Dutch trawler operating off the coast of Africa. (Photo: Pierre Gleizes/Greenpeace)
Brexit delays agreement on trawling
EUROPEAN UNION
Thursday, June 16, 2016, 21:40 (GMT + 9)
After four years’ negotiations the EU has not issued its new deep sea fishing regulations. The Council of Fisheries Ministers, the Parliament and the Commission closed Tuesday the last trialogue of negotiations without agreement. The future of trawling remains uncertain.
The regulatory framework for deep sea fishing, some basic rules to ensure fishing and sustainability as well as conservation of the most vulnerable seabed species. The document aims to reverse the dismal failure that the 2002 regulations reaped. The negotiations have gone through many ups and downs.
The EU must still clarify at what depth the use of this gear will be prohibited, whether it will be extended to international waters or how important the presence of onboard observers will be.
"The talks are at a critical point. After four years’ negotiations, we are about to reach the agreement," said MEP Izaskun Bilbao (PNV), part of the trialogues.
There is no date for the next meeting, but the Dutch Presidency of the Council wants to settle the matter before its term expires (July 1).
"It will be difficult. The Brexit calendar complicates it. They do not want anything to move forward until the referendum", ensure the diplomatic sources.
The UK has a whole Scottish trawling fleet fishing in EU waters.
The Council, with the approval of Spain, which has long clung to the possibility of limiting the restriction to where there was no fishing trace, argues that the ban on trawling must be set from the 800 metres deep. The 28 fisheries ministers want this limit to apply only in Community waters of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and that the presence of observers on board the fishing vessels must be mandatory if up to 15 per cent of deep-sea species is caught per fishing trip.
On the other hand, the Parliament is not in tune with the fishery ministers’ wishes. It requires 100 per cent coverage of supervisors. A "thorny" issue, according to sources negotiating the agreement. It also he wants to extend the ban on trawling to international waters and reduce the depth of 800 metres.
Source: Cristina Porteiro / Brussels / lavozdegalicia.es
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Photo Courtesy of FIS Member Greenpeace International - The Netherlands | Headquarters
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