Annexes to COM(2014)240 - Implementation of Regulation 1921/2006 on the submission of statistical data on landings of fishery products in Member States - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2014)240 - Implementation of Regulation 1921/2006 on the submission of statistical data on landings of fishery products in Member ... |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2014)240  |
| date | April 24, 2014 |
2.3. Data quality
Methodologies for collecting fishing information are fairly consistent throughout Europe. The reliability of statistics depends on:
· the accuracy of the documents provided by the fish sector to the national authorities;
· the quality controls by the Member States.
Many Member States already report the use of electronic methods for performing cross-checks from administrative sources. The different data sources, such as the vessel monitoring system (VMS) and on-board and port inspections, ensure the consistency of the information recorded in logbooks, landing and transhipment declarations, and sales notes. These data sources represent a census of the required information and there is no statistical sampling for vessels equal or larger than 10 m. Any gaps in the data coverage are compensated for through statistical surveys which may cover all or part of the fishing operations.
There are strict rules governing the deadlines for providing sales notes, logbooks and landing declarations, and these are respected in the majority of cases where the landings are made on the territory of the Member State concerned. In particular cases, where data are provided electronically, the data are updated on a daily basis.
Member States frequently report problems with delays in receiving sales notes on landings in another Member State or a third country. Delays in data submission can lead to discrepancies between supposedly identical information sent to Eurostat and to other Commission services (DG MARE) for quota monitoring purposes. This is mainly due to the fact that the information is continuously being updated by the Member States. Variations in reporting deadlines also contribute to these statistical differences.
While Member States try to have their records complete as close to the end of the fishing year as possible, databases are kept open for corrections, though in general, few significant updates are made six months after the reference year.
The introduction of computerised systems has eliminated many of the problems that had been experienced in recording fishery statistics. A high degree of reliability has been achieved, particularly in relation to quota-species. It should be noted that further improvement for non-quota species data collection on landings is still necessary.
Most of the MS are compliant concerning the coverage, reliability and timeliness of the data required by Council Regulation (ECC) 1382/91 of 21 May 1991[2] and Council Regulation (ECC) 2104/93 of 22 July 1993[3] on the quantity and average price of fishery products landed by the EU and EEA in their territory. This information is required within six months of the end of the reference year.
Some Member States such as Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Spain reported that when the price information is missing those prices are estimated based on average prices for the species. To prevent this situation in the future, Ireland has species guide prices to reduce input errors by fish buyers in its system. Estonia has addressed this matter by direct communication on a case by case basis. United Kingdom sales notes are supplemented by other sources of information when available (i.e. vessels involved in shellfish activity are required to complete activity diaries and submit them to authorities). These additional sources are employed in conjunction with the landings data to provide a full set of information on activity.
In the last Eurostat compliance assessment Greece was declared 'not compliant'. However, Greece has now stated that the current situation will be corrected by the beginning of 2014 at the latest. Germany was quite late in transmitting data and its landings data were not complete. Consequently, an official letter was sent by the Director of Sectorial and Regional Statistics requesting that these problems be avoided in the future.
Poland, Romania and Ireland though compliant with the Regulations do not reply on time to the validation checks conducted in Eurostat in order to monitor the quality of data.
3. CONCLUSIONS
The data supplied to Eurostat are for the most part collected under procedures introduced for control and enforcement purposes. Member States report no particular differences in the methodology for information supplied to Commission services. The use of administrative data for statistical purposes ensures that there is little additional cost burden on the fishing sector.
Further confidence in data quality is provided by cross-checks from surveillance activities. The increasing use of electronic methods of data collection has improved both the timeliness and accuracy of information. Work to implement systems in line with changing European requirements is ongoing in many Member States.
In the previous (2010) report, some Member States reported problems with the use of the conversion factors which varied from one Member State to another. This issue was resolved by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 404/2011[4] which sets out, in Annexes XIII, XIV and XV, all the coefficients for converting stored or processed fish weight into live fish weight. Those conversion factors should apply to fisheries products on board or those transhipped or landed by EU fishing vessels. For the remaining species/presentations not covered by the Regulation, national conversion factors are applied.
To achieve cost-effectiveness, the following factors are relevant:
- minimising the burden on data suppliers by harmonising the formats and planning deadlines, and increasing data sharing and availability;
- coordinating data collection with other Commission services;
- coordinating developments of the data collection instruments, to facilitate the quality cross-checks amongst various sources and data bases.
The above will assist in making optimum use of all available administrative sources in the fishing sector, in particular those based on monitoring, control and surveillance, which are commonly used in all the Member States. These sources represent a complete census and no statistical sampling is employed. In addition to the above, any gaps in the data coverage could be resolved through ‘ad hoc’ statistical surveys such as employment figures.
Some difficulties have been noted in collecting detailed and accurate data for artisanal vessels due to the large number of vessels and landing places. This kind of fleet engages in activities that vary considerably by season. Also, the lack of a VMS or logbook makes it more difficult to control these landings.
The reduction in frequency of the quality reports reduces the workload for Member States. The data continue to be a valuable source of information for formulating policy and managing markets within the CFP framework.
Most of the Member States have built up their own systems of cross-checks and warnings which have helped to avoid errors in the information provided from the different sources, in accordance with the new requirements of the Control Regulations. In this regard, further cooperation is needed between DG MARE and Eurostat concerning the exchange of views and experience on data validations and data exchanges in order to reduce double reporting of Member States.
It should also be noted that there has been an improvement in the completeness and timeliness of the questionnaires produced compared with former reports. However, this report also indicates that further improvements are necessary to enhance the quality of the landing statistical data.
Eurostat plans to review its quality questionnaires report on landings statistics to gather more accurate information on the quality of the administrative sources used by the Member States. It is also envisaged that more technical support will be provided to those Member States which request it from Eurostat.
It should also be stressed that Eurostat does not have the competence to monitor the incoming information required by the Common Fisheries Policy. Concrete actions to achieve improved data will be considered to assist in minimising the response burden on Member States and avoid double reporting, thus optimising the use of Commission resources. The implementation of the above-mentioned actions may contribute to an improved ratio in the cost-effective use of statistical data and is in line with Regulation (EC) 223/2009[5] of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics.
[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, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343 p.1, 22.12.2009)
[2] COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1382/1991 of 21 May 1991 on the submission of data on landings of fishery products in Member State (OJ L 133. 28.5.1991)
[3] COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 2104/93 of 22 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1382/91 on the submission of data landings (OJ L 191, 31.07.1993)
[4] COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L 112, 30.4.2011)
[5] REGULATION (EC) No 223/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 March 200 on European statistics and repealing Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1101/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities, Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 on Community Statistics, and Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom establishing a Committee on the Statistical Programmes of the European Communities (OJ L 87, .31.3.2009)