While most MEPs welcomed the forthcoming presentation of the ‘European Ocean Pact’ in Strasbourg on Thursday 24 October, they were divided on how to extend marine protected areas.
The issue of deep-sea trawling once again divided Members of the European Parliament during a debate on the threats to marine protected areas (see EUROPE 13331/12).
Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP, Spanish) called for these protected areas to comply with scientific criteria and opposed an end to deep-water trawling.
For Christophe Clergeau (S&D, French), the ecosystem approach is not possible under the framework directive on maritime spatial planning (Directive 2014/87/EU). He believes that “it is therefore urgent to start revising” this text.
France Jamet (PfE, French) condemned the illegal fishing carried out with impunity by certain vessels.
Billy Kelleher (Renew Europe, Irish) estimated that marine protected areas currently account for 15% of EU waters. He criticised the overfishing of mackerel by Norwegian vessels.
Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA, Swedish) spoke of a “climate crisis that is hitting in the worst possible way”. At a depth of 30 metres, temperatures of 20 degrees were recorded, which is unprecedented, she warned.
Emma Fourreau (The Left, French) estimates that while 12% of EU waters are marine protected areas, “0.2% are strictly protected”. Like the Greens/EFA Group, she called for an end to bottom trawling and condemned competition from “pelagic mega-trawlers”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)