Regulation (EU) 2020/1781

What it is

to provide financial support to fishermen affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery to permanently decommission their fishing vessels. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: the Baltic Sea ecosystem has been fragile for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that the scientists warned about the impact of environmental conditions on Eastern Baltic cod. This situation is leading to a steep decline in this species and even in the total absence of fishing activities, the Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover until 2024. The European Parliament adopted by 587 votes to 22 against, with 77 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 as regards the introduction of capacity limits for Eastern Baltic cod, data collection and control measures in the Baltic Sea, and Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 as regards permanent cessation for fleets fishing for Eastern Baltic cod. The proposed regulation aims to provide financial support to fishermen affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery to permanently decommission their fishing vessels. Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure by amending the Commission proposal as follows. Reduction of fishing capacity for Eastern Baltic cod, Western Baltic cod and Western Baltic herring Under the amended text, Member States which have adopted an action plan in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy for fleet segments which include fishing vessels that have targeted the three stocks concerned could implement measures for the permanent cessation of fishing activities in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Fund for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (EFAMF). Support for measures for the permanent cessation should be granted only if the action plan sets out specific fishing capacity reduction targets for fishing vessels with fishing opportunities for one or more of the three stocks concerned. The fishing capacity ceiling of a Member State implementing permanent cessation measures should decrease by an amount equal to the fishing capacity corresponding to the fishing vessels that are withdrawn with public aid. Member States implementing the permanent cessation measures should communicate to the Commission the yearly average or the years 2015 to 2019 of the total fishing capacity of all fishing vessels with an allocation of fishing opportunities for any of the three stocks concerned. Moreover, Member States should also communicate to the Commission the total amount of fishing capacity withdrawn for fishing vessels with an allocation of fishing opportunities for any of the three stocks concerned. Given the serious condition of the three stocks concerned, the amended text foresees that Member States should enhance monitoring and control of vessels with by-catch quota for…

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