Procedure : 2018/0069(COD)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected : A8-0381/2018

Texts tabled :

A8-0381/2018

Debates :

Votes :

PV 26/03/2019 - 7.14

Texts adopted :

P8_TA(2019)0234

REPORT     ***I
PDF 583kWORD 88k
23.11.2018
PE 623.935v03-00 A8-0381/2018

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 on certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area

(COM(2018)0143 – C8‑0123/2018 – 2018/0069(COD))

Committee on Fisheries

Rapporteur: Linnéa Engström

AMENDMENTS
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
 EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
 PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
 FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 on certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area

(COM(2018)0143 – C8‑0123/2018 – 2018/0069(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2018)0143),

–  having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8-0123/2018),

–  having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 23 May 2018(1),

–  having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A8-0381/2018),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment    1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

(1a)  One of the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a, is to ensure exploitation of marine living biological resources that provide long-term sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions.

 

______________

 

1a Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22).

Amendment    2

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

 

Present text

Amendment

 

(-1)  In Article 2(1), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:

This Regulation applies to all commercial fishing and aquaculture activities conducted by EU fishing vessels and nationals of Member States in the GFCM Agreement area.

‘This Regulation applies to all commercial fishing and aquaculture activities, as well as to recreational fishing activities where specifically provided for in this Regulation, conducted by EU fishing vessels and nationals of Member States in the GFCM Agreement area.’

Justification

Article 2(1) of the GFCM Regulation restricts its scope to commercial fisheries. However, in the current proposal, there are several provisions dealing with recreational ones (Articles 10c, 16n and 22h as well as Annex VI, point 6). Thus being, it would be appropriate to amend the scope in Article 2(1) accordingly.

Amendment    3

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(e)  “buffer area”' means a zone set up around a fisheries restricted area in order to avoid accidental access to it;

(e)  “buffer area”' means a zone surrounding a fisheries restricted area in order to avoid accidental access to it, enhancing the protection of the surrounded area;

Amendment    4

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

(fa)  "recreational fishing vessel" means a ship of any type, with a hull length of 2,5 metres or more, regardless of the means of propulsion, intended for sports or leisure purposes, and not engaged in trade.

Amendment    5

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 10a – paragraph 1 – point 3 – indent 3

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

–  36° 59,344′ N, 15° 26,062′ E

–  35° 59,344′ N, 15° 26,062′ E

Justification

In line with GFCM Recommendation 40/2016/4 (Annex 2).

Amendment    6

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 10a – paragraph 1 – point 3 – indent 4

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

–  36° 59,344′ N, 15° 13,338′ E.

–  35° 59,344′ N, 15° 13,338′ E.

Justification

In line with GFCM Recommendation 40/2016/4 (Annex 2).

Amendment    7

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 10b – paragraph 3 – indent 3

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

–  36° 58,342′ N, 15° 27,294′ E

–  35° 58,342′ N, 15° 27,294′ E

Justification

In line with GFCM Recommendation 40/2016/4 (Annex 2).

Amendment    8

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 10b – paragraph 3 – indent 4

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

–  36° 58,342′ N, 15° 12,106′ E

–  35° 58,342′ N, 15° 12,106′ E

Justification

In line with GFCM Recommendation 40/2016/4 (Annex 2).

Amendment    9

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 10d – paragraph 1

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1.  Without prejudice to paragraphs (2) and (3) of Article 10c, commercial fishing activities carried out with bottom set nets, bottom trawl nets, set longlines and traps shall only be allowed, in the area referred to in those paragraphs, if the vessel is in possession of a specific authorisation, and if it can demonstrate that it has historically carried out fishing activities in the areas concerned.

1.  Without prejudice to paragraphs (2) and (3) of Article 10c, commercial fishing activities carried out with bottom set nets, bottom trawl nets, set longlines and traps shall only be allowed, in the area referred to in those paragraphs, if the vessel is in possession of a specific national authorisation, and if it can demonstrate that it has historically carried out fishing activities in the areas concerned.

Justification

To clarify the origin of the specific authorization, further expressed in the point (3).

