission 2017

Progress report on ESIF. Completion by the MS

(31.08)

2017

Contribution to the Strategic Report

summarising the ESIF progress

reports of the MS (Art 53(2) CPR).

Submission to EP, Council,

CoR, EESC, and debate

2017

Contribution to the Annual Summary

Report of MS AIRs (including

financial instruments) (Art 53(1)

CPR).

Transmission to EP and

Council

2017

Report on the implementation of the

Common Monitoring and Evaluation

System (CMES) of the EMFF.

Submission to EP and Council 2017

Interim evaluation report on the

implementation of EMFF under direct

management.

Submission to the EP and

Council

2017

Impact assessment on post-2020 EU

support to the implementation of the

CFP and IMP.

Completion by the

Commission

2017

Stakeholder consultations on post-

2020 EU support to the

implementation of the CFP and IMP.

Completion by the

Commission

2017

The annual report on the EU fishing fleet economic performance will contribute to

generate the baseline information that the Commission needs to implement the CFP and ground its proposals. It will also be used as input for future impact assessments.

The annual economic report on the EU fish processing sector will contribute to

generate information on the economic performance of the sector and will be used as input for policy development and future impact assessments.

The annual reports on the balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities which the Member States are required by the CFP to produce, are used for conservation

purposes and will condition the eligibility of certain fleet segment to some fleet measures under the EMFF.


Specific measurement of Growth for Fisheries: Profitability of the EU fishing

fleet.



Programme




Annual reports on the balance

between fleet capacity and fishing

opportunities.

Completion by the MS End May 2017

2017 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet, STECF 17-113.

Publication of the report July 2017

2017 Annual Economic Report on the EU fish processing sector.

Publication of the report 2017



3https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/43805/1489224/2016-07_STECF+16-11+-+AER+2016_JRCxxx.pdf

https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/43805/1489224/2016-07_STECF+16-11+-+AER+2016_JRCxxx.pdf

In the Strategic Guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture

(COM(2013)229) the Commission committed to organise good practice workshops to provide Member States with a fora for exchanging experiences, sharing concerns and

learning from each other on the key barriers that hinder aquaculture growth. Three

workshops have taken place, and two more will be organised in 2017. After one year of exchange with national authorities, there are preliminary indications of the positive effects

of the technical workshops, as different Member States announce initiatives to address bottlenecks identified and reduce administrative burdens for aquaculture. These will help

address the main barrier to the development of EU aquaculture. In order to help measure the impacts, a mid-term assessment of the state of implementation of the Member States'

Multiannual National Plans will be one of the topics of the next technical seminars in 2017.

The EMFF support to the structuring of the production sector through the support of the

Producer Organisations' production and marketing plans is expected to reinforce their

role as the cornerstone of the market policy. In anticipating market requirements and demand, and in organising their production activities accordingly, Producer Organisations

get a better income from the activities of their members as they take advantage of the market dynamics.

The annual report on the EU fish market will provide an economic description and

structural analysis of the whole EU fisheries and aquaculture industry to all actors of the value-chain. It will thereby contribute to support business decisions and policy-making

and increase market transparency and efficiency.

The seminar on EU consumer habits regarding fishery and aquaculture products will

provide a forum to discuss with the sector, public authorities and interest groups the performance of the internal market for fishery and aquaculture products and consumers’

expectations with a view to promoting the sector’s competitiveness and exploitation of market opportunities.


Specific objective 1: More sustainable and competitive fisheries and

aquaculture by 2020 Related to spending programme(s)

Programme-based: EMFF

Non programme-based

Result indicator 1: Volume and value of aquaculture production in the EU.






2017 EU Fish Market report. Publication of the report October 2017



Two Member State technical

workshops on exchange of experiences and good

practices in aquaculture.

Organisation of the workshops with

participation from national authorities.

Q2 and Q4 2017

Seminar on EU consumer

habits regarding fishery and aquaculture products.

Organisation of the seminar with

participation from the sector, stakeholders, national authorities

and consumer groups.

Q1 2017

Following the outcome of the evaluation of the Control Regulation, an impact

assessment will be launched to assess whether and to what extent a modification of this

regulation is necessary.

The specific control and inspection programme (SCIP) for Bluefin Tuna, Swordfish,

Sardine and Anchovy in the Mediterranean needs to be updated to take into consideration the recent measures introduced by the General Fisheries Commission for the

Mediterranean - GFCM (small pelagic stocks in Adriatic Sea, multiannual plan for hake and deep water rose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily) and possible measures adopted in ICCAT

(International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) for swordfish. The SCIP for pelagic species in Western Waters should be extended beyond 2017.

A new SCIP for demersal species in Western Waters is proposed.

