Conservation of fishery resources: transitional technical measures from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012

The European Parliament adopted by 622 votes to 40, with 21 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 establishing transitional technical measures from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011.

It adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council. They amend the proposal as follows:

- the compromise text stipulates that in view of the forthcoming reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and its relevance for the content and scope of new permanent technical measures, it is appropriate to delay the adoption of such measures until a new legislative framework is in place;

- in order to maintain the proper conservation and management of marine resources, and given that it can reasonably be expected that a new legislative framework will apply as from 1 January 2013, the technical measures currently in force should continue to apply until that date. Consequently, since the temporary technical measures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 will cease to apply from 1 July 2011, that Regulation should be amended to extend their validity until 31 December 2012;

- lastly, given that fishing quotas for Boarfish (Caproidae) were established for the first time under Council Regulation (EU) No 57/2011, the amended text states that it is therefore appropriate to clarify that boarfish may be targeted using towed nets with a mesh size range of 32 to 54 millimetres. Consequently, Annexes I and II to Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 should be amended accordingly.