EN
C 349/132
Official Journal of the European Union
29.9.2023
Market measures 3.21.
The EESC considers it essential that restrictions on bottom gear be automatically mirrored in products imported from third countries.
This question is particularly relevant given that thousands of tonnes of white fish (for example Alaska pollock, cod and haddock) come from Russia and China, and even benefit from tariff preferences (ATQs).
The EESC therefore calls on the Commission to include in the action plan market measures to ensure consistency and coherence between internal and external policies, as well as a level playing field between EU and non-EU operators.
Funding 3.22.
The EESC regrets the fact that the action plan does not propose any kind of additional financing measures for either the green or energy transitions proposed by the European Commission.
An initiative of this magnitude and which affects so many bottom-fishing vessels must be accompanied by the necessary compensatory incentives and mechanisms.
The EESC calls for public aid to be allocated to research and innovation aimed at reducing contact with the seabed, rather than to changing fishing gear or scrapping.
The latter would require huge sums of money, which are not available in the current funds, and would involve technical impediments when changing fishing methods.
The EESC also calls for the seasonality and specificity of the fisheries sector to be taken into account.
The EESC requests that (in addition to the European Maritime Fund for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EMFAF)) the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund adopt fisheries-focused programmes in order to improve the channelling of funds to areas where they are most needed.
Furthermore, the Committee calls on the European Commission to produce monitoring reports to verify whether funds are being properly implemented and distributed.
By-catches 3.23.
The EESC fully agrees with the Commission on the need to minimise and, where possible, eliminate by-catches of sensitive marine species (for example, the common dolphin in the Bay of Biscay).
The EESC is concerned about vulnerable species that are particularly threatened, such as some species of shark, sea turtle, marine mammal (Baltic Proper harbour porpoise and Mediterranean monk seal) and sea bird (Balearic shearwater).
The EESC calls on the Member States to take national or joint measures to minimise by-catch.
3.24.
In this regard, the EESC welcomes the latest measures taken by some Member States which have deployed on-board observers and acoustic devices that emit ultrasound to drive away dolphins.
Finally, the EESC calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that closures of fishing areas to protect sensitive species are balanced, and that they take into account the great socioeconomic impact that this will have on the fleet.
3.25.
The EESC is concerned about the critical status of the European eel and reiterates the decisive measures adopted by the Council in December 2022 to improve the situation, which resulted in a six-month closure of marine catches and a total ban on recreational fishing.
In this regard, the EESC points out that these measures will have a major negative impact on coastal fishing across Europe, and therefore calls for an analysis of the progress of the species’ recovery before further restrictive measures are taken.
Nonetheless, the Committee believes it fundamental to address all fishery and non-fishery-related impacts and to better implement relevant legislation such as the Water Framework Directive (20), the Habitats Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, in order to improve the situation as soon as possible, avoiding further restriction.
Other pollutants 3.26.
It is estimated that, due to the wars of the last century, the Baltic Sea alone has around 50 000 tonnes of chemical munitions, 500 000 tonnes of conventional weapons and 10 000 wrecks on its seabed (21).
This danger is being exacerbated by Russia’s brutal military aggression against Ukraine.
Dumped munitions pose a real threat to human life and the marine environment, jeopardising not only fishing and seafaring but also the development of other sectors of the blue economy.
The EESC calls on the European Commission and the Member States to take operational steps to clean up the seabed, as well as legislative measures to ensure that waters are safe from these hazards.
The EESC stresses the importance of the European Food Safety Authority and of Member States’ national programmes under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in safeguarding the marine environment as a source of safe and healthy food for humans.
(20) (21)
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1).
Clearing chemical and conventional munitions from the sea (Euractiv).