Brussels, 20/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - At a request from the United Kingdom, the European Commission has decided to ban trawling in the "Darwin Mounds" zone some 180 km off the north-west coast of Scotland. "The measure aims to protect cold water corals of exceptional value considered as directly threatened by trawling", the Commission explains. This emergency measure is to be applied immediately. The European Commission announces that it will soon present a proposal of regulation to the Council, so that a permanent ban can be set in place.
The above decision was taken in application of measures adopted last December in the context of reform of Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). "This is a further encouraging example of what it is possible to do in the context of the new CFP. In response to the request by a Member States, the United Kingdom in this case, the Commission has been able to act very rapidly to protect exceptional marine habitats", the European Commission for Agriculture and Fisheries, Franz Fischler, was pleased to state.
A spokesperson of the European Commission pointed out that this decision would not have an impact on fishing quotas. The British, Danish and Norwegian fishermen had access to this zone, he explained.