The North Sea SCIP has already been revised to cover the species subject to landing obligation and to simplify reporting requirements.

The Baltic Sea SCIP is operating well and a next revision is foreseen in 2018.

In 2017, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) will be granted additional means in order to cooperate with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (ex-

FRONTEX) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on Coast Guard functions and to support national authorities in this area, as foreseen under Regulation (EU)

2016/1626 modifying the EFCA Regulation. This new cooperation will enable the EFCA to

better implement its tasks related to fisheries control while contributing to the achievement of General Objective III Towards a new policy on Migration.


Specific objective 1: More sustainable and competitive fisheries and

aquaculture by 2020

Related to spending programme(s)


Non programme-based

Result indicator 2: Number of Member States with an effective control system.




Evaluation of the Control

Regulation.

Report to the EP and the Council Q1 2017

Impact assessment on the possible revision of the Control

Regulation.

Inception Impact assessment finalised

2017


programmes


Control expenditure under EMFF

Regulation (EU) No 508/2014

(shared management) and

Regulation 861/2006 (direct

management).

Payments 2017

Grant to EFCA. Payment 2017

Study on monitoring small-scale

fisheries.

Launch of the study 2017




Decisions establishing fisheries

control action plans:


Fisheries control action plans

with Estonia (PLAN/2016/146)

and Belgium (PLAN/2016/224).

Q1 2017

Fisheries control action plan with

Germany (PLAN/2016/141).

Q2 2017

Amendment of the control action

plan with Bulgaria

(2015/MARE/099) and Romania

(2015/MARE/100).

Q1 2017


Decisions on SCIPs:


Update of Commission

Implementing Decision on a

SCIP for Bluefin Tuna,

Swordfish, Sardine and

Anchovy.


Decision for the extension of the

SCIP for pelagic species in

Western Waters beyond 2017

and/or adoption of a new SCIP

for demersal species in Western

Waters (2016/MARE/002).

Q2 2017

Support to the blue economy will come from a variety of EU financing instruments, in

particular from ESI Funds (ERDF, CF, EMFF). The proportion of ESIFs dedicated to that

support will yield an indication on the EU contribution to investments in jobs, growth and

investments in that economy.

A Commission Communication on the Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue

economy in the western Mediterranean is proposed as a follow up to the Union for Mediterranean Ministerial Declaration on the Blue Economy endorsed on 17 November

2015. This Declaration invites exploring the added value and feasibility of appropriate maritime strategies, including at sub-regional level, notably building on the 5+5 dialogue.

The goal is to promote sustainable economic and social prosperity in the western Mediterranean region by creating growth and jobs, improving the competitiveness and

attractiveness of blue economy sectors. It will also help preserving healthy and balanced marine and coastal ecosystems by supporting cooperation and actions in relation to safety

and security and this way, contributing overall to the Union's priorities "Jobs, Growth and

Investment", "Migration agenda" and "A stronger Global Actor".

The Commission will propose a series of measures to remove barriers to the growth of the

nautical tourism industry; an already-healthy sector that has the potential to provide more high-value-added jobs. A Staff Working Document will follow up on the nautical

tourism related actions foreseen by the European Strategy for more Growth and Jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism (COM(2014)86 final). Priority shall be given to unleashing

further potential for sustainable jobs and growth in this tourism segment employing up to 234.000 people and generating about € 28 billion per year revenues in Europe. The Staff

Working Document should further provide food for thought to a related Ministerial

Conference on Maritime Policy and blue economy in April, a Tourism Conference in May and possible Council Conclusions in June, all foreseen to be organised by Malta under the

Council Presidency 2017.


Specific objective 2: A sustainable blue economy generating growth, jobs and

prosperity by 2020



Non programme-based

Result indicator 1: EU investment relating to the blue economy expressed as

percentage of total European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).






Western Mediterranean stakeholder conference.

Completion by the Commission and relevant

countries

February 2017

Study to define Areas of Particular Environmental Interest in the

Atlantic.

Launch call for tender Q1 2017

Studies to support ocean

governance.


Demonstration projects in the blue

economy.

Launch call for proposals Q2 2017

Set up the Bioeconomy forum. Launch call for tender Q2 2017

Study on economic impact of

spatial planning.


Maritime spatial planning projects. Launch call for proposals Q4 2017



Staff Working Document on

nautical tourism (2017/MARE/001).

Notification to the College February 2017

Staff Working Document on Blue

Growth (PLAN/2017/723).

Notification to the College Q1 2017

Commission Communication on the Initiative for the sustainable

development of the blue economy in the western Mediterranean

(2017/MARE+/007).

