Flouting the ban on fishing in the Baltic Sea

22.7.2020

Question for written answer E-004345/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Niclas Herbst (PPE)

ICES subdivisions 22 to 26 are fished jointly by vessels from the states with Baltic Sea coasts.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1838 imposes a staggered ban on fishing for cod in these subdivisions from 1 February to 31 August this year.

Small fishing vessels of less than 12 metres’ length overall using passive fishing gear in waters up to 20 metres deep are exempt.

The fisheries control authorities and other fishing industry professionals have used the automatic vessel identification system (AIS) to observe vessels flouting the ban on fishing and employing trawls.

• 1.How does the Commission enforce Regulation (EU) 2019/1838 in the Member States concerned?
• 2.How does cooperation between the fisheries control agencies in the Member States concerned and the Commission to enforce the ban on fishing for cod in the fishing areas referred to above work in practice?
• 3.What steps can the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) in Vigo take to monitor the fishing areas concerned, and have breaches of Regulation (EU) 2019/1838 already been identified? If so, what penalties could be imposed on the Member State or States concerned?