33 Amendments of Norica NICOLAI related to 2017/2118(INI)
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas aquaculture should be seen and treated as a form of agriculture, especially in the case of pond farm;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas aquaculture and pond farms are different from region to region and should thus be encouraged and regulated at a regional level;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the most complex procedures are those related to environmental requirements (impact studies and surveillance procedures), but, paradoxically, the slowness and complexity of these administrative procedures do not always ensure environmental protection, indeed on the contrary sometimes making it difficult to establish sustainable aquaculture farms;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the unavailability of locations, in conjunction with competition with other economic activities, has a considerable effect on the development of EU aquaculture in some regions, since the aquaculture sector has little weight compared with ‘powerful’ activities such as tourism, oil and gas extraction, windmills, etc;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the EU environmental legislation is based on directives (the Marine Strategy Directive, the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Water Framework Directive), and it is therefore left to Member States and to local and regional administrations to apply it at their discretion; whereas, consequently, there is no uniform implementation throughout the EU and this leads to legal uncertainty for enterprises and farms and creates an uneven playing field;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas different national or regional legal frameworks for aquaculture can lead to businesses having different legal requirements even if they are active in the same sea basin, which in turn risks distorting competition
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital T
Recital T
T. whereas although there is always room for improvement through better practices, the bad image of this activity is not always due to real problems (environmental, quality or safety aspects,) but to the preconceived idea that consumers have of aquaculture; whereas a significant part of this situation is due to the belief that the real impacts of aquaculture in some third countries (developing countries) are also encountered in the EU, which is not true;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Z a (new)
Recital Z a (new)
Z a. Whereas a mix of commercial fisheries and aquaculture is important and a developed aquaculture sector can never be seen as a reason to continue overfishing;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital AA
Recital AA
AA. whereas available data show a growing gap – estimated at 8 million tonnes – between the level of consumption of seafood in the EU and the volume of captures from fisheries; whereas sustainable aquaculture can together with sustainable fisheries contribute to guaranteeing long-term food and nutrition security, including food supplies, as well as growth and employment for Union citizens, and contribute to meeting the growing world demand for aquatic food; whereas it can thus contribute to the overall objective of filling the gap between consumption and production of seafood in the EU;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital AB a (new)
Recital AB a (new)
AB a. whereas young people are less interested in working in the aquaculture sector or investing and developing it due to poor communication and lack of financial prospects and stability, which makes it unattractive to younger generations;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital AB b (new)
Recital AB b (new)
AB b. whereas research and innovation are crucial parts of more sustainability and competitivity for the aquaculture sector on the EU market;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Believes that the EU needs to increase its production in the aquaculture sector, in particular with the aim of reducing pressure on natural fishing grounds; taking quality, sustainability and environmental aspects into account and being a role model in this regard;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Takes positive note of new initiatives with land based aquaculture, especially in sensitive seas and EU areas with closed waters
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Believes that stronger measures are needed to make aquaculture a more efficient, economically viable, socially responsible and environmentally friendly sector, fulfilling a greater share of the European demand for fish and reducing Europe's dependence on imports.
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses that freshwater aquaculture is still an insufficiently explored opportunity for improving food security and developing rural areas.
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Stresses that freshwater aquaculture plays an important social role, by providing rural employment in the poorest areas, as well as playing an environmental role in maintaining valuable wetlands and providing a wide range of ecosystem services, which go far beyond its economic value.
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that any sustainable European aquaculture policy must take account of the characteristics and different needs and challenges of the various types of aquaculture production (saltwater fish, freshwater fish, molluscs, crustaceans, seaweed and echinoderms), and develop tailor-made measures that also account for geographic differences and the potential effects of climate change;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises the vital role of local and regional authorities in the development of European aquaculture, and specificallyincluding in implementing the multiannual strategic plans drawn up by the Member States;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Stresses that the sustainable growth of aquaculture needs to be based on business certainty, which can be created through for example:
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point a
Paragraph 10 – point a
a) simplification of administrative procedures - less red tape, on EU, national and regional level;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point d
Paragraph 10 – point d
d) fast, clear and transparent licensing procedures accompanied by limited timelines for agreement, so as not to discourage investors;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point f a (new)
Paragraph 10 – point f a (new)
f a) A coordinated legal framework between different regions and Member States sharing the same waters in order to ensure fair competition and efficient environmental policies
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point g
Paragraph 10 – point g
g) close cooperation between the Commission and the competent authorities (national, but also local and regional) in the implementation of EU legislation (mainly environmental) as well as supporting coordination of national or regional legislation where necessary;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Suggests, with regard to the administrative system, the use of a ‘one- stop shop’Urges the creation of the ‘one-stop shop’ as an administrative system, , which would take on and exercise all responsibilities, allowing relevant documents to be submitted to a single administrative body; believes this would significantly improve the relationship between the end-user and the different levels of public administration;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Underlines the need for more clarity and predictability in regulations and administrative decisions in regard spatial planning and access to water sources;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Suggests to support a more active and important role and implication of the aquaculture organisations and FLAGs in the decision making process, through regionalisation, in order to ensure the best approach for each specific region;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Underlines that pond farms are a branch of agriculture, competing for the same spatial planning, thus it should be recognised as such and be supported and treated equally;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Highlights the current situation of European pond farmers as they are struggling with substantial losses of their entire stock due to predators like otter, heron and cormorant; underlines that those predators also kill the spawn of Zander and Carp and as a result limit significantly the breeding and reproduction of freshwater fish; therefore calls on the Member States to apply to existing derogations in the case of heron and cormorant and calls on the Commission to do a revision regarding the conservation status of the otter and to allow where needed to remove and control those predators;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Points out that the EU should export its sustainability standards and know-how; believes this is especially relevant in the case of neighbouring regions that produce similar species to those produced in the EU (e.g. North Africa and the Middle East)and especially with third countries sharing the same waters as the EU;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Insists on a stricfull and completer implementation of the EU legislation on labelling and consumer information, both in fish markets and in the hotel, restaurant and catering sector (HORECA); believes this is important for all fisheries products (and not only aquaculture products), both imported and EU-produced; considers that the Control Regulation should be adapted and reinforced to this end;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37 a. Underlines that encouraging cooperation between the aquaculture sector research and innovation and specific University programmes will bring new ideas and boost the interest in this economic sector;
Amendment 344 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38 a. Points out that education and good communication will attract young people in this sector and ensure its future and its the competitiveness, as well as bring new technology and innovation in its development;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Calls on the Commission to allocate more financing to environmentally responsible aquaculture production methods such as closed- containment aquaculture systems in the sea (CCS) and land-based recirculation systems (RASs) in order to reduce the negative impact of aquaculture on habitats, wild fish populations and water quality