Conservation of fish stocks: measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing

The European Parliament adopted by 659 votes to 11 with 7 abstentions a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks

Parliament adopted its position on first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments are the result of a compromise negotiated between Parliament and Council. The main amendments are as follows:

Unsustainable fish stocks: fish stocks should be considered to be in an unsustainable state when they are not continuously maintained at or above the levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield or, if these levels cannot be estimated, when the stocks are not continuously maintained within safe biological limits.

Country allowing non-sustainable fishing: the amended text clarifies that a country may be identified as a country allowing non-sustainable fishing where:

1) it fails to cooperate in the management of a stock of common interest in full compliance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks of 4 August 1995 UNFSA, or any other international agreement or norm of international law, and

2) it either

• fails to adopt necessary fishery management measures, or
• adopts fishery management measures without due regard to the rights, interests and duties of other countries and the Union, and those fishery management measures, when considered in conjunction with measures taken by other countries and the Union , lead to fishing activities which could result in the stock being in an unsustainable state. This condition is considered to be complied with also where the fishery management measures adopted by that country did not lead to the stock being in an unsustainable state solely due to measures adopted by others.

Measures in respect of countries allowing non-sustainable fishing: where the Commission considers that it is necessary to adopt measures, it shall notify the country concerned of the intention to identify it as a country allowing non-sustainable fishing. In such cases, the European Parliament and the Council shall be immediately informed.