The European Parliament adopted (437 votes in favour, 103 against and 11 abstentions), on Thursday 25 October in Strasbourg, with some changes, the report by Alain Cadec (EPP, France) on the multiannual plan for the management of fish stocks in western waters (see EUROPE 12113).
The report was referred back to the EP Committee on Fisheries in order to start negotiations with the Council on this matter, as requested by Mr Cadec.
The plenary rejected the amendment, pushed in particular by the rapporteur, to introduce the possibility, in certain cases, of reaching MSY (maximum sustainable yield) gradually and in stages over a period not exceeding three years. This derogation had been challenged by some NGOs on the grounds that it contravened the general rule on reaching MSY by 2020 at the latest. The new regulations are expected to come into force in 2019.
The sea bass is included, as Mr Cadec wanted, in the list of species covered by this plan, while an amendment tabled by 38 Members (mainly Spanish) called for this species to be removed from the list, on the grounds that the sea bass is not subject to a total allowable catch (TAC). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)