European Parliament resolution on more environmentally friendly fishing methods (2004/2199(INI))
Date: 2006-03-15
Institutions: Committee on Fisheries, European Parliament
Subjects: common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, environmental protection, fishery management, fishery resources, fishing controls, fishing industry, marine pollution

30.11.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 291 E/319

Wednesday, 15 March 2006

P6_TA(2006)0091

More environmentally friendly fishing methods

European Parliament resolution on more environmentally friendly fishing methods (2004/2199
(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy,

— having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament
technical conservation

on promoting more environmentally friendly fishing methods:
measures (COM(2004)0438),

the role of

— having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A6-0019/2006),

A. whereas it is important to promote fishing methods that respect the environment,

B. whereas the sustainability of fishing resources is essential for guaranteeing fishing activity and the viabi-

lity of the fisheries sector in the long term,

C. whereas fishermen and their representative associations should be involved in determining measures to

protect the marine environment and rebuild depleted stocks,

D. whereas appropriate socio-economic measures should be introduced to provide fishermen with compen-

sation for the costs of reductions in work connected with the plans to rebuild depleted stocks,

1. Welcomes the Commission's communication on the promotion of more environmentally friendly
fishing methods;

2. Reminds the Commission that it should take a more wide-ranging view of measures to protect the
marine environment and rebuild depleted stocks, in particular by considering and studying other factors
which have a considerable impact on the marine environment and the state of resources, such as coastal and
offshore pollution, industrial and agricultural effluents, deep-sea dredging and maritime transport, so as to
complement current management methods;

Emphasises that all technical measures to protect the marine environment and rebuild depleted fish

3.
stocks should be based on scientific fishing research;

4.
Believes this to be an important step in achieving ecologically sustainable management of fisheries in
order to reduce the impact of fishing on the marine environment, while recognising that a certain level of
impact by fishing is unavoidable within reasonable limits; recalls also that pollution as well as overfishing
and non-sustainable fishing methods have a great impact on fisheries, as illustrated, for example, by the fact
that it has been scientifically demonstrated that some pollutants cause serious damage at various stages of
the trophic chain, with grave consequences for commercial species which would need to be protected;

Believes that, while ecological considerations are of major concern, future fisheries management policies

5.
must not be used to further penalise economically and socially vital fishing operations;

6.
Points out that it is essential to achieve a balance between socio-economic exigencies and environmental
sustainability, while underlining the need to activate a mechanism for subsidising or compensating fishermen
who are affected by the negative effects of environmentally friendly fishing, particularly those active in less
developed areas;

7. Calls for the adoption of technical methods to improve selectivity and, therefore, the possibility of
catching fish at the right size, in order to maintain high productivity;

Points out that only by ensuring that fish spawn and develop for a minimum specific period can the

8.
satisfactory reproduction of fish be made possible;

C 291 E/320

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.11.2006

Wednesday, 15 March 2006

9.
Emphasises the need to limit any significantly negative impact of fishing on marine biodiversity
through the establishment of marine reserves, real-time area closures and other appropriate and balanced
management measures, to be implemented stringently at least until the marine habitats have returned to safe
biological levels;

10.
Expresses particular concern over the issue of ghost fishing and urges the Commission to take all
appropriate short and long-term action to combat the issue, including close monitoring of the effectiveness
of any provisions that are adopted at EU level;

11. Highlights the need to reduce discards, which produce detrimental biological effects as well as having
negative economic impacts, through the adoption of appropriate technical measures, based on reliable scien-
tific research, such as closed seasons, prohibited zones and mesh size regulations, taking account of the par-
ticular features of each marine area in which the technical conservation measures are implemented;

Invites the Commission to bring forward, without further delay, proposals for pilot projects aimed at

12.
reducing discards;

Suggests in particular that the option of discard bans accompanied by appropriate incentives for fish-

13.
ermen be considered;

14. Urges the Commission to promote actively the adoption of an FAO International Plan of Action on
bycatch reduction;

15. Calls on the Commission to place emphasis on the development of environmentally friendly fishing as
part of the overall package of management measures;

16. Calls on the Commission to avoid conflicting objectives and superfluous regulations and to avail itself
of this opportunity to simplify the overall regulatory system;

17. Calls on the Commission to consider the application of environmentally friendly fishing technical
measures as a complement to existing effort limitations in relation to stock recovery plans;

18.
Believes that, in this context, it is absolutely essential to develop and implement the satellite tech-
nology needed to detect the presence of unauthorised fishing vessels in closed areas and in Marine Protected
Areas, in order to guarantee effective protection of fish, their critical habitat and other biodiversity;

Points out the need to support the actions undertaken in the framework of the reformed CFP in order

19.
to further the goals of the Commission's communication, particularly:

a)

the adoption of a decentralised approach which takes account of the specificity of particular fish species;

b) the development, in tandem with Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), of a decision-making process for
the application of technical measures in which specific requirements and locally appropriate measures
can be developed, implemented and monitored;

c)

the increase of technical and financial support through public aid to the RACs to enable them to contri-
bute appropriately to the achievement of this aim;

d) the development of scientific and technical research shared at Community level;

e)

the integration of environmentally friendly fishing rules in long-term management;

20. Underlines the importance of the Commission's communication, which should play a greater role in
sea governance in order to build a positive long-term future both for those whose livelihoods depend on
fishing and for the marine environment;

21.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.