Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2013-04-15-Speech-1-164-000"
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"en.20130415.19.1-164-000"2
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"On behalf of the Committee on Fisheries, I want to state that the present situation as regards the unjustified and irresponsible autonomous mackerel quotas of 282 000 tonnes set by both Iceland and the Faroe Islands for 2013 is totally unacceptable. This reckless behaviour is putting at risk in the medium to long-term a very healthy mackerel stock and the livelihoods of the pelagic sector.
The same cannot be said for Iceland and the Faroe Islands, as they have both increased their share by massive quantities.
The Commission has also introduced very tough measures internally, within the Union, and I support that. I am thinking in particular of the measures against Spain, which prove that the EU is fishing in a sustainable manner. This is a point which the Chair of the Committee on Fisheries, Gabriel Mato Adrover, asked me to make in his absence.
It is worth noting that if both Iceland and the Faroe Islands were acting responsibly and fishing in a sustainable manner, instead of having a 15% reduction on the scientific advice, we would have a 25% reduction in the TAC.
I would conclude by saying that the Commissioner has been at the forefront of advocating sustainable stocks and fishing at maximum sustainable levels, and we all support that. But that has not been reflected in the decisions that are not being taken by the Commission.
I fail to see why you have not acted to date to implement effective and appropriate trade measures to deter such blatant, unsustainable fishing practices. I believe action is needed now, not words. You have been given a strong mandate, Commissioner, but you are ignoring the mandate of this House.
I am losing confidence. I am concerned about the future and about the reform of the common fisheries policy, and I would sincerely hope that you will have some good news for us tonight and will tell us that you are now going to reflect the views of this Parliament by taking the necessary action.
It is now twelve months since the Marine Stewardship Council suspended the accreditation of mackerel in this region, and if the mackerel stock collapses due to the actions of both Iceland and the Faroe Islands, this would have a devastating effect on the entire EU pelagic sector.
We should have learned from the overfished stock of blue whiting by the same parties, and this has clearly shown what can happen when no action is taken.
Iceland’s share of mackerel in the north-east Atlantic was 1% in 2006 and now stands at almost 23% this year. That of the Faroe Islands has increased from 4.6% to 29.3% in the last four years. In quantity terms, Iceland has increased its share thirty-fold and the Faroe Islands six-fold over the same period.
These are staggering figures, with Iceland and the Faroe Islands now taking 52% of that provided scientifically. This shows very clearly that both countries are participating in unsustainable fishing practices, contrary to Regulation No 1026 of 2012. To make matters worse, the Faroe Islands have this year stepped outside the five coastal state management arrangements on Atlanto-Scandian, setting a quota of 105 000 tonnes – three times what was agreed within the management plan.
I am now calling on the Commissioner to act now on the very strong mandate given to her and not to ignore any further the mandate that had been given to her by the majority, or practically all, of this Parliament. And as rapporteur, Commissioner, I am calling on you to act immediately. The time for talking is over. We have got to see action, and action must be taken to save this industry.
In light of what I have said and the specific requirements laid down in the framework regulation, I find it very difficult to understand why the Commission and the Commissioner continue to ignore the views of the vast majority of this House. Surely, Commissioner, you must see that this overfishing is going to result in serious devastation for the industry?
There have been at least twelve rounds of negotiations, with neither party coming to the table with any realistic proposals. They will now continue to do so unless immediate action is taken. I cannot totally blame the Faroe Islands and Iceland, but I lay the blame at the door of the Commission.
I also cannot accept that the EU needs to prove that it has sustainably fished mackerel stocks before the Commission can implement such sanctions. This was stated by you, Commissioner, at the meeting of the Commission on Fisheries on 19 October last."@en1
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