The implementing act limiting deep-sea fishing in certain areas to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) could come into force by the end of September, according to the European Commission, which discussed the text with the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries on Tuesday 12 July.
The Commission tried to respond to MEPs’ criticism of the text, pointing out that it was not about banning bottom trawls, but about finalising the 2016 Regulation laying down specific conditions for fishing for deep-sea stocks in the North-East Atlantic (see EUROPE 12986/16).
According to this text, by 13 January 2018 at the latest, on the basis of the best available scientific and technical information and the assessments and surveys carried out by the Member States and the scientific advisory body, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts in order to establish a list of areas that harbour or are likely to harbour VMEs. The Commission will review this list annually on the basis of the advice it receives from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries and amend it, as appropriate, by means of implementing acts. The annual review work will start in 2023, the Commission said.
The Commission indicated that after the ‘non-opinion’ of the Member States (no qualified majority in the EU Council for or against the text), at the end of June, the Commission notified the measure to the UK, which has two months (until the first week of September) to respond. The Commission may then adopt the implementing act and the text will enter into force 24 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
The aim of the text is to “better protect the seabed beyond 400 metres from any contact with fishing gear”, the Commission said.
Unease among fishers. Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP, Spanish) spoke of the “unease” felt by the profession about this implementing act. He asked the Commission to “step back”.
Annie Schreijer-Pierik (EPP, Dutch) said the measure does not take into account the economic and social effects of such restrictions. What is being proposed does not make sense, she says, especially as the vessels targeted are likely to move to other fishing areas.
Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR, Dutch) protested against the job losses.
Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) noted that the introduction does not only affect trawls, but also longlines.
Pierre Karleskind (Renew Europe, French), Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries, noted that it seemed to him that “the pencil line used for the drawings is a bit thick. There are many questions about the proposals made”.
Only Caroline Roose (Greens/EFA, French) supported the Commission’s efforts to implement the text. “We waited six years”, she said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)