Brussels, 12/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission adopted a proposal to limit fishing effort in the western waters (which extend from the Canary Isles and the Azores to the north-west of Ireland and the United Kingdom). These measures apply to the fishing of demersal species (including lobster and shrimp), and coquilles Saint-Jacques, edible crab and spider crab. The objective is to complete the fishing effort limitation system set up last October in the western waters, especially the protected 50-mile zone along the Irish coast, known as the "Irish Box" (see EUROPE of 14 October 2003).
The Commission is proposing to limit fishing effort in the western waters as a function of the fishing zones and in fisheries, in light of information sent by the Member States. These date concern average annual effort in the reference period 1998-2002 by: -boats of length equal to or greater than 15 metres, except in the biologically sensitive area; - boats equal to or greater than 10 metres in the biologically sensitive area in the Irish Box. Fishing effort, based on the number of kilowatt days, will be allocated to the Member States in question, to be divided up between their fleets.