Brussels, 09/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 5 October, the European Commission adopted a proposal to amend certain regulations from 2006 and 2007 on fishing opportunities allocated to EU boats. The Council of European fisheries ministers has been called on to adopt this proposal as soon as possible in order to enable fishermen plan their activities for the current period.
Sensitive habitats. According to recent scientific information, particularly from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), extremely fragile coral in deep water habitats has been discovered off the west and south-west of Ireland. These habitats shelter significant organic and very diverse communities. Repairing the damage caused to these habitats by active or dormant fishing gear is either impossible or very slow and difficult. The Commission is therefore proposing a ban on all fishing in the affected zones (which could include permanent protection zones). Similar protection zones exist around the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands, and off the north-west coast of Scotland (the Darwin Mounds).
Deep water species. The 2006 regulation establishes for 2007 and 2008 fishing opportunities for certain deep water fish stocks. During an extraordinary meeting held in June 2007, the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) decided to maintain a fishing ban in the second half of 2007 for redfish in the NEAFC regulated zone. These recommendations are expected to be integrated into Community legislation.
EU/Iceland. The regulation on Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for 2007 is expected to be amended to take into account the EU-Iceland agreement, obtained on 28 March 2007 on quotas allocated to Icelandic boats and quotas allocated to Community boats fishing for redfish in the Icelandic Exclusive Economic Zone.
Redfish. During the June 2007 extraordinary meeting, the NEAFC adopted recommendations on redfish conservation and fish stock measures (ICES I and II international waters). These recommendations are expected to be transposed into Community law.
EU/Faroe Islands. The Community and the Faroe Islands reached an agreement on access to herring stocks in EC and international waters of ICES zones I and II. This agreement will be integrated into Community legislation (83,328 tonnes for the EU, 28,550 of which are for Denmark). (lc)