INTERVIEW. President of the regional committee for maritime fisheries and marine farming in Corsica: “Global warming is already having consequences”

Daniel Defusco, new President of the Regional Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming in Corsica (CRPMEM) since 1^is last June, wishes to defend a sin corse union. He plots course.

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An abundant envelope for Corsica and its maritime sectors, to which emergencies do you wish to see it dedicated?

The broad outlines are already in place, knowing that we had requested, before the fund was set up, that a list of eligible materials be drawn up with the allocated subsidy rates. It will not be long, assured us Nathalie Paoli-Leca.

What is at the heart of our discussions is the modernization of boats for safety and comfort on board. Unfortunately, we do not have the right to improve the performance of these same boats since Europe does not want us to increase the fishing effort.

Is there an explanation?

I seek consistency.

If on some positions, I can understand, on others, it is more complicated to understand. For example, the autopilot on a fishing boat allows you to stay on standby without being at the helm all the time, but it is not subsidized.

How do the four prud’homies on the island organize themselves to prioritize their respective needs fairly?

I am president of the regional committee, prud’homme in Bastia, and the vice-presidents of the committee come from each of the prud’homies of the island. We work in excellent collaboration and make our decisions jointly.

As for the needs, they are almost the same from one prud’homie to another, with small possible differences.

But in this case, it is up to each fisherman to be heard, it is not us who decide for him. The latter puts together a file, with the regional committee and the sustainable development department of the sea to support him, where he details the equipment he wishes to see evolve, the choices being made according to the eligibility of the equipment and the subsidy rate.

Does the profession manage to deal with global warming, the problems that arise most acutely?

The problems are real. It is observed in fishing for bluefin tuna, which does not like very hot surface waters. However, we noted on the Alistro beacon, positioned offshore on a depth of 120 meters, specifying that the test is done on the surface, water at 30.7 ° C, on July 24, unheard of.

Pelagic fish that move in the water column cannot live in these waters, they lack oxygen.

On deep seas, the phenomenon is less visible than on shallow waters, from 0 to 30 meters. We have to adapt.

Will it be necessary in the short term to consider reorienting certain fishing practices in particular?

I think so.

Starting by targeting the species to be fished in priority. However, it will be a question of leaving us the possibility of it since we are impacted by the management plans of the continent.

Corsica should get out of this straitjacket, and we can, for our part, decide and propose alternative fisheries so that the professionals change their methods. Especially since global warming is already having consequences on the reproduction of fish, for example, which is experiencing a staggered rhythm.

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