Brussels, 03/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the European Commission tabled a proposal to ban the use of bottom-trawled fishing gear around the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries Islands in order to protect the coral reefs. Similar restrictions currently apply to an area off the north-west of Scotland known as the Darwin Mounds.
The Commission explained that bottom trawling is currently banned in the areas concerned under the rules governing access to the so-called 'western waters', established during the process of integration of Portugal and Spain into the Common Fisheries Policy. As these rules will end this year, restrictions are needed to ensure continued protection for these habitats. This explains why it is proposing to amend the 1998 regulation on technical measures applying to fishing gear.
The continental shelf around the islands concerned by the proposed measures is very narrow or virtually non-existent. Several habitats are to be found at the bottom of these deep waters. These include deepwater coral aggregations, thermal vents and carbonate mounds which give shelter and food to a highly diversified fauna and flora. Scientific evidence, including reports from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), shows that habitats such as those found around the islands concerned by the proposal are in need of special protection, especially against the physical damage caused by bottom trawls and similar fishing gear.