Definition of pesca-tourism in EU texts

Subject: Definition of pesca-tourism in EU texts

In its recent report on the revision of the fisheries control system, Parliament introduced a new definition: ‘pesca-tourism’. This is defined as recreational fishing activities organised by fishers, including activities performed with a skippered boat or vessel taking passengers to sea to carry out recreational fishing activities, as a sideline supplementing their core activity. ‘Fishers’ is not a term defined in EU legislation.

In its 2017 resolution on fisheries-related tourism, Parliament highlighted ‘the importance of distinguishing between the various forms of fisheries-related tourism, which include fishing tourism (pesca-tourism and itti-tourism), maritime and coastal water-based activities, recreational fishing including angling tourism’.

When it comes to strengthening monitoring and control, clear definitions and legal certainty are crucial.

1. How does the Commission define ‘pesca-tourism’ and distinguish between such fishing vessels and recreational fishing charter boats?

2. Does it find the definition proposed in Parliament report adequate to ensure effective control of activities undertaken onboard EU fishing vessels and the correct registration of catches (as recreational or commercial)?

3. How should the common fisheries policy and control rules that normally apply to EU fishing vessels be exercised when recreational fishing activities are undertaken on board of these pesca-tourism vessels?

Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (11 March 2021)

1. Article 4(28) of the Control Regulation (1) defines recreational fisheries as ‘non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine living aquatic resources for recreation, tourism or sport.’ The Commission considers that both ‘pesca tourism’ and activities of ‘recreational fishing charter boats’ currently fall under the definition of recreational fisheries in the Control Regulation, as they are not commercial fishing activities. One of the consequences is that the sale of catches from these activities is prohibited.

2. The Commission appreciates that the objective of the amendment defining ‘pesca-tourism’ is to clarify that pesca-tourism is clearly considered as recreational fishing activity and that the rules pertaining to recreational fishing apply.

3. Member States should ensure that recreational fisheries are conducted in a manner that is compatible with the objectives of the common fisheries policy (2), as it can have a significant impact on fish resources. This is the case e.g. for Baltic cod, Atlantic sea bass or European eel, where in some instances recreational catches are more important than the commercial ones . The Commission is monitoring the situation closely and proposes measures for recreational fisheries at EU level in cases where they have a significant impact on fish stocks on a case-by-case basis, as was the case for recreational catches of European sea bass and European eel (3).

⋅1∙ Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common

fisheries policy.

⋅2∙ Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common fisheries policy.

⋅3∙ Council Regulation (EU) 2021/92 of 28 January 2021 fixing for 2021 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union

waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters.