Brussels, 23/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - During debate in the European Parliament (EP) fisheries committee on 21 March, Commissioner Maria Damanaki said she was pleased with agreement in principle on phasing out discarding fish at sea (fishery by fishery, with set deadlines) reached by the Council at the start of the week (see EUROPE 10577). She said that the practical details of that part of the reform had still to be thrashed out, particularly when it involved mixed fisheries (where several species are caught together). More selective fishing gear had to be encouraged and discarding of species which have a high survival rate after being thrown back into the sea still had to be allowed, the commissioner added. She announced that, in 2013, she would adopt an action plan for the Atlantic Ocean. She said that the Mediterranean could not be left out of the reform, although a “more flexible” approach was possible (on mixed fisheries and ending discards). Fish stocks that are overfished in the Mediterranean count for 80% (50% in the Northern Atlantic). (LC/transl.rt)