Text tabled : A7-0150/2010

  João Ferreira (GUE/NGL), in writing. − (PT) We share the view expressed in the report that the aquaculture sector has great potential to contribute to economic and social development in a large number of regions, especially in coastal and rural regions, as well as to promote local production and employment. We welcome the simplification and streamlining measures that are to be adopted by the Member States at legislative level as a means of regulating and monitoring the sector.

The impact of aquaculture on the environment is currently one of the main restrictions on the development of the sector. The amount of animal protein used in feeding the cultivated species is still disproportionately high with respect to the yield obtained, particularly in saltwater aquaculture. In many cases there are still problems concerning the discharge of effluents containing high pollution loads into natural habitats.

The report acknowledges these problems along with others and points out – rightly so – the importance of investing in research and development in order to resolve them, thus improving environmental and economic sustainability and viability in the sector. Despite the fair criticism of the ‘proliferation of private certifications’, we believe that the report should have gone further in this area and firmly backed the importance of a public certification system for the food and environmental quality of aquaculture products. There is also a need for greater regulation of trade.