Madam President, when I first started to consider drafting this report, I wondered whether it was a wise decision for any politician from Northern Ireland to agree to bring forward a report on Box VIIa in the Irish Sea. However, I believe that in politics you have to take on board some of the more positive aspects of life. While this may have been a poisoned chalice initially, I hope that ultimately, I, Parliament and the Commission can together develop something that will be very positive and fruitful for the fishermen who depend on fishing in the Irish Sea. The report is designed to protect juvenile cod in the Irish Sea. We have to make it very clear that it is not just designed to protect juvenile cod but also to protect many other species in the Irish Sea. That is important. The other species in the Irish Sea will also benefit from this protection. From that point of view, the one thing that has changed dramatically in recent times is that there is a growing understanding that such protection is necessary. Perhaps five years ago if you told fishermen in that particular area that there was a need for this, they would have said there was no need for it. Now there would be a more positive response and a recognition that there is a problem, there has been a problem. The real question now is how we resolve that problem. I welcome the cooperation that has existed between the fishermen, their representatives, the Commission and local, regional and national governments, on this particular point. If we are going to find a way forward, that continued cooperation must exist. It is positive and has to be built upon. It must be developed and brought to fruition. But this cannot be a one-way dialogue. We cannot have the Commission telling the fishermen that it knows everything. The Commission must listen to the fishermen, listen to their experience, listen to what they know, take that on board and work and cooperate with them. This report also requires technical changes: to the mesh size of nets. It is a very technical report and requires the cooperation of the fishermen with the Commission and regional authorities to ensure that we no longer destroy what was considered a very natural resource in the past. In Box VIIa in Northern Ireland three ports are totally dependent on the fisheries industry: Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie. Last year the fishermen in that area had an 11-week closure on their fishing rights. That was hard. But in the interests of protecting the juvenile cod and the spawning period, they cooperated and were very positive. I believe there will also be cooperation next year. What the fishermen are asking is that the Commission responds to them in a more positive way than it has in the past. We have to find a way forward. We have to find a resolution to the situation. That is no easy task way for anyone. I believe we can find a way through and a positive way forward, but only if everyone cooperates. I have tried to bring forward amendments which I hope will be helpful. I hope the Commissioner can be positive in his response. The technical measures should be reviewed on an annual basis. That would greatly assist fishermen in that area. It is not a burden that is easily carried so we require a review every 12 months. I also hope that the Commissioner can throw a life-line and address the socio-economic hardship associated with the proposals. Will the Commissioner, if the regional or national governments come forward with a proposal, respond in a positive way and try to find a way forward, to support those fishermen, to improve the technical aspects that need improving, to meet the new standards that have been laid down? This is a very difficult situation. It is not an easy one to resolve. I ask the Commissioner to respond positively.

Political group: PPE-DE