On Thursday, 9 September, the organisation Bloom criticised the fact that the European Commission “quietly amended” the regulation on technical measures this summer, thus allowing vessels using the ‘Danish seine’ to operate in the North Sea within 12 nautical miles of France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands “without engine power limits and for all species”.
“The Dutch industry has therefore been able to legitimately come plunder the territorial waters of the countries mentioned since 15 July 2021. An action for annulment is possible, but it must be filed by the European Parliament or a Member State by 15 September at the latest; this is an emergency”, explains Bloom in a press release.
The text amended by the European Commission reportedly has the effect of authorising vessels fitted with Danish seines, which target all species including sole and plaice, in the coastal waters of the North Sea that are known as the ‘Plaice Box’. However, this breeding area has been regulated since 1989 to protect young plaice.
Link to Bloom’s press release (in French): https://bit.ly/3niOd2e
Link to the delegated regulation dated 15 July: https://bit.ly/3tuI1VD (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)