On Thursday 11 May, the members of the European Parliament asked the European Commission to take better account of the effects on fishers of measures to promote sustainable fisheries.
The plenary debate on marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and the High Seas Treaty revolved largely around the controversial measure to ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas. This part of the action plan provoked complaints in the Chamber, 2 days after fishers demonstrated in EU ports against the measure which is deemed to be unfair and unfounded (see EUROPE 13170/10).
The Commissioner for Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius recalled that the marine action plan “is not a legislative proposal, but builds on existing legislation that needs to be implemented”. Impact assessments will be required for individual measures to be implemented as they are developed, and the regional approach, which “of course involves inclusion and dialogue”, will be respected, the Commissioner promised.
Isabel Carvalhais (S&D, Portuguese) spoke in favour of the ambitious restoration and conservation targets. However, these targets must also be “realistic” and “based on science and impact assessments that also include the social and economic dimension”, she insisted. It is in this balance that the sustainability of the oceans lies and the livelihoods of our fishers are guaranteed, she summarised.
Like others, she also spoke of solidarity “with our fishing communities”.
An action plan considered illegal. It is an action plan “to destroy sustainable fisheries”, said Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spanish), who criticised the Commissioner for wanting to protect the environment and not the fishing profession. He called on the Commission to carry out a full analysis of the socio-economic impact of the measures and criticised the Commission for imposing drastic and disproportionate bans instead of developing measures based on the best available scientific advice.
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (Renew Europe, Spanish) urged the Commission to listen to the professionals who are innovating, for example in trawling gear. She also cited as an example the signing on 3 May of the Global Tuna Cities Sustainability Alliance.
On behalf of his group (ECR), Croatian Ladislav Ilčić called for the three pillars (economic, social, environmental) of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to be respected. “This action plan does not respect this balance”, he said, and has no legal value, but it is clear that the Commission “will use its power to impose it on Member States”, he said. Last month, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, sent a letter to the President, Ursula von der Leyen, asking the Commission not to bypass the Parliament when making decisions related to fisheries, Mr Ilčić recalled.
“We don’t like this action plan”, said Rosanna Conte (ID, Italian). She criticised the Commissioner for wanting to ban the trawling of 2,088 Italian boats, which supply 80% of the fish sold in the country.
Of course, there were also voices in support of the measures proposed by the Commission. Ska Keller (Greens/EFA, German) believes that humans cannot survive without healthy oceans. “The EU must protect its seas with action” (e.g. better fisheries control, the fight against plastics), she said.
Catherine Chabaud (Renew Europe, French) also supported the action plan, as marine protected areas are “a real tool to regenerate the ocean”. Finally, she welcomed the agreement after 20 years of negotiations on a treaty to preserve biodiversity on the high seas. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)