MEPs and experts shared their ideas on Tuesday 28 March on how to step up efforts to combat marine pollution and its harmful effects on fishing activities.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries organised a hearing on the subject. The NGO Seas At Risk recalled the issue of lost fishing gear.
Catherine Chabaud (Renew Europe, French), the rapporteur on marine pollution (see EUROPE 12686/20), spoke about waste collection and the “multiplicity” of polymers. She advocated the creation of a European fund for marine waste and an international project to depollute the Mediterranean.
Ska Keller (Greens/EFA) said microplastics should be tackled.
Pierre Karleskind (Renew Europe, French) deplored the use of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to fund the collection of waste by sea fishers when the majority of plastics come from rivers.
For François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, French), who initiated the hearing, “we are very far from living up to our responsibilities” in the face of the challenge. He stressed the need to invest more in research and data collection and to prevent marine pollution. He believes the production of fishing nets should be improved, the loss of containers prevented and rivers filtered. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)