Brussels, 15/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Wednesday 14 May, Oceana, the international organisation for the protection of the oceans, presented further proof that fishing nets banned for the past six years by Community legislation were still being used in the Mediterranean by Italian and French fishing vessels.
The use of driftnets to capture large pelagic species is illegal because they are a threat to the conservation of various species of cetaceans, sea turtles and sharks, Oceana explains in the report presented on illegal Italian fishing activity in the Mediterranean. After having covered the seas in search of pirate vessels, Oceana experts estimate that more than 137 Italian vessels continue to use illegal driftnet fishing gear, after having received substantial subsidies for conversion. According to the authors of the report, vessels identified (and photographed) have received a total of €900,000 in subsidies to change fishing nets. The report contains the following recommendations: - implementation of an effective control system in ports; - withdrawal of fishing permits for vessels using these illegal driftnets; - authorisation of only one gear type at a time on board a fishing vessel; - repeal of the ministerial decree of May 2006 which authorised the use of ferrettara with a mesh size of 18 cm and in the 10 mile coastal zone; - and a ban on the imports of Moroccan swordfish caught by driftnets after the prohibition on the use of that gear becomes effective in the Kingdom of Morocco.
Oceans also slams the 92 French vessels identified that continue to fish for blue tuna using the thonaille, a net that the European Commission hopes to ban as it is similar to the illegal driftnets banned by the EU in 2002. France challenges this analysis and is fighting for this traditional fishing practice to continue as long as possible (the Commission has taken France before the European Court of Justice in this affair). Oceana considers exemptions granted for fishing using the thonaille method are not justified. The organisation calls for all vessels involved in this fishing practice to be converted to other fishing methods and for the illegal gear to be confiscated. (L.C.)