Mismanagement of Europe's marine resources costs the EU about €3,000 million a year, and it has been conservatively estimated that at least 10 per cent of catches landed are not declared.
However, the EU is not unique - overfishing on a global level costs between €15,000 million and €30,000 million annually, according to a book just published by two Irish officials working with the European Commission in Brussels.
Ronan J. Long of Westport, Co Mayo, and Peter A. Curran, of Athenry, Co Galway, believe that the cost of policing the EU's controversial Common Fisheries Policy is relatively modest in this context - and is money well spent. Member-states bear most of the enforcement costs, with Ireland spending upwards of €10 million annually, and Britain spending about €35 million a year.
The uneven nature of enforcement throughout the Union is a considerable weakness, which is identified in their 379-page study of the fisheries policy. The level of inspection on and offshore appears to vary widely, and member-states have significantly diverging rules of evidence.
The authors have considerable experience of the system from the inside: an Long is a law graduate and former Naval Service officer who has been with the European Commission's fisheries directorate since 1994; and Curran joined the Commission in 1989, initially working in the legal unit of fisheries and then in the fisheries inspectorate unit.
The lack of co-operation between member-states may reflect the "permissive" attitude adopted by national authorities in respect of their fishing industries. Their evidence suggests that although the Amsterdam Treaty may allow formation of a European coastguard, a "sea change" in attitudes would be required before such a body could be deployed to protect the "common" fisheries resource.
They also identify one key obstacle to European co-operation - the suitability of criminal law in relation to achieving greater compliance.
"Criminal law requires, inter alia, the courts to adopt a rigid interpretation of regulatory and other legislative provisions; a high degree of proof in the prosecution of offences; and grants certain defences and privileges to the accused, such as the privilege against self-incrimination".
The book explains the legal rules underpinning the Common Fisheries Policy, the development of enforcement over the past 20 years, the lack of confidence in the system in the 1980s and the potential offered by new technology, such as satellite tracking which has already been introduced. They don't suggest that the current system is perfect, and they recommend that the industry be allowed to play a more active role in self-regulation.
Enforcing the Common Fisheries Policy an J. Long and Peter A. Curran (italics) is published by Blackwell Science, and has been described by Connacht-Ulster MEP Mr Pat `The Cope' Gallagher as comprehensive and timely, given that the debate on the 2002 review of the Common Fisheries Policy has already begun in the European Parliament.
The Irish Seal Sanctuary has challenged statements made by Mr George Gallagher, a member of the Northern Regional Fisheries Board, in relation to the impact of seals on inshore fish stocks. As reported in Out of the West last week, Mr Gallagher has called for Government action to protect inshore fishermen.
Mr Brendan Price of the seal sanctuary says his organisation has consistently supported commercial fishermen, and believes that Mr Gallagher's arguments detract from the real problems affecting the inshore fleet.
The sanctuary says latest reports rank seals way down in terms of impact on stocks, after such factors as over-fishing, poaching and piracy. Mr Gallagher's views are "personal" and "ungrounded", Mr Price claims, and the sanctuary is prepared to help him find a solution but "not a scapegoat".