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

The committee adopted the report by Struan STEVENSON (EPP-ED, UK) broadly approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a number of drafting and other amendments. In particular, the committee said that a condition for the issue of a special fishing permit linked to the technical characteristics of the vessel should be inserted in the Regulation, while the basic requirements that constitute the conditions for the issue of the permit should be kept in the regulation laying down certain technical measures applicable to fishing activities in the area covered by the Convention. This amendment is in line with the amendment proposed to Article 8(3) of the latter regulation. MEPs also introduced a new article specifying that Member States should cooperate and take all necessary measures under national and Community law, including severe penalties, to ensure that nationals subject to their jurisdiction do not support or engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Any sanctions applied should be such as to effectively prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing and deprive offenders of the benefits accruing from this illegal activity.