Brussels, 09/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The British Presidency wants Member States to reach agreement in principle on 20 September on management measures for sea resources in the Mediterranean (agreement was not reached on the issue at the June meeting, see EUROPE 8974). To prepare for the upcoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 19-20 September, the British Presidency unveiled a new draft compromise text on Mediterranean fishing at the 7 September meeting of the EU Member States' Permanent Representatives (COREPER). The document is similar to the European Parliament's views (see EUROPE 8965 and 8927) and is closer to the line taken by the Member States, which have been very hostile to the suggested changes.
Minimum mesh sizes. The British Presidency compromise suggests a gradual increase in the minimum mesh sizes, with 40 mm until 30/6/97, and from 1 July 2007 on, 40 mm square-meshed at the cod-end or 50 mm diamond-meshed net. Italy, France and Spain wanted a longer transition period (until 1 January 2008 at least) and aid from the European Fisheries Fund (2007-2013) to help fishermen replace their nets. In its initial draft, the Commission suggested 40 mm until 31 December 2005, 50 mm from 1 January 2006 on, and 60 mm from 1 January 2009 on.
Reduction of minimum size of marine organisms caught. The British Presidency draft suggests increasing the minimum size of hake from 15 to 20 cm in 2009. France and Italy wanted the minimum size to be kept at 15 cm. The British Presidency draft reduces the Commission's suggestions for other species, 9 cm rather than the original draft's 11 cm for anchovy, 11 cm rather than 13 cm for sardines, and 20 cm rather than 25 cm for sole.
Minimum hook size. The Commission suggested that the minimum hook size for groundline fishing and on-board use should be 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, whereas the British Presidency compromise cuts this to 3.95 cm long and 1.65 wide.
Reduction of minimum distance from coast. The use of towed gears is prohibited within 3 nautical miles of the coast, according to the British Presidency compromise (repeating the Commission's suggestion). The use of dredges is authorised between 0.3 and 3 nautical miles (instead of 1.5 and 3 miles in the initial proposal) and the use of purse seines within 300 metres from the coast (instead of 0.5 nautical miles).
Protected habitats. The British Presidency compromise adds a derogation requested by several delegations from fishing above seagrass beds with certain fishing gears. The initial proposal banned fishing above seagrass beds using trawlers, dredgers, purse seines and other such nets.