Environmental groups welcome the Fisheries Council’s decision on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fisheries, but regret that no precautionary measures to freeze the footprint of deep water fisheries have been adopted. The much debated increase in fuel subsidies was regrettably not discussed at the Fisheries Council’s meeting 23-24 June 2008.
Regulation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
The Council reached a unanimous agreement on a regulation to prevent IUU fishing. Greenpeace, WWF and Seas At Risk welcome the decision taken by the Member States to apply the IUU Regulation to EU and non-EU fisheries. The organizations underline the need to tackle this 1 billion euro a year industry.
By adopting this regulation, the European Union would contribute to ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks and improve the situation of fishermen exposed to unfair competition by illegal products. It would also meet consumers’ demand for sustainable and fair fishery.
The protection of deep-sea ecosystems
The Council reached a unanimous agreement on a regulation on the protection of vulnerable marine eco-systems in the high seas from the adverse impacts of bottom fishing gears. The decision to conduct impact assessments prior to licensing certain deep-sea bottom fisheries are welcomed by Greenpeace, WWF and Seas At Risk.
The organizations are however disappointed that Member States did not agree to freeze the footprint of these damaging fisheries through a depth limit for the deployment of bottom gears. A proposal will be discussed in the Council once formalities are finalised. Such a proposal would introduce measures to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems from the destructive effects of bottom fishing activities, in particular by introducing a special fishing permit, relevant monitoring measures and a precautionary protected boundary within the water column.