Activities of Nuno MELO related to 2019/2161(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of workers to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities
Amendments (29)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to Council Directive (EU) 2017/159 of19 December 2016 implementing the Agreement concerning the implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 of the International Labour Organisation, concluded on 21 May 2012 between the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the European Union (Cogeca), the European Transport Workers ‘Federation (ETF) and the Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the European Union (Europêche),
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to the 2019 European Economic and Social Committee opinion on the Social dimension of fisheries (NAT/776),
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
— having regard to the STECF report on Social data in EU fisheries sector (19-03),
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the common fisheries policy (CFP) aims to ensure that fishing and aquaculture are sustainable in the long term and that this sustainability is based on three pillars – environmental, social and economic; whereas in order to reach social sustainability fisheries policies should integrate, improve and focus on labour conditions, health and safety, job creation, training, social inclusion and a fair standard of living; whereas in many fishing communities and regions of the EU, the social importance of the fisheries sector outweighs its direct economic contribution;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
— whereas the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has hit especially hard fishers across Europe as a consequence of health, trade and market disruptions; whereas despite the safety risks and low prices of fish, fishers have continue fishing; whereas during theCOVID-19 crisis fishers have been identified as fundamental workers that exercise critical occupations for the economies and population by ensuring the availability of (sea)food, being one of the first important links of the food chain; whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has evidenced the importance for the EU to secure its food sovereignty;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the current lack of comprehensive data and scientific analysis on the social aspects of the CFP compromise fishery policy-making; whereas these data could for instance inform initiatives to promote fishing as a successful working career, as a way of contributing to the livelihood of coastal communities or to facilitate access to the profession of young people.
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas while the state of fish stocks in the EU is generally improving, the number of fishing vessels, the fishing capacity and direct employment generated by the sector are constantly decreasing year after year according to the STECF annual economic report 2019
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)fishing is often linked with labour abuse, however the current EU IUU definition does not incorporate it; whereas the IUU Regulation only seeks to ensure that illegally-caught fish does not enter the EU market and does not ensure that fish associated with serious labour infringements and violation of fundamental human rights on board the fishing vessel is also banned from import.
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic further demonstrates the importance of European self-sufficiency in food;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the STECF report on Social data on the EU fisheries sector as the first report of its kind, providing a comprehensive overview of the social data collected under the EU Data Collection Framework; Calls for future STECF reports on social data to improve the existing social indicators and include new elements for analysis, such as employment status of fishers (owner, self- employed or employed), data on whether a fisher works for a cooperative or for a company, data concerning social security such as the age when a fisher should stop working (pension), data on sick leave due to work caused illnesses or work related incidents, data on open-ended or temporary employment contracts, data on temporary agencies’ workers, data on how the wages are determined – be that a fixed salary, percentage of the catch or other criteria, data on the working time, data on work-related accidents and incidents solely relating to the fishing industry;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that, despite international and EU efforts to improve safety conditions on board vessels, particularly fishing vessels, the international conventions setting out the rules and systems for the protection of ships and persons on board apply onmainly apply to larger and newly built vessels;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls the steps taken internationally, particularly under the Torremolinos Protocol (1993) and the Cape Town Agreement (2012), to amend and improve the Torremolinos Convention (1977), which was established as a means to address fishing vessel safety, and points out that, even with the 2012 reduction in requirements, this Convention is still not in force; Recalls that this Convention has been transposed into EU legislation through the Council Directive 97/70/EC setting up a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the best safety, work and living standards are in place on fishing vessels, regardless of their size; proposes that steps be taken to establish basic legal rules applicable in a uniform and cross-cutting manner to the entire EU fishing fleet, taking into account specific characteristics concerning vessel size and the types of fishing operation for which vessels are intendedreminds Member States of the importance of transposing Directive (EU) 2017/159, which incorporates ILO Convention No 188 into the Union’s acquis, into their national law, being conscious that the deadline set for transposition was 15 November2019; recalls that given the large number of self-employed fishermen in the EU, and the fact that the Directive does not cover them, it is necessary for the Member States to ratify Convention No 188; calls on Member States to urgently ratify the ILO C188 to ensure a level playing field and fair competition among fishing companies across the world, especially considering the strong international dimension of the fishing sector; urges Member States to provide the necessary resources for it to be transposed into national legislation and applied effectively and, where appropriate, delegating inspection and document issuance functions to classification societies, given the current problems in coordinating these functions in some countries; urges the Commission to present, as quickly as possible, a proposal for an accompanying Directive on control and enforcement provisions, as was done for the maritime transport sector, in order to establish a harmonised inspections system;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Include in the Common Fisheries Policy overarching social objectives in parallel with environmental objectives, acknowledging that the wellbeing of workers on board of fishing vessels is essential for the future of the industry.
