ABSTRACT

This chapter analyses the complex interplay between the 'European', 'national' and 'regional' concepts of sea fishery limits in the evolution of the Common Fisheries Policy. It shows that how regional ideas have had some impact on the issue of 'who can fish what and where' in European Community waters, although the reality of restrictive national fishery zones in a Community supposedly dedicated to the eradication of such discriminations is very evident. Beyond regional plans, national notions of fishing limits are by no means dead in the so-called 'Europond'. In defending their demands for extensive, exclusive national fishing limits within the 'Europond', the British and Irish mustered arguments which have become familiar as states have pushed their way out to 200-mile maritime boundaries. The Norwegians insisted that a solution existed which reconciled both their national interests and 'European' principles. They proposed a compromise of a regional character based on the 'right of establishment' provisions incorporated in Rome Treaty.