On Monday, 30 January, the Organization of Fisheries Producers of the Port of Burela and the University of Santiago de Compostela presented the EU’s Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries (Maritime Fisheries) with data on the “devastating” socioeconomic impact of the ban on bottom fishing in 87 areas of the Atlantic.
Incidentally, the data was included in the arguments in the appeal for annulment that the industry filed with the Court of Justice of the EU against this implementing act (see EUROPE 13047/16). The information provided aims to demonstrate the disproportionality of the act in question and reportedly confirms that the legislation was approved without prior socioeconomic evaluation. The sector has asked the European Commission to rectify [the problem] and amend the text as a matter of urgency, without waiting for the Court’s ruling.
According to a press release, the EU longline fleet is primarily made up of family-owned vessels that specialise in hook fishing (longline). “Despite its insignificant impact on the seabed, it has turned out to be the [fleet segment most affected] by the EU implementing regulation banning bottom fishing in certain sea areas”, states the press release. “[The] direct impact of [...] the new Regulation [could] lead to a reduction of up to 27 million euros in global turnover, with annual losses of up to 150,000 euros per year per vessel”.
The indirect impact is estimated at a loss of up to 17.5 million euros in turnover.
More information: https://aeur.eu/f/554 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)