Commissie neemt nieuwe maatregelen voor bescherming koraalriffen bij de Azoren, Madeira en de Canarische eilanden (en)

The European Commission has proposed measures to ensure protection for deep-sea corals around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary islands until long-term rules can be established later on this year. A proposal for long-term protection through a ban on bottom trawling was tabled last February (IP/04/153). However, as its progress through Council and the European Parliament has been delayed by the European Elections, the Commission has proposed that measures be put place in the interim period. With regard to the haddock regime, the Commission proposes, on the basis of new data from the United Kingdom on by-catches of cod by vessels fishing outside the North Sea Cod Protection Area, to allow an increase in the days at sea available to vessels targeting haddock and holding special permits. To accelerate the adoption of these proposed rules, the Commission proposes to amend the Council Regulation on total allowable catches (TACs) for 2004, adopted in December 2003.

Commenting on the proposal, Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Fisheries, said "This proposal shows our commitment under the Common Fisheries Policy to minimising the impact of fishing on the environment. It also shows that the Commission is prepared to adapt measures in place on the basis of new evidence."

Protecting coral reefs

The deep waters around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands host coral aggregations, thermal vents and carbonate mounds which give shelter and food to diversified fauna and flora. These habitats have been protected under the CFP by national bans on bottom trawling in Spain and Portugal and restrictions on access to the waters concerned by vessels from other Member States. These rules have recently changed due to the full integration of Spain and Portugal on the CFP. The measures proposed today, are intended to protect the coral reefs concerned from damage by trawl gear in the short term, until the setting up of permanent rules in a few months time.

Fishing effort in haddock fisheries

A cod protection zone has been established in the North Sea in which UK vessels targeting haddock may only take 35 per cent of their haddock quota. Such vessels must hold a special licence to fish the rest of the UK haddock quota outside the protection area, as they are subject to a number of rules to ensure the protection of cod. The boundaries of the cod protection box and some rules on haddock fisheries were amended last April (IP/04/442). New data from the UK shows that cod by-catches by UK vessels outside the cod protection area are very low. The Commission therefore proposes that the number of days that vessels holding the special haddock licence can spend out of port be increased from 10 to 12.