Fish stock conservation: technical measures for highly migratory species

The committee adopted the report by Yves PIÉTRASANTA (Greens/EFA, F) amending the proposal under the consultation procedure. The rapporteur felt that the procedure involved in the regulation (i.e. seeking to implement into Community law the various measures agreed by regional organisations) was far from satisfactory. Whilst the Commission's idea of gathering together all rules pertaining to highly migratory species within a single regulation was laudable, its timing was poorly chosen. The committee accordingly attempted to remedy the shortcomings that were bound to affect the proposal in question, given that it was drawn up prior to the autumn series of RFO meetings, and thus could not incorporate the decisions taken there. In two of the eight amendments adopted, the committee wanted to see more detailed background information on vessels (i.e. previous flags and owners), whilst a further amendment restored to the list species such as dolphinfishes and whale sharks, defined as ·highly migratory· by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. �