Adoption by the Commission April 2017

Europe now has arguably the world's most advanced integrated marine data and seabed

mapping dissemination processes This saves costs for industry because they do not need

to resurvey areas that have already been surveyed and it costs less to assemble data from

different sources if they use common standards. It promotes innovation because small

companies have access to data that was previously the preserve of state agencies. It

reduces uncertainty in how the ocean is behaving and will behave in the future which

reduces the risk of investment.

The outputs in 2017 will maintain and reinforce this capacity. For a better understanding of

gaps in ocean observation and seabed, mapping efforts are made to assemble data from

different organisations into a coherent picture. Results of stress tests show how well these

data are fit for tackling problems from private and public users. A cost-benefit study will

provide the foundations for a European Ocean Observing System that will reduce

investment risk in the blue economy.



prosperity by 2020



Non programme-based

Result indicator 2: Marine Knowledge 2020

Improvement in marine knowledge measured by the degree of use of the

European Marine Observation and Data network (EMODnet) in terms of the

number of downloads of data per month.





programmes


Seabasin stress test. Launch call for tender Q1 2017

Renew EMODnet secretariat. Launch call for tender Q1 2017

Projects for extension and

maintenance of EMODnet.



Output indicator Target

Conference to asses results

of stress tests in European marine data and prepare the

European Ocean Observing

System.

Conference conclusions February 2017

General objective II: A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy

Now that wind and solar power are competitive with fossil fuel technologies, there is some pressure to scale down public support to renewable energy. However, the potential of

tide and wave energy to complement these other technologies with a power that is more regular and with comparable costs will only be realised if some public support is provided

in the phases before economies of scale kick in. The work in 2017 aims to make sure that this public support is forthcoming and targeted in the most appropriate way.

Relevant general objective II: A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking

Climate Change Policy.

Specific measurement for Energy Union: Share of ocean energy and offshore

wind energy in the overall EU renewable energy mix.


prosperity by 2020



Non programme-based

Result indicator 1a - Ocean Energy: installed capacity in offshore ocean energy.

Result indicator 1b - Offshore Wind: installed capacity in offshore wind energy.






Grants for environmental monitoring of tidal arrays.

Launch call for proposals Q2 2017



General objective III: Towards a New Policy on Migration

In order to ensure the safety and security of our seas and oceans, the Commission will

continue to monitor the implementation of the EU Maritime Security Strategy

(EUMSS). A reporting exercise with Member States will be launched to assess the implementation process in view of a second implementation report in 2017 together with

the EEAS.

Key aspects of the implementation process at EU level in 2017 will be the further

development of:

A common research agenda for civilian and military dual use capabilities, also

called for in the European Defence Action Plan4.

Additional interoperability projects developed under the CISE programme to

further support the design, implementation and testing of CISE enabled information services whilst ensuring the complementarity and coherence with

existing information exchange services in the maritime domain operated inter alia by EU agencies. The further development of CISE will be carried out in close co-

operation with other policy services of the Commission (DG HOME and DG MOVE), but also with DG DIGIT and JRC, EU agencies as well as with Member States.

Inter-agency co-operation between EFCA, EMSA and Frontex on coastguard issues

which entered into force in September 2016. This work will also include co-

operation with national authorities carrying out coastguard functions. Some financial aid to the European and the Mediterranean Coast Guard Function Fora will

be given also in 2017 to support the activities of the EU agencies.

Relevant general objective III: Towards a New Policy on Migration.

Specific measurement for Maritime security: Closing the information gap

across borders and sectors to improve maritime surveillance.


prosperity by 2020



Non programme-based

Result indicator - Maritime security: Degree of implementation of the EU

Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS)



Programme



programmes


Grants to support improvement of national interoperability and

implementation of CISE enabled services in line with CISE

Number of Member States and authorities participating

in projects.

Grant allocation in 2017.

Duration of projects: 2 years.

4 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the

European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - European Defence Action Plan

(COM(2016) 950 final).

objectives and solutions.

European Coast Guard Functions

Forum (ECGFF).

Number of participating

countries

End 2017

Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum (MCGFF).

Number of participating countries

End 2017



Triggering agreement between

national authorities on CISE enabled information services

aiming to contribute closing the information gap identified in 2012.

Overview and number of

committed stakeholders.

2017

General objective IV: A Stronger Global Actor

Combating illegal, unregulated or unreported (IUU) fishing worldwide is a priority for the EU. We import 2/3 of what we consume. The EU is the biggest importer of fishery

products. We therefore need to ensure that what is consumed in the EU is not stemming from IUU fisheries.

