Belgium

There are only three fishing harbours in Belgium. In terms of landings volume and value, Zeebrugge, on the northern end of the North Sea coast, is the most important. Oostende, south of Zeebrugge, is second and Nieuwpoort, near the French border, is third.

In 2003 the landings at Zeebrugge stood at 13,627 tons and accounted for 69 per cent of the total returns realised by Belgian vessels in Belgian ports or 58 per cent of the total returns realised by Belgian vessels in all ports. In Oostende the landings stood at 6,184 tons. Only 296 tons where landed in Nieuwpoort.

In 2003, the Belgian fishing fleet consisted of a total of 125 motorized vessels, with a total power of 66 869 kW and a gross registered tonnage of 23 794. The fleet consists mostly (97 per cent by engine power) of beam trawlers, the remainder being otter trawlers. About half the beam trawlers are of small to medium size, up to 300 hp (<221 kW). The main fishing grounds of the Belgian fishing fleet are the southern and central North Sea, where accounting for 44 per cent of total catches in 2003. Other important fishing grounds are the English Channel (26 per cent), the Celtic Sea (18 per cent) and the Irish Sea (8 per cent).

In the period 1950 –1970, landings by Belgian vessels was approximately 50 000 tons of which 90 per cent was actually landed in Belgian harbours. During the period 1986-1990 landings were relatively stable at around 35 000. In 2003, total landings stood at 23 309 tons. In terms of value, landings dropped about 25 per cent (constant prices) over the same period. By far the most important species in value is sole, representing 49 per cent of the total value of landings in 2003, although only 21 per cent of the landings. Plaice, in contrast, contributed 26 per cent by volume but was only 14 per cent of the total in value. The most valuable species in 2003 was turbot: less than 2 per cent of the landings represented 5 per cent of the value. Cod, the fourth most important species, represented 7 per cent of the landings by volume and nearly 5 per cent by value.

Apart from recreational anglers, there are no commercial inland fisheries in Belgian waters of any significance. Aquaculture production in Belgium is rather small. Nevertheless, there is production of trout, carp, tilapia, clarias, European eel, seabass and seabream.

Belgian marine fisheries policy and management come under the umbrella of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the EU. The primary aim of the CFP’s fisheries management policy is to ensure exploitation of living aquatic resources that provides sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. To this end, the precautionary principle is to be applied, and management should be moving towards adoption of an ecosystem-based approach. Management is based on regulating the quantities of fish caught, through a system of Total Allowable Catches (TACs), complemented by technical conservation measures.

Apart from the resource management policy, the CFP is comprised of three key strands: structural policy, market policy and international agreements. Structural policy is aimed at improving the balance between catching capacity and available resources by limiting fishing effort, and to support diversification within and outside the sector.

Under the federal structure of the Belgian State, responsibility for marine fisheries rests with the Flemish Government. The major stated objective is the maintenance of an independent profitable and environmentally friendly Flemish fishery.

Under the CFP, marine fisheries management is based on regulating the quantities of fish caught, through a system of Total Allowable Catches (TACs), complemented by technical conservation measures. Technical measures include minimum mesh size, minimum fish size, area and temporal closures. Fleet capacity reference levels and rules are also used to manage fishing capacity.

Fishing fleet overcapacity in the EU has been estimated to be as high as 60 per cent in some fisheries, and despite previous fleet policy programmes aimed at bringing capacity down, the issue has yet to be adequately addressed. There is a EU requirement to balance fleets with available resources, and responsibility for meeting this objective rests with the EU Member States.

Fleet adjustment is based on national reference levels that limit overall capacity, in combination with effort limitations introduced for some regions and under recovery plans, restrictions in aid for vessels modernisation, and economic incentives to decommission vessels. In 2003, the fleet total tonnage was slightly above the reference level (+1.8 per cent). It was slightly below the reference in terms of power (-1.5 per cent).

When capacity is removed with public aid, the reference level is reduced accordingly. Member States choosing to provide aid for new-builds will also see their reference level reduced by a one-off three per cent. There is an entry/exit ratio for the introduction of new vessels of one to one, with exits supported by public aid not being allowed to be replaced. For new vessels over 100 GT built with public aid, the entry/exit ratio is 1 to 1.35 to counter so-called technological creep. There is some scope to increase tonnage levels if this relates to modernisation above the main deck, as long as this does not increase the catching ability of the vessel.

Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are a key element of fisheries management in Belgium. For a number of key commercial stocks, the EU Member States agrees TACs each December. TACs place an overall limit on the weight of fish that fishermen may land. TAC proposals are drawn up by the European Commission, reflecting scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) on appropriate levels of catches if stocks are to be maintained. Once the TACs are agreed they are divided between Member States according to a system of 'relative stability' under which each receives a national quota for individual stocks. Except for turbot, all stocks of importance to the Belgian marine fishery are subject to quotas (sole, plaice, and cod).

Belgium and other EU countries exchange quotas on a regular basis. In 2003, exchanges were carried out with 8 other EU Member States particularly with the Netherlands (sole in Gulf of Biscaye and Irish Sea) and Germany (for cod).

The Flemish government has imposed additional measures for the administration of the quotas particularly of sole. Maximum catches per day and per hour presence on the fishing grounds were imposed, the objective being to spread the catches over the whole year. The small fleet segment (characterised by an engine power up to 221 kW) was allocated 30 per cent of the national total quota. Quota allocation within fleet segments is done on the basis of engine power.

Technical conservation measures provide a third key management tool. The measures include setting minimum landing sizes for different species; requiring the use of specific mesh sizes; in some circumstances, obliging the use of separator/selective devices; putting restrictions on what fishing gear can be used; and, closing some areas to certain types of fishing, permanently or some times of year. Although most measures are designed in order to protect juvenile or spawning stocks, some are also aimed at reducing impacts on non-target species and habitats. Most measures are adopted by the EU, with some supplementary measures adopted by Belgium, particularly concerning territorial waters. Since 1 January 2003 trawlers of more than 70 GT are forbidden to operate within the three miles zones.

