The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries opened negotiations on Thursday, 25 June, with a view to finding a compromise regarding the provisions amending the Control Regulation on fishing activities (see EUROPE 12437/5).
More than 1,000 amendments have been proposed and 28 compromise amendments will be discussed on 2 July between the shadow rapporteurs on this dossier in the Committee on Fisheries.
Rapporteur on the dossier, Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spain) notably indicated that three compromise amendments were introduced on illegal fishing (catch certificates and sanctions), five compromise amendments concern definitions, five pertain to traceability, seven are on the logbook, and four relate to catch reporting. “We will see if we can reach a political agreement at the coordinator level”, Ms Aguilera indicated.
She specified that the EPP group had presented a definition of small-scale coastal fishing. The rapporteur is debating whether this issue should be dealt with in the Control Regulation or in the regulations on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Some MEPs (EPP and Renew Europe) are opposed to traceability for canned products, whereas Ms Aguilera is in favour of it.
On-board cameras are causing division. With regard to on-board cameras, the rapporteur proposes that the installation of cameras or other devices should be mandatory only for vessels having a high risk of non-compliance with the landing obligation.
This topic is causing division among MEPs. Some are against it, including Rosanna Conte (ID, Italy). Other MEPs—including Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (Renew Europe, Spain) and Spanish EPP MEPs Francisco José Millán Mon and Gabriel Mato—suggest closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras be used “if necessary” and, thus, on a voluntary basis.
Recreational fishing must be covered by the regulation so as to have a better understanding of the volumes of fishing concerned. “Geolocation is possible for almost all craft, but it must not be an untenable problem for fishermen who would not be able to afford such equipment”, Ms Aguilera also said.
The rapporteur proposed a five-year transitional period before the new rules are implemented. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)