The Commission will strengthen action on IUU fishing by improving current systems and supporting Member States in ensuring efficient controls through the development of

electronic tools. With this objective in mind, the EU cooperates with other countries to

initiate structural reforms of their fisheries management systems. The objective is to strengthen this action over the next 5 years. In particular, the Commission is seeking to

strengthen multilateral and regional actions on curbing IUU fishing by supporting instruments that allow tracking and identifying vessels and nationals engaging in illegal

practices. The expected outputs are an improvement of national policies aiming at fighting and deterring IUU practices, reinforced regional cooperation in that sense, and respect of

international law principles and objectives.

Banning harmful fisheries subsidies is also a priority for the EU. The EU proposal is to

address the two most harmful types of subsidies: subsidies that increase the capacity of fleets to catch fish that represent almost

60% of all fisheries subsidies and lead directly to overfishing; subsidies granted to fishermen who engage in IUU fishing.

To this end, the EU will actively engage in multilateral negotiations in the WTO to ban, by 2020, harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity, overfishing and IUU

fishing (Action 8 of the Communication on international ocean governance5).

5 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee

and the Committee of the Regions - International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans

(JOIN(2016) 49 final).

An essential step for the effective management of fish resources is the exchange of

information on fishing locations, gear used, species and quantities caught, etc. Therefore,

the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) has developed an open and global standard allowing the electronic exchange of fishery data.

The Fisheries Language for Universal Exchange (FLUX) provides a harmonized message standard to automatically access the electronic data from fishing vessels. With this

standard, DG MARE is offering to the Member States a pioneer communication tool that could be used in all RFMOs and third countries around the world to automate the collection

and dissemination of the fishery catch data needed for sustainable fishery management and for detecting and combatting IUU fishing and thereby, a better ocean governance.

Relevant general objective IV: A Stronger Global Actor.

Specific measurement for Stronger Global Actor, Fisheries: Fighting IUU fishing

globally measured by the number of third countries that the Commission has

engaged in a dialogue with and the number of countries having addressed their

deficiencies.





programmes


Implementation of a prototype for the electronic exchange of

fishery data with NEAFC based

on the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic

Business (UN/CEFACT) standard.

Catch data reporting to NEAFC in the FLUX format

1 July 2017



Commission Decisions on pre-

identification of a third country

as a non-cooperating third

country in fighting IUU fishing.


Revocations of pre-

identifications.


Commission Decisions on

identification of a third country

as a non-cooperating third

country in fighting IUU fishing.


Revocations of identifications. Adoption by the Commission 2017

Specific objective 3:

Sustainable fisheries worldwide and improved international governance by 2020

It is a strategic priority for the Commission to ensure that ocean resources globally are used in a sustainable manner.

The EU is an important global actor on Ocean Governance. In 2016, the Commission has

launched a major political initiative to contribute to stronger and more effective ocean governance. As part of this initiative, the EU will host the fourth edition of the Our Ocean

Conference on 5-6 October 2017 in Malta. The concept behind is to bring together high-level participants from all over the world to focus on some of the key challenges facing the

oceans and seas: marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and

climate-related impacts on the ocean. The conference is a continuation of previous high-level conferences and is likely to strengthen the EU's role as a global actor in the effort to

achieve sustainable fisheries worldwide and to improve international governance by 2020.

DG MARE is preparing a ministerial declaration of all Mediterranean riparian countries for sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean ('the MEDFISH4EVER Declaration') setting

concrete objectives to address major issues such as data collection and exchange, scientific advice and cooperation, management measures for key stocks, better

involvement of small-scale fisheries, improving collaboration for control and our fight

against IUU fishing. The declaration will be adopted in a ministerial conference, hosted in Malta on 29-30 March 2017.

The EU launched a process with EU Member States, third countries and the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) to reverse the declining trend in the fish

stocks in the Mediterranean and ensure the existence of a sustainable fisheries sector in the region. Fisheries are in a critical state in the Mediterranean and all parties agree that

we need to improve sustainability and international fisheries governance in the area with actions covering: conservation measures, control measures, fight against IUU fishing,

better data collection and scientific advice, an ecosystem-based approach to address

related environmental issues, and ocean governance. In 2015 and 2016, the GFCM has adopted further recommendations containing certain provisions which are not covered by

the CFP. These provisions are binding upon the EU and Member States but do not have direct effect vis-à-vis individuals, so they must be transposed into EU law. The EU has

transposed GFCM recommendations adopted until 2013 included.

The EU has also transposed ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) recommendations on the BCD (Bluefin Tuna Catch Document) Programme.

The ICCAT rules concerning the Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document are applicable

since summer 2016. These provisions are binding upon the EU and the Member States and are planned to be transposed into EU law in 2017.

RFMOS (Regional Fisheries Management Organisations) are the key actors in managing fisheries internationally. DG MARE is very active in RFMOs and in line with principles of the

CFP, our priorities are better decision making based on best available science, more effective management of fisheries and a level playing field for EU operators. The

transposition of RFMO rules into the EU legislative system will help improve transparency and predictability, both of which will strengthen our credibility on the international scene

and help to achieve sustainable fisheries worldwide and improved governance.


