Conservation of fishery resources: recovery of cod stocks in the Irish Sea

The committee adopted the report by James NICHOLSON (EPP-ED, UK) under the consultation procedure approving, with a few amendments, the proposal establishing additional technical measures for the recovery of the stock of cod in the Irish Sea. The committee agreed with the Commission's assessment of the perilous state of the Irish Sea cod stock and the need for special measures to remedy the situation, but highlighted the hardship these would inflict on fishermen. It therefore called for compensatory aid for the fishermen affected in order to ensure that fishermen would willingly comply with the special measures. The Commission should continue its regional meetings with the industry, and there should be a formal review of the measures taken after one year of application (by 31 December 2001 at the latest).