[ParlTrack]

Proposal for a regulation
–

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to propose rejection of the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down a prohibition on driftnet fisheries, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 812/2004, (EC) No 2187/2005 and (EC) No 1967/2006 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 894/97.

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ, Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
–

The European Parliament rejects the Commission proposal.

2015/03/13
Committee: PECH

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) The driftnet fishing is carried out by an undefinable number of small-scale multipurpose fishing vessels, the vast majority of which operating without any regular scientific and control monitoring. Due to the small scale nature of these fishing activities, which makes it easy to escape monitoring, the control and enforcement efforts have not produced the necessary results in terms of conservation of marine resources, in particular with regard to certain protected species.deleted

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) In view of the reasons stated above and in order to properly address the conservation concerns that this fishing gear continues to cause, as well as to achieve the environmental and enforcement objectives in an effective and efficient manner, while taking into account the minimal socio-economic impacts, it is necessary to introduce a full prohibition to take on board or use any kind of driftnets in all Union waters and by all Union vessels whether they operate within Union waters or beyond, as well as by non-Union vessels in Union waters.deleted

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) Moreover it is necessary to extend the scope of this definition so as to cover any newly identified types of drifting fishing nets other than drifting gillnets developed in certain fisheries. It is particularly important to cover by this definition gears that unlike drifting gillnets are made up of two or more walls of netting hung jointly in parallel on the headline(s) yet they operate close to the water surface in the same manner as drifting gillnets do and have similar impact on marine resources, hence should be coherently regulated.deleted

2015/03/13
Committee: PECH

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17

(17) For reasons of clarity of Union legislation, it is also necessary to delete all other provisions related to driftnets by amending Council Regulation (EC) No 850/9813, Regulation (EC) No 812/2004, Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 and Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/200614, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 894/97. __________________ 13 Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (OJ L 125, 27.4.1998, p. 1). 14Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea (OJ L 409, 30.12.2006, p. 11);deleted

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18

(18) Vessels carrying out fisheries with small-scale driftnets may need some time to adjust to the new situation and necessitate a phasing-out period. This Regulation should therefore enter into force on 1 January 2015.deleted

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)

(18a) Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 reformed the Common Fisheries Policy on the basis of the principles of regionalisation and subsidiarity. This approach is an essential component of the new CFP and is positively viewed by Member States and industry experts as vital to successfully tackling the main challenges faced by Europe's fishermen.

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 b (new)

(18b) Accordingly, any ban on the use of driftnets should fully take account of the heightened role of Regional Advisory Councils and should be supported by a full and accurate impact assessment, complete with robust data demonstrating precisely where the use of driftnets continues to pose a significant environmental problem. To date, such a comprehensive impact assessment has yet to be carried out. As a result, implementing a universal ban on driftnet fisheries throughout all EU waters would run in stark contradiction to the Commission's previously stated commitment of promoting an agenda of regionalisation and subsidiarity.

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 c (new)

(18c) One of the principal justifications for introducing a blanket ban on driftnet fisheries throughout EU waters is that the current rules have been easily circumvented. These rules should be more stringently enforced. Furthermore, regulations relating to gear characteristics (maximum mesh size, maximum twine thickness and hanging ratio etc.) and use (maximum distance from the coast, soaking time and fishing season etc.) will be amended next year in the overhaul of technical measures. Pre- empting this process with a universal ban on driftnets is disproportionate and unreasonable.

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 d (new)

(18d) The significant efforts made by many European driftnet fisheries businesses to embrace sustainable environmental management, and achieve accreditation by bodies such as the UK's Marine Stewardship Council, should be recognised, applauded and, by implication, supported by any relevant Union legislation.

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 e (new)

(18e) The Commission stresses that the precautionary principle and an ecosystem-based approach should be taken when regulating the use of driftnet fisheries in EU waters. However, certain fishermen have already met these standards and should not be punished accordingly.

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 f (new)

(18f) In the event that sustainability accreditation has been achieved, such driftnet fisheries should be exempt from any proposed ban on the use of driftnets. Where fisheries fail to achieve such accreditation, yet continue to use large- scale driftnet practices, firmer enforcement of existing regulations is required.

2014/11/10
Committee: ENVI

Ian DUNCAN, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1

This Regulation shall apply to all fishing activities within the scope of the Common Fisheries Policy as set out in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. with the following exemptions: a) vessels using driftnets within 12 miles of the coastline of a member state b) vessels using driftnets outside of 12 miles of the coastline of a member state where the minimum mesh size is 47 mm for pelagic fisheries and 90mm for demersal fisheries

2015/03/13
Committee: PECH

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2

2. In addition, a 'driftnet' means a net made up of one or more walls of netting, hung jointly in parallel on the headline(s), held on the water surface or at a certain distance below it by floating devices and drifting with the current, either independently or with the boat to which it may be attached. It may be equipped with devices aiming to stabilise the net or to limit its drift such as a sea-anchor or an anchor on the bottom attached at one single end of the net.deleted

2015/03/13
Committee: PECH

Ian DUNCAN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3

~~It shall be prohibited: (a) to catch any marine biological resource with driftnets; and (b) to keep any kind of driftnet on board of fishing vessels~~Prohibition of driftnets deleted

2015/03/13
Committee: PECH

Ian DUNCAN, Julie GIRLING

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Before the prohibition of any type of driftnet, the European Parliament shall carry out a detailed impact assessment by driftnet type.

2015/03/13
Committee: PECH

17 Amendments of Ian DUNCAN related to 2014/0138(COD)

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