On Thursday, 7 December, the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries criticised the European Commission’s proposal aiming to eliminate bottom trawling in all marine protected areas by 2030, noting that mobile bottom gear catches account for 25% of total catches in the EU.
By adopting (20 votes in favour, 4 against, and no abstentions) the draft report by Niclas Herbst (EPP, German)—analysing the action plan on marine ecosystems that dates back to February 2023 (see EUROPE 13180/13)—MEPs are asserting that these restrictions on trawling could pose a risk to food security or lead to an increase in imports of products caught using gear whose use is restricted in the EU.
MEPs express a “general concern” regarding the failure to consult with stakeholders on the action plan and believe that “proportionality considerations are not properly taken into account in Commission proposals”.
They are calling for financial support for scientific studies and data collection on marine ecosystems as well as financial compensation and incentives so as to provide effective support to EU fishing fleets switching to more selective fishing techniques.
Link to the compromise amendments that were approved, which angered the Greens/EFA group: https://aeur.eu/f/a0o (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)