The members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries were divided on Thursday 14 January on how to use new technologies to control fishing activities, particularly with regard to cameras on board vessels (see EUROPE 12514/10).
On Thursday the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries debated the compromise amendments painfully negotiated by the rapporteur, Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spain), on the proposal revising the procedures for controlling fishing activities.
The report will be voted on in the European Parliament committee according to a three-stage procedure: vote on the compromise amendments on 25 January, vote on the other amendments on 1 February and final vote on 5 February.
“We are in the home stretch”, said Ms Aguilera, who acknowledged that deep differences exist between (and sometimes within) the political groups on several issues.
The main objective, according to her, is to harmonise controls and sanctions.
For the use of new technologies (geolocation, electronic logbook, catch reporting, closed-circuit cameras), she suggested leaving four years (after the regulation comes into force) for the sector to implement the new measures.
The following subjects are covered by compromise amendments, but are the subject of dissension between the groups:
- On-board CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras. There is no agreement on this point. Ms Aguilera proposed making these arrangements compulsory, whereas the EPP and Renew Europe and ID groups, in particular, would not hear of compulsory CCTV. Ms Aguilera’s approach is to place cameras in vessels where the risk of non-compliance with the rules on the landing obligation (end of discards) is highest, while excluding artisanal fishing from the obligation.
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (Renew Europe, Spain) and Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP, Spain) suggested the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on a voluntary basis.
- Traceability of batches. Ms Aguilera believes that consumers should be given information on where and how fish are caught.
- Logbook and VMS. Ms Aguilera wants no vessel to be excluded from the electronic logbook system and for the geolocation system to be installed on all vessels, including artisanal fleets.
A period of four years after the entry into force of the text is proposed by the rapporteur to put these technologies in place, with the support of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
Recreational fishing. The aim is to have more information on the extent of recreational fishing (data compilation).
With regard to transparency, Ms Aguilera suggested, among other things, the creation of a European register of inspections and lost fishing gear. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)