Brussels, 14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is preparing an EU action plan to reduce the accidental trapping of seabirds by trawlers and other fishing vessels. To help it draft the action plan, the Commission has asked the International Sea Exploration Council (CIEM) to provide it with an overview of the situation in EU waters, listing the areas where the greatest numbers of seabirds are killed and the main type of fishing vessel responsible. The Commission wants to take action in the offending areas where long line and encircling gill net fishing is carried out, like the Mediterranean, the North Sea, the Baltic and off the south-west of Ireland, explains the Commission in a press release published on Monday 14 June 2010. A public consultation exercise has opened on the issue and research will be carried out before recommendations of best practice are drawn up and the economic, social and environmental impact of measures to reduce the numbers of seabirds killed will be assessed. The results will be included in an action plan to be published next year. (A.B./transl.fl)