PURPOSE : to protect deep-water coral reefs from the effects of trawling in certain areas of the Atlantic Ocean, amending Regulation 850/98/EC.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Regulation 1568/2005/EC amending Regulation 850/98/EC as regards the protection of deep-water coral reefs from the effects of fishing in certain areas of the Atlantic Ocean.

CONTENT : According to recent scientific reports, and in particular the reports of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), highly sensitive deep-water habitats have been found and mapped in the Atlantic. Those habitats host important and highly diverse biological communities and are considered to require priority protection.

This Regulation prohibits vessels from using any gillnet, entangling net or trammel net at depths greater than 200 metres and any bottom trawl or similar towed nets operating in contact with the bottom of the sea in the areas around the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 05/10/2005

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Sérgio RIBEIRO (GUE/NGL, PT) making some amendments to the proposal:

- the prohibition on "vessels using any bottom trawl or similar towed nets operating in contact with the bottom of the sea" is replaced by a ban on "the use of fishing gear likely to cause actual damage to coral reefs and their habitats, in particular bottom trawl, bottom set gillnets or similar towed nets operating in contact with the bottom of the sea";

- Regional Advisory Councils must be consulted in the implementation of the Regulation;

- The details of the prohibition and the definition of coordinates contained in the Regulation must be reviewed, in the light of new scientific information available, two years after its entry into force;

- By 31 December 2005 the Commission is to present a report assessing the conservation status of other areas of similarly sensitive deep water habitats in EU waters.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Sérgio RIBEIRO (GUE/NGL, PT) making some amendments to the proposal:

- the prohibition on "vessels using any bottom trawl or similar towed nets operating in contact with the bottom of the sea" is replaced by a ban on "the use of fishing gear likely to cause actual damage to coral reefs and their habitats, in particular bottom trawl, bottom set gillnets or similar towed nets operating in contact with the bottom of the sea";

- Regional Advisory Councils must be consulted in the implementation of the Regulation;

- The details of the prohibition and the definition of coordinates contained in the Regulation must be reviewed, in the light of new scientific information available, two years after its entry into force;

- By 31 December 2005 the Commission is to present a report assessing the conservation status of other areas of similarly sensitive deep water habitats in EU waters.