Brussels, 15/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 July 2008, the EU Council of Ministers adopted without debate a regulation on the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas from the adverse impact of fishing on the seabed (using bottom trawls, dredges, bottom-set gillnets, bottom-set longlines, pots and traps) in the high seas. EU fisheries ministers reached political agreement on the regulation at their meeting in Luxembourg on 24 June 2008 (see EUROPE 9689) and the regulation will come into force on the 30th day after its publication in the EU Official Journal.
The regulation applies to Community fishing vessels carrying out fishing activities with bottom gears in the high seas. In order to conduct such fishing, the EU vessels must have a special fishing permit and the applications for a special fishing permit must be accompanied by a detailed fishing plan specifying: a) the intended location of the fishing; b) the targeted species; c) the type of gears and the depth at which they will be deployed, and d) the configuration of the bathymetric profile of the seabed in the intended fishing grounds, where this information is not already available to the competent authorities of the flag state concerned.
The regulation foresees that 'in the areas where no proper scientific assessment has been carried out and made available', the use of bottom gears shall be prohibited. Bottom fishing activities shall be permitted where the scientific assessment shows that vulnerable marine ecosystems (reefs, submarine mountains, hydrothermal chimneys, cold water coral or cold water sponge banks) will not be at risk. 'Where, in the course of fishing operations, a fishing vessel encounters a vulnerable marine ecosystem, it shall immediately cease fishing, or refrain from engaging in fishing in the site concerned.' The ship's captain must immediately report any discovery of vulnerable marine ecosystems to the competent authorities. There must be observers on each fishing vessel granted a special fishing permit. (L.C./transl.fl)