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Underlines the clear contradiction between the CFP and the requirements set out in social legislation such as the ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention, transposed in European legislation by Directive (EU) 2017/159; stresses that according to these legal texts, there is a requirement for more space on board, on a mandatory basis for vessels of 24 metres in length or over, while the fishing industry is prevented to increase space on board; highlights the contradiction between the need for Member States to respect C188 standards while at the same time the CFP rules make the obligation impossible to fulfil; urges the European Commission to identify alternative formulas for measuring fishing capacity, in the context of the EMFAF, reaffirms that an increase in the gross tonnage of vessels should be permitted when the additional volumes are a response to the need to improve the safety and comfort of crews (also known as social or safety tonnage) and that these operations should be eligible for funding; emphasises that the space on board destined to the kitchen, cabins, toilets or recreational areas have nothing to do with the ability of the vessel to find, catch or store fish and therefore, the fishing capacity.
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Recalls that the average age in years of ships in the European fleet is 23, which for small-scale vessels can even go beyond 40 years old. The future EMFAF should include a strategy for fleet modernisation without increasing fishing capacity;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Stresses that knowledge and innovation are essential to ensuring that the fisheries sector grows in a smart, resilient and sustainable manner;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Points out that, despite the dangers of fishing activity, there is no reason to exclude or hamper access for women to this profession, as demonstrated by the increasing number of female crew members and skippers on working fishing vessels; observes that there are fortunately a number of particularly active associations representing women employed in the fisheries sector, especially in the regionalEuropean Union fisheries advisory councils;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Considers that the current capacity measurements rules jeopardise women’s access to the sector since separate cabins, toilets and showers are needed to guarantee their privacy and well-being.
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Stresses the significant contribution of fishermen to the advancement of scientific knowledge, through both their direct involvement in the collection of fishing data, collaboration with the scientific community and the provision of additional information regarding the state of the marine environment, species and habitats and the conservation thereof;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Recognises fishers as food suppliers and essential workers, who even during catastrophic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, continued to secure daily landings in challenging environments; Calls for the allocation of sufficient European public resources to support EU fishers’ hard work and commitment to sustainability via targeted campaigns aimed at boosting sustainable EU-produced seafood consumption which ultimately contributes to self-sufficiency and reduces the Union market's dependence on seafood imports;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Points out that the involvement of young people and generational renewal will not only ensure the continuity of the oldest activity of the blue economy, but also maintaining population in rural areas, preserving the cultural heritage of many coastal communities; considers vital to keep younger generations better informed and more aware of sustainability issues and of the need for all to contribute to tackling and combating climate change, which is impacting hardest on sea and coastal areas around the planet;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Points out that improvements in the conservation status of fish stocks have boosted fishermen’s productivity and average earnings, as well as achieving a reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; notes that fishermen have been increasingly involved in the collection of all marine refuselitter, including but not only lost or abandoned fishing gear, and that their ecological contribution in this respect should be recognised and encouraged;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Stresses the need for the Member States to establish the economic incentives and port infrastructure needed to collect and recycle properly the waste and plastic picked up by young fishers that, in return, may deliver them financial gains on top of their main activity;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Points out that investment in generational renewal should continue to be a priority for the EU, that one of the main successes of our common project is self-sufficiency in food and that the gradual ageing of those working in the fisheries sector constitutes a real risk;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Stresses the importance of increased investment in the research, modernisation and innovation that would benefit young fishers and coastal communities;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Points out that the next generation of European fishers will not only make the EU's sector more competitive in the future but also play a part in securing food supplies in Europe over the coming years;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 b (new)
Paragraph 48 b (new)
48b. Concludes that this report provides us with a unique opportunity to highlight the value of the future face of the European fisheries sector, which is strategically important, and to show Europe which path to follow: more young fishers, better fishing and better practices;