Brussels, 04/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 3 May, the European Parliament's fisheries committee amended the initial plans to restore cod stocks in the Baltic Sea to make them more acceptable to fishermen. The report by Zdzis³aw Kazimierz Chmielewski (EPP-ED, Poland) was adopted by a comfortable majority (12 to 4, with 3 abstentions) by the fisheries committee and will voted upon by the European Parliament plenary in Brussels on Thursday 7 June. This would enable EU fisheries ministers to meet their pledge to strike a deal at the 11-12 June Fisheries Council (see EUROPE 9408).
Restricting days at sea. The Commission is suggesting a 10% cut in the number of days at sea, which the EP fisheries committee has reduced to an 8% reduction.
Controls. The initial plan allows an 8% level of tolerance in the quantity of cod estimated to be held on board, logged in the daily journal. EP amendments have increased this to 10%. Other amendments raise the weight of cod fished at which the catch has to be reported from 100 kg to 300 kg. The fisheries committee has increased the minimum landing size of cod (introduced to help juveniles reach the age when they can reproduce) to 40 cm.
Social and economic impact. The members of the fisheries committee added an article to the regulation requiring the European Commission to prepare a report on the social and economic impact of these cod safeguard measures on the fishing industry. The Commission is urged to take account of employment and the economic situation facing fishermen, ship-owners and companies working in the fishing and cod processing industries. (lc)