Specific objective 3: Sustainable fisheries worldwide and improved

international governance by 2020



Non programme-based Result indicator 1: Conservation measures based on scientific advice adopted,

for all species under the purview of RFMOs to which the EU is a member.







Ministerial Conference

MEDFISH4EVER (Ministerial

Declaration - PLAN/2017/708).

Completion by the Commission

and relevant Member States and riparian third countries

Q1 2017

Proposal for a SPRFMO

Transposition Regulation

(2015/MARE/060).



and Council on conservation and

enforcement measures applicable

in the Regulatory Area of NAFO

(2010/MARE/014).


Proposal for a IOTC Transposition

Regulation (2016/MARE/003).


Proposal for a GFCM Transposition

Regulation.



and Council establishing a BCD

Programme for Bluefin tuna

(2016/MARE/127).


Commission Decision on signature

of an EC-US Joint Statement on

ocean partnership

(2016/MARE/117).


The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) in force are directly

contributing to the capacity of the EU fishing fleet to extend its fishing operations in non-EU waters in a highly regulated and transparent framework. The objective is also to ensure

as much as possible continuity between fishing grounds, in particular for the tuna fleet

through the existence of a network of SFPAs. Each year, on average 25% of the SFPA protocols expire and in order to ensure continuity of fishing and maintain a coherent

network of SFPAs, new protocols must be negotiated.




Related to spending programme(s) Programme-based: EMFF

Non programme-based

Result indicator 2: Number of SFPAs in force.





programmes


Commission Decision regarding credits for the implementation of SFPAs

(financing decision).

Adoption by the

Commission

Q1 2017



Proposals for the conclusion of a new SFPA/protocol with the following third

countries6:

Equatorial Guinea

(2016/MARE/068)


Q1 2017

(mandate)

Côte d'Ivoire (2017/MARE/004) Adoption by the

Commission

Q2 2017

Morocco (2017/MARE/002, 022,

023 and 024)

Adoption by the

Commission

Q2 2017 (mandate)

and Q4 2017

Kenya (2016/MARE/053, 054 and

055)


Q3 2017

São Tome e Principe

(2017/MARE/003)

Adoption by the

Commission

Q3 2017

Mozambique (2015/MARE/009, 010

and 011)


Q4 2017

Tanzania (2016/MARE/062, 063

and 064)

Adoption by the

Commission

Q4 2017

Madagascar (2017/MARE/009) Adoption by the

Commission

Q4 2017

Mauritius (2016/MARE/049, 059,

060 and 061)


Q4 2017

Evaluations:

6 SFPAs and their associated protocols enter into force after concluding negotiations with the third country concerned.

Ex-post evaluation of the SFPA with

Ivory Coast and the ex-ante

evaluation and analysis of the

impact of a new FPA.

Final report Q1 2017


São Tomé and Principe and the ex-

ante evaluation and analysis of the




Morocco and the ex-ante





Madagascar and the ex-ante



Final report 2017

One of the main implementation issues in the context of the IUU Regulation is the catch certification scheme and its related controls and verifications for import and export of

fishery products, requiring certain structures and resources in place. Member States are competent to ensure necessary controls. Currently, the scheme is totally paper based and

an IT project is under preparation to "automate" this process and to create a data base,

allowing for risk based controls, reducing opportunities of fraudulent imports and easing the administrative burden of Member States. The IT system will be developed by DG

SANTE under its TRACES system, which is already used for heath certificates. Concrete work has already started to prepare the planned IT developments; DG SANTE made a

business analyst available to support DG MARE in preparing detailed business cases and user requirements to be developed in 2017.

DG MARE will also continue with its bilateral dialogues with third countries under the IUU

Regulation that could lead to Commission Decisions on pre-identification or identification of

a third country as a non-cooperating third country in fighting IUU fishing as well as possible revocation of existing pre-identifications or identifications during year 2017.






Non programme-based

Result indicator 3 : Control of imports of fisheries products in the EU.





programmes


Modernisation of the catch

certification system by using IT

cost-effective system, harmonized

Memorandum of Understanding with

DG SANTE signed. Preparation of

business/user requirements for the

2017

risk analysis and catch

certification controls to improve

implementations by Member

States of the of IUU Regulation.

future IT system under TRACES in

cooperation with DG SANTE business

analysis.



Commission Decisions on pre-

identification of a third country as

a non-cooperating third country in

fighting IUU fishing.


Revocations of pre-identifications.


Commission Decisions on

identification of a third country as

a non-cooperating third country in

fighting IUU fishing.


