The European Parliament approved Clara Aguilera’s report and the compromise text on the fisheries control regulation on Tuesday 17 October, with 438 votes in favour, 146 against and 40 abstentions.
“The agreement is a historic success, after five years of difficult negotiations”, commented the European Commission, which would have liked a “more ambitious” reform. Measures are planned to put an end to the illegal dumping of fish at sea, according to the Commission (see EUROPE 13191/13).
Ms Aguilera pointed out that the fishing industry will have four years from the entry into force of the text to introduce technological innovations.
In terms of traceability, all fishery and aquaculture products will be covered: fresh and frozen fish as well as processed fish. This measure is due to come into force within five years.
As far as on-board cameras are concerned, the agreement reached is balanced, according to Ms Aguilera: the obligation will only apply to vessels over eighteen metres that present a high risk of non-compliance. These ships will be required to carry remote electronic monitoring systems, including closed-circuit television. The use of video surveillance is very limited and is accompanied by all the necessary data protection guarantees.
Clara Aguilera also pointed to “positive discrimination” for small-scale fishing.
The margin of tolerance relates to the total quantity registered, not the species, and remains fixed at 10%. There are a few exceptions (pelagic fish, industrial fishing, tropical tuna).
Recreational fishermen will have to record and declare their catches.
All catches of fish by vessels will have to be declared electronically. There will, however, be one ‘Galician’ exception. “Even though we would have liked to have gone further, the progress made is substantial and leads us to support this reform”, said Caroline Roose (Greens/EFA, French). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)