Activities of Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ related to 2007/0224(CNS)
Plenary speeches (1)
Protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems (debate)
Amendments (8)
Amendment 17 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) By Resolution 61/105 of the General Assembly of the United Nations, adopted on 8 December 2006, the international community has agreed on the pressing need to adopt measures to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems from thpossible destructive effects of bottom fishing activities through strict regulation of those activities by regional fisheries management organisations or arrangements or by States in respect of their flagged vessels operating in areas where no such organisations or arrangements are in place. The General Assembly has provided guidance as to the kind of measures that should be adopted to this end.
Amendment 18 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The identification of vulnerable marine ecosystems in areas not regulated by a regional fisheries management organisation is a work in progress and there is relatively limited scientific information in this respect. A depth limit for the deployment of bottom gears provides a precautionary protected boundary for deep water corals and sponges within the water column. A depth of 1 000 m represents a reasonable choice providing a suitable degree of protection while compatible with the continuation of bottom fisheries for demersal species generally found at shallower depths such as hake and squid. This depth restriction is also compatible with the progressive development, under this regulation, of area-based measures to fully protect sites where vulnerable ecosystems are known or likely to occur.
Amendment 22 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 - paragraph 1
Article 1 - paragraph 1
1. This Regulation shall apply to Community fishing vessels carrying out fishing activities with bottom gears in the high seas where these gears are in contact with the seabed in the normal course of fishing operations.
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 - paragraph 4
Article 4 - paragraph 4
4. The competent authorities shall apply precautionary criteria in the conduct of the assessment referred to in paragraph 2. In case of doubt on whether the adverse impacts are significant or not, they shall consider that the likely adverse impacts resulting from the scientific advice provided are significant.
Amendment 26 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6
Article 6
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 - paragraph 1
Article 7 - paragraph 1
1. Where, in spite of the measures taken in accordance with Article 4 of this Regulation, a scientific observer who has embarked in accordance with Article 12 obtains sufficient evidence that, in the course of fishing operations, a fishing vessel may have encountersed a possible vulnerable marine ecosystem, it shall immediately cease fishing, or refrain from engaging in fishing in the site concerned. It shall resume operations only when it has reached an alternative site at a minimum distance of 5 nautical miles from the site of the encounter within the area foreseen in its fishing plan provided for in Article 4(1).
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 - title
Article 12 - title
Observers Scientific observers
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 - paragraph 1
Article 12 - paragraph 1
1. Each Member State shall assign scientific observers to the vessels toA representative sample of the vessels to which the Member States have issued a special fishing permit provided for in Article 3(1) shall take a scientific observer on board. The total number of scientific observers shall be set by the Commission on a proposal from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, in line with the zone and type of fishery. The scientific observers shall be taken on board in proportion to the number of vessels from each Member State which hold a special fishing permit provided for in Article 3(1) is issued. The. The Commission shall ensure a suitable rotation of scientific observers among the various vessels after each fishing trip. The scientific observers shall observe the fishing activities of the vessel throughout the execution of its fishing plan provided for in Article 4(1). and, in particular, shall perform the tasks referred to in paragraph 2.