Amendment    10

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 10d – paragraph 1 a (new)

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

1a.  In the area referred to in Article 10c(2), authorised fishing vessels shall not be entitled to fish for more than two fishing days per week. Authorised fishing vessels using otter twin trawl gear shall not be entitled to fish for more than one fishing day per week.

Justification

In line with the GFCM Recommendation 41/2017/3 (par. 8, 9).

Amendment    11

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 10d – paragraph 7

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

7.  Fishing vessels equipped with bottom set nets, bottom trawl nets, set longlines and traps without authorisations shall be allowed to transit through the Fisheries Restricted Area only if they follow a direct course at a constant speed of not less than 7 knots and with VMS and/or AIS active on board.

7.  Fishing vessels equipped with bottom set nets, bottom trawl nets, set longlines and traps without authorisations shall be allowed to transit through the Fisheries Restricted Area only if they follow a direct course at a constant speed of not less than 7 knots and with VMS and/or AIS active on board, and if they do not carry out fishing activities of any kind.

Justification

To clarify that fishing vessels without fishing authorization shall only be allowed to transit a Restricted Area if they do not carry out fishing activities of any kind, despite the course being direct and the speed constant.

Amendment    12

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 14a – paragraph 1

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1.  Within the period from April to June every year, each Member State concerned shall establish a closure period of at least two months in the Black Sea.

1.  Each Member State concerned shall establish a closure period of at least two months during the spawning season of turbot, from April to June every year.

Justification

In line with GFCM recommendation 41/2017/4 par 19.

Amendment    13

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 16m – paragraph 1

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Each Member State may establish in the Mediterranean Sea a system of individual daily and/or annual catch limits for red coral.

Each Member State shall establish in the Mediterranean Sea a system of individual daily and/or annual catch limits for red coral.

Amendment    14

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 22i – paragraph 1

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1.  Member States shall establish a register of the fishing vessels authorized to carry on board or land quantities of blackspot seabream caught in the Alboran Sea that constitute more than 20% of the catch in live weight after sorting per tide.

1.  Member States shall establish a register of the fishing vessels authorized to carry on board or land quantities of blackspot seabream caught in the Alboran Sea that constitute more than 20 % of the catch in live weight after sorting per tide. That register shall be maintained and updated.

Justification

In line with GFCM Recommendation 41/2017/2 (par.12).

Amendment    15

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 22k a (new)

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

Article 22ka

 

Temporal closure in the Gulf of Gabès

 

From 1 July to 31 September each year, fishing with bottom trawl nets shall be prohibited between the coast and the 200 metres depth isobaths of GSA 14 (Gulf of Gabès) as referred to in Annex I.

Justification

This is in line with Recommendation GFCM/40/2016/4 paragraph 12.The CFP deals also with fishing activities by Union fishing vessels outside Union waters (CFP Regulation, Article 1(2)(c)). Correspondingly, the GFCM Regulation applies to all commercial fishing activities conducted by EU fishing vessels and nationals of Member States in the whole of the GFCM Agreement area (Article 2(1)). Hence, if there are Union fishing vessels fishing in those waters, the EU actually needs to implement the pertaining recommendation for that part also.

Amendment    16

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 22k b (new)

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

Article 22kb

 

Designated ports

 

1.  Each Member State shall designate landing ports in which landings of European hake and deep-water rose shrimp from the Strait of Sicily may take place, in accordance with Article 43(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. Member States shall transmit to the GFCM Secretariat and to the Commission not later than 30 November 2018 a list of designated landing ports. Any subsequent change to that list shall be promptly notified to the GFCM Secretariat and to the Commission.

 

2.  It shall be prohibited to land or tranship from fishing vessels any quantity of European hake and deep-water rose shrimp fished in the Strait of Sicily at any place other than landing ports designated by the Member States.

Justification

In line with Part V of Recommendation GFCM/40/2016/4.

Amendment    17

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 22n – paragraph 1 – point c

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(c)  operating without an VMS system.

(c)  operating without a VMS system or any other system of geo-localisation allowing control authorities to track activities, in the case of vessels of more than 12 metres in overall length.

Justification

In Article 22i "Fishing authorizations and fishing activities", point (4) states that all vessels over 12 meters "shall be equipped with VMS or any other control their activities" to be granted a fishing authorization. The corresponding infringement for the lack of such equipment, expressed in Article 22n, does not stipulate the possibility of not having equipment other than VMS.

