On Wednesday 15 March, France, Spain and Portugal criticised some of the measures proposed by the European Commission in the action plan on marine ecosystems.
In preparation for the meeting of EU Fisheries Ministers on Monday 20 March in Brussels, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) held a short debate on Wednesday on the package of non-legislative proposals presented by the European Commission on 21 February.
France and Spain have already publicly challenged the Commission’s plan to phase out bottom trawling by fishermen in marine protected areas (MPAs) (see EUROPE 13138/33).
At Coreper on Wednesday, these two countries, together with Portugal, deplored the “lack of proportionality” of the measure banning bottom trawls in MPAs, as well as the negative economic consequences for fishermen of these restrictions.
Such a ban, according to these delegations, would pose “food safety” problems, as it would reduce catches of seafood by EU vessels and lead to increased imports from third countries.
For the European Bottom Fisheries Alliance (EBFA), the trawling ban would put at risk 7,000 vessels, corresponding to 25% of the EU landings and 38% of the total revenues of the EU fleet.
The Commission calls on Member States to propose common recommendations and take national measures to phase out mobile bottom fishing in all MPAs by 2030 at the latest and not to allow it in newly created MPAs. The first measures should be taken as early as March 2024 for Natura 2000 sites.
Strategic approach. Hervé Berville, the French Secretary of State for the Sea, said on 8 March that banning these bottom trawls in marine protected areas would be “a folly for food sovereignty and would disregard the efforts made for years by fishermen to rebuild stocks”.
The Spanish Fisheries Minister, Luis Planas, referred on 13 March to “the disagreement of Spain and other EU Member States” regarding this action plan. He stressed the need for the Commission to carry out a “thorough analysis of the situation of EU fisheries, with a real strategic approach to the future of the fisheries sector, before drawing up a plan”.
On Monday, EU Fisheries Ministers will discuss four Commission initiatives on sustainable fisheries: two Commission reports on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for fisheries products, the action plan to protect and restore marine ecosystems, and a communication on energy transition (see EUROPE 13126/1). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)