Brussels, 18/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following informal discussions held on Tuesday 17 April in Senningen, Luxemburg, EU fisheries ministers have backed the European strategy for putting a stop to illegal fishing activities, and have provided useful contributions on how to achieve this end. European Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Joe Borg said that, after the summer (probably in October), the Commission planned to adopt formal proposals on action to combat this scourge which is wreaking havoc on fish stocks and causing great damage to the marine environment, and, thus, also to the (legal) fishing industry.
The Commission and Council are determined to put an end to the “scandal of illegal fishing practices”, said Dr Borg, clearly satisfied with the outcome of discussions among European ministers on this issue of great importance in the Commission's work programme. The Commission's proposals will have an effect on each of the links in the chain, from the vessel to the consumer. The main points of the Commission strategy were presented by Dr Borg thus: - “As the biggest importer of seafood products, we must close the EU doors to illegal fisheries products and vessels”; - the European Community “also needs to be able to demonstrate that illegal fishing in its own waters or by Community vessels and operators is also adequately tackled. Weaknesses in that area have to be tackled”; - “Member states must take action to tackle illegal activities committed by their vessels or nationals beyond EU waters”; - “Sanctions must act as an effective deterrent to would-be rule breakers”; “The Commission is now looking at how to progress in this area along with how to deal with EU nationals involved in IUU (illegal, unregulated and unrecorded) fishing with vessels flagged to third countries”; - the Commission supports the work of the FAO and other organisations to “put in place a global register of fishing vessels, an international network dedicated to control and surveillance activities”; - “We also want to strengthen our policy against IUU fishing with RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organisations) and in our relations with coastal developing countries, in order to strengthen their capacity to better manage and monitor fishing activities”.
German Minister Horst Seehofer welcomed initiatives which the Commission intends to bring forward to end destructive fishing practices, particularly bottom trawling. The Commission is proposing to set up a system of special fishing licences for vessels using such gear on the high seas (where the zones are not covered by regional organisations). (lc)