Fisheries sector: restructuration of the Community fishing industry for the period from 1.1.1997 to 31.12.2002, POP IV

OBJECTIVE: to guide changes in the capacity of the Community fishing fleet over a six-year period (1 January 1997 - 31 December 2002) so as to absorb its impact in areas dependent on fishing. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 97/143/EC. SUBSTANCE: the Council adopted, by a qualified majority, the decision concerning the objectives and detailed rules for restructuring the Community fisheries sector for the period from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2002 with a view to achieving a balance on a sustainable basis between resources and their exploitation (POP IV); the delegations of France and the United Kingdom voted against. The objective of the decision was to reduce the size of the fleet, by maritime region and fleet segment, to levels which would guarantee the sustainability of fisheries and optimize the exploitation of fish stocks. �