The European Commission’s Action Plan on marine ecosystems is being greeted with great caution in the EU Council, according to a draft of the conclusions transmitted on 20 April by the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council and obtained by EUROPE.
Several EU countries, including France and Spain, have already spoken out against the Commission’s plan to phase out bottom trawling by fishermen in marine protected areas (MPAs) (see EUROPE 13138/33).
Impact assessment requested. The draft conclusions, which cover the whole ‘sustainable fisheries package’ presented last February (see EUROPE 13126/1), recognise the objectives set out in the proposed action plan, but call for “a comprehensive impact assessment based on the best available science as a basis for operational and proportional applicability of the proposed actions, with regard to their benefits for marine ecosystems and taking into account regional specificities as well as financial and socio-economic implications”, the draft states.
The use of bottom contact fishing in MPAs “should be in line with the best available science for the conservation objectives of each MPA”, according to the EU Council.
Link to the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/6hx (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)