Fisheries: EC proposes full ban on driftnets
15 May 2014 12:34 PM
The European Commission wants to prohibit the
use of any kind of driftnets for fishing in all EU waters as of 1 January
2015. The Commission proposal includes a full ban of driftnets fishing in
the EU as well as the prohibition of keeping driftnets on board of fishing
vessels. Furthermore, to avoid ambiguity, the proposal refines the
current definition of a driftnet.
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and
Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, said: "Fishing with driftnets destroys
marine habitats, endangers marine wildlife and threatens sustainable fisheries.
I am convinced that the only way to eradicate this once and for all is to have
clear rules which leave no room for interpretation. We need to close any
possible loopholes and simplify control and enforcement by national
authorities. This will in the end also save the livelihood of those fishermen
which have applied the rules over the past years. The ban sends
out a clear message that we no longer tolerate any irresponsible
practices."
Driftnets are fishing nets that can drift and operate
close to or at the sea surface to target fish species that swim in the upper
part of the water column. Since 2002 all driftnets, no matter their size, have
been prohibited in EU waters when intended for the capture of highly migratory
species such as tuna and swordfish.
However, the current EU legislative framework has shown
weaknesses and loopholes. The small-scale nature of the fishing vessels
involved and the fact that they do not operate together in the same areas has
made it easier to escape monitoring, control and proper enforcement. Illegal
driftnet activities carried out by EU fishing vessels continue to be reported
and have been cause of criticism regarding the Union compliance with applicable
international obligations.
Banning driftnets responds to the new Common Fisheries
Policy's goal to minimise the impact of fishing activities on the marine
ecosystems and to reduce unwanted catches as much as possible. Depending on
Member States' priorities, the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
could be used to support the transition towards a total ban provided that
specific conditions are fulfilled.
Background
Following specific United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) Resolutions, which called for a moratorium on the "large-scale
pelagic driftnets" (i.e. longer than 2.5 km), the EU developed in the
1990s a series of provisions to implement such a ban for large-scale
driftnets.
The
current EU legal framework on driftnets fishing entered fully into force on 1
January 2002. It bans the use of all driftnets, no matter their size, in EU
waters when intended for the capture of highly migratory species such as tuna
and swordfish.
In
the Baltic Sea, the use of driftnets and the keeping on board of any kind of
driftnets has been fully banned since 1 January 2008
Despite this entire regulatory framework in place, the
rules have not been fully respected. In April 2013, the Commission therefore
published a Roadmap concerning a review of the EU regime on driftnet
fisheries and launched two studies1, as well as a public
consultation (closed in September 2013) on small-scale driftnet
fisheries in order to get an overview of the sector, to assess the impact of
driftnets on prohibited and protected species and to decide whether and how to
review the implementation of EU rules on the small-scale driftnet
fisheries.
For
more information