Brussels, 13/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 12 September, the European Parliament approved the draft regulation which imposes sanctions against third countries that carry out overfishing. The Council is still to formally adopt the text so that it may take effect and apply, if necessary, to Iceland and the Faroe Islands in the war between those countries and the EU on the management of mackerel stocks.
With the adoption (659 votes to 11 and 7 abstentions) of the report by Pat the Cope Gallagher (ALDE, Ireland) on the regulation, the Parliament endorses the compromise text agreed with Council. The regulation opens the road to trade sanctions against third countries that authorise unsustainable fishing of fish and fishery products from stocks of common interest (i.e. fish stocks available to the fleets of both EU and third countries whose management requires cooperation between them). “While the regulation may be used against any third countries, the situation in the North East Atlantic is of immediate concern to all of us. Iceland has unilaterally increased its mackerel catch from 363 tonnes in 2005 to 147,000 tonnes in 2012. The Faroes' quota for mackerel has soared from 27,830 tonnes in 2009 to 149,000 tonnes in 2012”, the rapporteur states.
According to the regulation, the Commission may, through implementing acts, adopt additional measures towards a third country that authorises unsustainable fishing to: - apply quantitative restrictions to imports of fish caught by a non-compliant third country; - apply restrictions to the use of EU ports by ships flying the flag of a non-compliant country; - ban the purchase by EU economic operators of a fishing vessel flying the flag of such a country; - ban exports to a non-compliant country of fishing vessels registered in EU member states, or fishing equipment or gear needed for fishing in stocks of common interest; - and ban the conclusion of private commercial agreements between the EU's economic operators and the non-compliant country with regard to fishing activity. (LC/transl.jl)