According to the CFP, EU recovery plans should be developed for already overfished stocks and management plans for other stocks. Limitation of fishing effort within the plans is subject to case-by-case scrutiny. Plans are also required to take interactions between different stocks and fisheries into account, and may include targets related to other species or the wider marine environment. Plans are supposed to include so-called pre-determined harvesting rules, as a means of introducing a longer term perspectives within fisheries management. Recovery plans currently in place (for cod stocks and northern hake) do affect Belgium. Further recovery and management plans are under development.

Competence over fisheries regulation has been transferred to the Regional Governments. The Administration of Agriculture and Horticulture of the Ministry of Flanders has four technical Divisions. Regulation of marine fisheries is the responsibility of Marine Fisheries Service of the Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Division.

Formal responsibility for marine fisheries research in Belgium lies with the Department of Sea Fishery of the Centre for Agricultural Research. The Department of Sea Fishery is a public research organization with 40 staff. It also coordinates the exchange of research results within and to the Belgian fishing industry. The Department hosts meetings with the fishing and fish processing industries and is responsible for the dissemination of information to the industry.

Vessel owners are grouped in an association called the ‘Rederscentrale’, a Producers’ Organisation that also functions as sector interlocutor for the government. A quota commission spreads the quotas over the whole year to secure a regular supply.

An important institutional development in terms of fisheries management in the European Union is the creation of Regional Advisory Councils. These will bring together several stakeholders into

The Institute for Marine Scientific Research (IZWO) has now been reorganised as the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). The main task of the VLIZ is supporting and visualising scientific research in the coastal area. By doing so, it developed a co-ordination forum, an oceanographic platform and the Flanders Marine Data and Information Centre. The VLIZacts as a co-ordinating and information platform for marine sciences in Flanders. VLIZ hosts the Flanders Marine Data and Information Centre, and deploys the vessel Zeeleeuw for oceanographic research. Furthermore, the institute acts as contact point and provides advice on demand of the government and on its own initiative. The VLIZ contributes also in popularising science, in sensitising en further expanding our marine multi mediacentre. The VLIZ has an interface function between the scientific community, the public authorities and the public at large.

Technical and professional training in fisheries is given at Provincial Maritime Institute (West Flanders). The Antwerp Maritime Academy offers bachelors and master degree programs in Nautical Sciences and Maritime Engineering.

Belgian fisheries systems and policies sit within the context of both regional and international fisheries agreements. The overarching international framework is provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), FAO Conference Resolution 15/93 and the UN agreement of 1995 (Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks). While the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries 4/95 has no legal force it does have political implications for the management systems.

As noted, Belgian fisheries policy and management come under the umbrella of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the EU. Key EU legislation includes:

Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy;
Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (as amended); and
Council Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector.

Belgium is a federal state and fisheries fall under the jurisdiction of the regional governments.

Marine fisheries fall under the jurisdiction of the Flemish government. Regulations governing maximum fishing effort are implemented by ICES area, and measured by capacity of vessels and days at sea. The quotas are set per stock per country, and are derived from the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) values. These quotas are exchangeable between Member States and Belgium negotiates with neighbour countries, in particular, on quotas for cod, plaice, sole and herring. The quota swap with the Netherlands for herring seems especially favourable for both countries. Since 1997, the quota have been imposed with more flexibility, meaning that exceeding a quota in one year can be balanced by a correspondingly reduced quota the next year (with or without penalty) and that unused quotas (up to a maximum of 10 per cent) can also be transferred to the next fishing season. The EU structural policy for the fishing sector is designed to structurally reverse the situation of overcapacity. Re-structuring programmes are implemented on a six-year basis.

Apart from the EU TACs and quotas, the Flemish government enforces national restrictions of maximum catches per calendar day. In a number of fisheries a new system is being tested (North Sea: sole and plaice; Western waters: cod). The quota allocation is divided over a longer period and takes into account the engine power of the vessels. The Sea Fisheries Institute and the vessel owner’s association quota commission will evaluate this in late 2004.

Jurisdiction over inland fisheries lies with the regional governments. These are responsible for the legislation, restocking, licensing and control. They also offer technical expertise in aquaculture.

There is extensive international co-operation in the region in fisheries and environmental regulation in the marine environment. Belgium is a member of the EU, the North Sea Council of Ministers, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC), and a pro-active member of UN-organisations. Belgium is also a contracting party to the 1992 OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the North-East Atlantic.
RECREATIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT

Recreational fishery in public water bodies is subject to a licensing system. The regional governments are responsible for the management.

GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL TRANSFERS

The FIFG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) finances measures accompanying the common fisheries policy. The 2000-06 FIFG budget for Belgium is EUR 34 million mostly targeting the marine fisheries. The operation of FIFG funds is based on the principle of co-financing with the national (or regional) government and the recipient. The Flemish government contributions are channelled though the Flemish Fisheries and Aquaculture Financing Instrument (FIVA). These have were 1.1 million (in 2004 and 2005) and 1.728 million € in 2003. In addition to this the Flemish Government finances specific projects such as research and support to the Foundation Sustainable Fisheries.

There has been a marked decrease in total volume of landings in Belgian harbours since the 1950’s. In the 1980’s landings were still at 35 000 tons. They have now dropped by more than one third to less than 20 000 tons in the early 2000s. However, the bulk of the fish consumed in Belgium is imported. Supply will therefore be mainly determined by the degree by which Belgium will continue to be able to secure foreign supplies.