Brussels, 20/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 May, the EU Council of Ministers adopted a regulation which will allow technical measures in fisheries (see EUROPE 10353 on the agreement in the European Parliament) to be extended until the end of 2012. The United Kingdom and Portugal voted against the regulation. Technical measures are governed by an old regulation which has already been extended until 30 June 2011, after agreement with the Council could not be found on a new proposal drafted by the Commission in 2008.
Ahead of the forthcoming reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and in light of its importance for the content and scope of new permanent technical measures, the institutions have agreed to delay adoption of such measures until a new legislative framework is in place. Only one amendment was brought in the regulation. Quotas of boarfish (Caproidae) were established for the first time at the end of 2010 (fishing quotas for 2011). Provisions state that boarfish may be targeted using towed nets with a mesh size range of 32-54 millimetres.
In a statement, the United Kingdom said that it accepted the need to ensure that there is no legal vacuum with regard to technical measures. It explained that it was, however, going to vote against the text since UK amendments to the West of Scotland whitefish protection measures had not been addressed. (L.C./transl.rt)