Amendment    18

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 22o – paragraph 1

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1.  By 30 November each year, each Member State shall send to the Commission, through the accustomed data-processing support, an updated list of the vessels using bottom-set gillnets authorized to fish turbot in the Black Sea (GFCM geographical subarea 29, as defined in Annex I).

1.  By 30 December each year, each Member State shall send to the Commission, through the accustomed data-processing support, an updated list of the vessels using bottom-set gillnets authorized to fish turbot in the Black Sea (GFCM geographical subarea 29, as defined in Annex I), if any changes have been made to that list.

Amendment    19

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011

Article 22p – paragraph 2 a (new)

 

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

2a.  The national plans and all its elements shall be communicated to the fishing associations and shall be made publicly accessible for all fishermen.

(1)

OJ C 283, 10.8.2018, p. 95.


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) was set up by an international agreement in 1949 by means of an international agreement under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which entered into force in 1952. All Member States bordering the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, together with the European Union, participate in the management of fisheries in this area, in cooperation with several third countries, in the framework of the GFCM. The GFCM's Contracting Parties are: the European Union, Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, France, Japan, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Romania, Syria, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.

The GFCM adopts, on the basis of scientific advice, recommendations and resolutions designed to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of stocks of living aquatic resources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea at levels are considered sustainable and at low risk.

The organisation has the authority to adopt compulsory decisions ('recommendations') in its area of competence. As a contracting party to the GFCM, the EU is bound to adopt and transpose these recommendations accordingly, where the content is not already covered by Community legislation, into Community law.

The European Commission proposes to amend Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 in order to transpose in Union law a number of measures adopted by the GFCM at its annual sessions of 2015, 2016 and 2017.

These measures concern the European hake and the deep-water rose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily the turbot in the Black Sea, the blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea and red coral in the Mediterranean Sea. The proposal also establishes a fishing restricted area in the Adriatic (Jabuka/PomoPit area).

The proposal is consistent with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). It covers conservation measures, management measures, monitoring, control and surveillance measures and measures to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.


PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title

Fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area

References

COM(2018)0143 – C8-0123/2018 – 2018/0069(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

22.3.2018

 

 

 

Committee responsible

       Date announced in plenary

PECH

16.4.2018

 

 

 

Committees asked for opinions

       Date announced in plenary

ENVI

16.4.2018

 

 

 

Not delivering opinions

       Date of decision

ENVI

25.4.2018

 

 

 

Rapporteurs

       Date appointed

Linnéa Engström

25.4.2018

 

 

 

Discussed in committee

24.4.2018

24.9.2018

 

 

Date adopted

21.11.2018

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

24

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Marco Affronte, Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Renata Briano, Alain Cadec, Richard Corbett, Linnéa Engström, Sylvie Goddyn, Ian Hudghton, Carlos Iturgaiz, Werner Kuhn, António Marinho e Pinto, Barbara Matera, Ulrike Rodust, Annie Schreijer-Pierik, Remo Sernagiotto, Isabelle Thomas, Ruža Tomašić, Peter van Dalen, Jarosław Wałęsa

Substitutes present for the final vote

Ole Christensen, Rosa D’Amato, Francisco José Millán Mon, Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez, Nils Torvalds

Date tabled

23.11.2018


FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

24

+

ALDE

António Marinho e Pinto, Nils Torvalds

ECR

Remo Sernagiotto, Ruža Tomašić, Peter van Dalen

EFDD

Rosa D'Amato, Sylvie Goddyn

GUE/NGL

Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez

PPE

Alain Cadec, Carlos Iturgaiz, Werner Kuhn, Barbara Matera, Francisco José Millán Mon, Annie Schreijer‑Pierik, Jarosław Wałęsa

S&D

Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Renata Briano, Ole Christensen, Richard Corbett, Ulrike Rodust, Isabelle Thomas

Verts/ALE

Marco Affronte, Linnéa Engström, Ian Hudghton

0

-

 

 

0

0

 

 

Key to symbols:

+  :  in favour

-  :  against

0  :  abstention

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