The European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee has voted on proposed changes to the EU’s fishing practices in international and foreign waters.
Greenpeace says that the committee recognised the need to reduce the impact of EU fishing vessels abroad, but at the same time backed some protectionist measures that favour Europe’s long-distance fleet.
The committee supports an end to overfishing in the waters of other countries, for measures to tackle excessive fleet capacity, and the inclusion of human rights clauses in agreements between the EU and third countries.
However, Greenpeace says that the committee also backed contradictory amendments tabled by Spanish Members of the European Parliament defending the interests of the fishing industry to continue expanding into new fishing grounds.
Greenpeace EU fisheries policy director Saskia Richartz said: “The committee’s support for an end to overfishing in foreign waters is a good signal for fisheries reform, but the question is whether this will translate into real action to reduce the size and impact of the EU fleet. It will not be possible to halt overfishing and at the same time expand into new fishing grounds. The fleet is already capable of catching a lot more fish than is sustainable.”