Revocations of identifications. Adoption by the Commission 2017

PART 2. MAIN ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT OUTPUTS FOR THE YEAR

A. Human resource management

DG MARE is fully committed to achieving the mandatory objective set at corporate level in

the area of organisational management. In 2017, DG MARE will continue to aim at the

effective and efficient delivery of the political priorities. In its HR policy, DG MARE will pay

particular attention to the efficient use of resources and to the wellbeing and the

engagement of staff.

At 44% in January 2015, DG MARE was well above the Commission average on the

representation of women in middle management functions. DG MARE is committed to

ensuring that gender balance objectives are fully attained. In 2016, the percentage of

women middle managers in DG MARE rose to 45%. Due to the corporate exercise for

mobility of middle managers, the number of female middle managers in MARE will drop

from 9 to 8 (i.e. from 45% to 40%). The target for 2017 is to increase this level of gender

balance from 40% to 45%, and if possible to move to an even higher target with a view to

gradually approaching the 2019 target of 50% set for DG MARE by the Commission in July

2015. To achieve this target, DG MARE will continue to ensure the presence of women in

appointment panels as well as to encourage potential female AD's to apply for middle

management posts.

32% of DG MARE staff replied in the 2016 Commission Staff Survey that they consider the

Commission cares about their wellbeing which signifies a drop of 7 percentage points

compared to the 2014 result. The target for 2017 is to improve this percentage up to 40%.

As a follow-up to the 2014 Staff Survey results, an extensive internal consultation took

place, which resulted in a number of actions aiming at enhancing wellbeing that will

continue to be implemented in 2017, including the organisation of training events and

lunchtime conferences on topics related to wellbeing; cooperation with DG AGRI on the

organisation of wellbeing and fit@work activities; and promotion of fit@work actions across

the Commission. As regards the physical environment, DG MARE will consistently pursue

the objective of its upgrading. DG MARE will use the opportunity of the office moves in the

context of the reorganisation (1 January 2017) to further improve ergonomics and will in

particular actively inform DG MARE staff of the facilities provided at corporate level. In

addition, DG MARE will request the OIB to convert archive space so as to create further

space for MARE staff. Furthermore, DG MARE will continue to support its senior and middle

managers with a view to implementing and exchanging best practices for and between

managers. DG MARE will also continue to promote flexible working methods (including

flexitime and part-time arrangements) as a way to boost productivity and ability to adapt

to changing workloads and demands.

In the 2016 Commission Staff Survey, DG MARE's Staff Engagement Index declined to

67%, compared to the previous survey. It remained nevertheless above the Commission

average of 64%. The target for 2017 is to improve DG MARE's score for the Staff

Engagement Index. During 2016, DG MARE has implemented the key actions of its Action

Plan for Staff Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion 2015-2016 and set up the MARE Staff

Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion (SEDI) Working Group. This SEDI Working Group is

chaired by the Director-General with the participation of staff from all categories and

functions. The group will discuss and act upon the results of the Staff Survey and will

assist the Director-General in the development of a new Action Plan covering 2017-2018.

Objective: The DG deploys effectively its resources in support of the delivery of

the Commission priorities and core business, has a competent and engaged

workforce, which is driven by an effective and gender-balanced management

and which can deploy its full potential within supportive and healthy working

conditions.



Monthly dashboard

from DG HR.

% of women in middle

management functions.

2017: increase the current level

of 40% to 45%.

2019: 50% (Equal Opportunities

Strategy 2015-2019 for senior

management, middle

management and non-

management administrators).

Development of a

new Staff

Engagement Action

Plan actions on

wellbeing.

Staff survey results available

on wellbeing.

2017: improve the score of 32%

of the 2016 Staff Survey to

40%:

Raise awareness on flexible working arrangements in order

to increase percentage of staff doing telework (17% in 2016) as

well as percentage of staff recuperating overtime (70% in

2016). Raise staff awareness on

availability at corporate level in

terms of office ergonomics;

make meeting rooms more

attractive; create more space for

staff to meet. Organise more

'health days' as they proved to

be popular with staff.

Development of a

new Staff

Engagement Action

Plan overall level of

staff engagement.

Staff survey results available

on Staff Engagement Index.

2017: improve the score of 67%

of the 2016 Staff Survey

(2016: launch of the survey in

Spring).

B. Financial Management: Internal control and Risk management

DG MARE has set up internal control processes aimed to ensure the adequate management

of the risks relating to the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, taking into

account the multiannual character of programmes as well as the nature of the payments

concerned.

The overall control system established within DG MARE provides reasonable assurance as

to the sound financial management in respect of transactions carried out. This assurance is

underpinned by the financial circuits established within the DG as well as ex-post controls.

