Fishing activities in the area covered by the Convention on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources: control measures

The present amended proposal, before the European Parliament's opinion, aims to take into consideration new technical measures applicable to fishing activities in the CCAMLR area introduced in 2002 and which were not taken into consideration in the previous version of the proposal. These measures concern in particular: - fishing gear (technical standards on the gears authorised in certain fisheries); - crab fishing in clearly defined fishing zone of the Antarctic; - specific provisions aiming at avoid the accidental death of sea birds, during longline fishing; - stricter provisions as regards Community vessels moving in relation to the level of their by-catches (it is particularly in the case of exploratory fisheries for Dissostichus spp); scientific observation on board vessels operating in the CCAMLR zone (in particular, arrangements on the placing of observers on board vessels); - the Reporting of information to the CCAMLR. Lastly, the new version of the text makes reference to certain decisions entered into force since the first proposal, concerning comitology (in particular Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission). It should be noted that the annexes also include amendments which are similar to the amendments accepted in the body of the text.