Are the provisions on aid for the fleet in line with the principles of the 2002 reformed CFP?
Despite some pressure by a number of Member States to reinstate aid for vessel construction, an agreement on the EFF safeguarding the ban on aid for renewal of the fleet decided in December 2002 was reached.Moreover aid for the replacement of engine has been designed in such a way that the overall fishing effort is not increased but rather decreased. Indeed bigger vessels will not receive such aid unless they reduce their engine power. In small scale fisheries (vessels of < 12m not using a towed gear), the capacity of the new engine must not exceed the capacity of the replaced engine.This more favourable treatment is justified by the characteristics of the vessels concerned. Since they do not use towed gear, the engine power is less relevant with regard to the ability of the vessel to catch fish. The engine onboard these vessels is primarily used to access the fishing grounds. A new engine, therefore, enhances their safety.New engines will potentially contribute to improving energy eff