Shared management (+/- 80% of the budget):

For the 2014-2020 programming period, DG MARE has developed a Single Audit

Strategy (SAS) in conjunction with DG REGIO and DG EMPL. It will carry out a desk review

of a selected number of "designation packages" (which contain a report and opinion of the

independent audit body that assesses the fulfilment by the designated authorities of the

necessary criteria); this exercise may require additional information or clarification to be

obtained through on-the-spot fact finding missions. DG MARE will also carry out early

preventive system audits (EPSAs) which will focus on the functioning of the most important

key requirements at this early stage of implementation. This will provide a source of direct

assurance prior to receipt of the first "full" packages from Member States.

As the process for notification of designations has been significantly delayed, our

designation and EPSA work will feature heavily in 2017. A few Member States will transmit

accounts in February 2017, but the first transmission of "full" data will be in 2018.

For the 2007-2013 programming period, the residual error rate, represented by the

cumulative residual risk (CRR), has been estimated for all European Fisheries Fund (EFF)

operational programmes since the beginning of the programming period, based on the best

available sources of information. The estimated CRR is an additional check applied to

confirm whether each programme is managed correctly on a cumulative basis, i.e. whether

the corrective measures (withdrawals, recoveries) already implemented by Member States

have adequately mitigated the risks of irregularities since the beginning of the

programming period.

In achieving the target DG MARE is heavily dependent on the Member States'

implementation and operation of effective control systems. A low CRR requires Member

States to act promptly to correct ineligible expenditure.

DG MARE manages the risk by interrupting payments to Member States whose

programmes show material levels of error, thereby protecting the EU budget. The CRR of

0.74% (Annual Activity Report 2015) illustrates that the corrective capacity of the controls

operated by DG MARE is effective in shielding the Budget from material levels of irregular

expenditure.

The main feature of DG MARE's work in 2017 will be the EFF closure exercise. Member

States are expected to submit their closure declarations by 31 March 2017. DG MARE will

present its assessment of the audit material; audit missions may be envisaged if there are

issues requiring further analysis and clarification.

Direct management (+/-20% of the budget)

Direct expenditure managed by DG MARE relates to the management of Sustainable

Fisheries Partnership Agreements, procurement and grants. The control procedures mainly rely on ex-ante controls, stemming to a large degree from regulatory

requirements, which cannot be curtailed.

In 2014, the Commission delegated powers, through the signing of a memorandum of

understanding, to the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) for the implementation of part of the EMFF. A Steering Committee, chaired by DG ENTR,

supervises and monitors the functioning of the Agency.

Objective 1: Effective and reliable internal control system giving the necessary

guarantees concerning the legality and the regularity of the underlying

transactions.



Legality and regularity

of the underlying transactions in the DG.

Error rate detected on the

legality and regularity of the underlying transactions for

budget implementation.

Error rate below 2% for

budget implementation.

Corrective capacity. Ineligible expenditure after corrections (shared

management).

Less than 2% of declared expenditure in the annual

accounts.

Objective 2: Effective and reliable internal control system in line with sound

financial management.



Timely execution of payments.

Percentage of payments on the budget made within the

time limits.

>95%

Open audit

recommendations from European Court of

Auditors (ECA) and Internal Audit Service

(IAS).

Number of critical

recommendations overdue for more than 6 months.

None

Effectiveness of

controls carried out.

Conclusion reached on cost-

effectiveness of controls.

Positive conclusion.

Objective 3: Minimisation of the risk of fraud through application of effective

anti-fraud measures, integrated in all activities of the DG, based on the DG's anti-fraud strategy (AFS) aimed at the prevention, detection and reparation of

fraud.



Regular reporting on

the results of anti-fraud measures carried out in

conformity with the AFS.

Reporting to Commissioner Bi-annual reporting

C. Better Regulation

The main planned outputs linked to the Better Regulation objective in the Strategic Plan

are listed in Part 1 under the relevant specific objective. They are presented in the tables under the headings “All new initiatives and REFIT initiatives from the Commission Work

Programme” and “other important items".

D. Information management aspects

The shared HAN files with other DGs (specifically with EASME) remains at 0,21%. DG MARE would be ready to consider giving Commission-wide access to files further to

the adoption of the Communication to the Commission on "Data, Information and Knowledge Management" and on-going developments in this area by the Information

Management Steering Board (IMSB). Exceptions to this emerging approach relating to a

'need to know' basis will apply whenever necessary. As every year, in 2017 a regular review of the filing plan will be carried out. This could be a first opportunity to identify at

unit level which of the existing DG files in ARES could eventually be upgraded to Commission-wide access, as well as to consider the introduction of the same Commission-

wide access approach upon the creation of the new files.

Data and information should be complete, reliable, relevant and easy to retrieve. Quality

control is ensured at the level of the Document Management Officer. DG MARE has achieved once more to file the registered documents almost 100%, as filing gives access

to the documents. The target of unfiled documents will remain at the minimum

percentage of 1% or even less.

Objective: Information and knowledge in your DG is shared and reusable by

other DGs. Important documents are registered, filed and retrievable.



Files shared with other Commission

services.

0,21% Following developments further to the Adoption of

Communication on Knowledge Management.

Unfiled registered

documents.

1,78% * ≤ 1%

Re-activated

Knowledge Management task

force in DG MARE.

Action plan of task force

established

Q4 2017

*Data based on Indicators of Ares statistics 11/11/2016 provided by the DMO.

E. External communication activities

The objective of DG MARE's external communication activities is to raise awareness and mobilise support for the EU fisheries and maritime policy.

Objective: Citizens perceive that the EU is working to improve their lives and

engage with the EU. They feel that their concerns are taken into consideration

in European decision making and they know about their rights in the EU.



Direct reach of DG

MARE communication actions via websites.

Number of unique visitors to

the websites of DG MARE

1.900.000 (increase of 5.0%

compared to the number of

visitors in 2016 calculated on

the basis of the average visits

per month*)

Monthly newsletter of

DG MARE.

Number of subscribers 13.000 subscribers (increase of

5.0% compared to 2016)

Direct reach of DG

MARE communication

actions via social

media.

Number of followers 25.000 followers in Twitter

(increase of 20% compared to

2016)

85.000 likes in Facebook

(increase of 20% compared to

2016)

Seafood 2017 Number of participants 220 participants (increase of

10% compared to 2016)

European Maritime

Day 2017

Number of participants 1000 participants (decrease by

15% compared to 2016**)

* The massive increase of the visitors in 2016 is due to the magazine and the campaign on MED

we have carried out in February and March (when we had 1.619.913 visits to the DG website). These visits were not sustained so we have not taken them into account in the average increase of visits during the year.

** This is due to venue restrictions.

Annual communication spending:

Baseline (2016) Estimated commitments (2017)

1.500.000 € 1.500.000 €

F. Examples of initiatives to improve economy and efficiency of financial and

non-financial activities of the DG

A. Redesign of DG MARE7

With the aim of enhancing delivery on the political priorities as set out in President Juncker's Priorities, DG MARE will introduce a new organisation chart from 1 January

2017. The new organisation chart will be accompanied by new governance arrangements designed to improve working methods, achieve efficiency gains in

particular regarding financial circuits8 and secretarial tasks, and improve collaboration between units and directorates. The new DG MARE will consist of fewer

Directorates which will allow a better alignment of resources with priorities.

B. Synergies and Efficiencies - HR Modernisation Project

This is a corporate project of which DG HR is the domain leader. DG MARE attaches

great importance to the HR function and therefore maintaining and even improving the quality of service provided to staff already remains a key requirement. From that

standpoint, it is essential to structure and staff the Account Management Centres (AMC) in the best possible way. In this perspective, DG MARE will take part in the

second-wave pilot with the clear objective of making a substantial contribution, and will help provide further clarity on the division of tasks between the AMC and the HR

Business Correspondent (HR BC) before the full roll-out scheduled for mid-2017.

Collaboration with EASME

Under the work programme 2017 DG MARE will delegate 24 actions to EASME in the

following areas:

Integrated Maritime Policy, in areas such as marine knowledge, maritime spatial

planning, maritime surveillance and blue growth;

Scientific advice and projects necessary for the development and the implementation

of the Common Fisheries Policy;

Control and enforcement, in areas such as monitoring small-scale fisheries, or engine

power verification by Member States;

Support for purchase and/or chartering by Member States of shared means for

fisheries control (Article 87 of the EMFF regulation).

Given their policy support nature, the Agency implements the delegated actions in close cooperation with DG MARE in accordance with the EMFF specific Memorandum of

Understanding with the Agency. In addition, the Agency will continue to look for synergies and provide policy relevant

input to DG MARE, notably in the area of Blue Growth.

7 In January 2016 MARE launched a Workload Assessment to assess and rebalance MARE's workload in line

with the political priorities. This workload assessment entailed the DG wide mapping of the current processes and

resources, identification of imbalances and plotting corrective actions. Based on the results of the Workload

Assessment and the subsequent consultation of DG MARE staff, a redesign of DG MARE was decided which

comes into force as of 1 January 2017. The new organisational design will be aligned with the strategic objectives

and the new political priorities.

8 See DG MARE Management Plan 2016, p. 19: http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/synthesis/amp/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/synthesis/amp/index_en.htm

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