2017/2055(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the importance of the Joint Communication entitled ‘International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans’ (SWD(2016)0352), ~~but stresses its generic terms, suitable only for describing general guidelines; regrets the lack of attention to the~~which recognizes that the current framework for ocean governance is not effective enough, while encourages more concrete actions ~~nee~~be recommended to accomplish the Susta~~ted~~inable Development goals;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Expresses concerns about the fact that, following a recent European Parliament study 1a whereas Blue Economy could have a positive socio- economic impact (employment, revenues, Gross Value Added) the environmental impacts are generally negative, in terms of alterations of coastal dynamics, marine pollution, eutrophication, seabed morphology, habitats/ecosystems/biodiversity alterations; there is concern that the cumulative burden of environmental effects would be detrimental to fisheries; _________________ 1aKim Stobberup, María Dolores Garza Gil, Aude Stirnemann-Relot, Arthur Rigaud, Nicolò Franceschelli, Roland Blomeyer, April 2017, Research for PECH Committee – Small-scale Fisheries and "Blue Growth" in the EU, European Parliament, Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, Brussels

Amendment 11 #

Isabelle THOMAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on states to improve their legal systems for the preservation of our oceans; calls for international recognition of the concept of ecological harm where marine pollution occurs so that compensation can be claimed when an infringement is found to have been committed; calls for the introduction of the chain-of-responsibilities principle that is designed to determine those responsible for the environmental damage caused along the entire chain of command;

Amendment 12 #

Nicola CAPUTO, Renata BRIANO, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recalls that plastic pollution, acidification caused by greenhouse gases, and illegal fishing are also the result of imbalances in world trade; stresses that the European Union must genuinely ban goods produced in poor sanitary, social and environmental conditions from its market;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that intensified activities in coastal and marine waters increasingly require the implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning; calls on the Commission to work towards international guidelines on Maritime Spatial Planning and help expand Marine Protected Areas worldwide with funding under Horizon 2020 and LIFE programmes;

Amendment 14 #

Alain CADEC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the need to adopt a cross- sectoral approach to ensure the sustainability of resources and clean seas and oceans in line with the UN’s sustainable development goal 14 (SDG14); points out that the fishing sector is not the only sector to have an impact on the future of the oceans;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Underlines that the EU should promote and ensure that fishery aspects are an important part of the future legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recalls, further, the new threats to ecosystems and fishing grounds posed by activities linked to blue growth, such as seabed mining, oil exploration and tidal and wave energy;

Amendment 17 #

Renata BRIANO, Ricardo SERRÃO SANTOS, Nicola CAPUTO, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Isabelle THOMAS, Ulrike RODUST, David Maria SASSOLI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the need to make progress towards an ecosystem approach which takes into account the precautionary principle and all the factors which influence the health status of fish stocks;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Recalls that the Marine Strategy Framework Directive aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) and, in particular, notes that the properties and quantities of marine litter shall not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment (Descriptor 10); recalls that plastics and microplastics are harmful to fisheries, accounts for around 80% of marine litter and that the EU will launch in 2017 a Strategy on Plastics, in line with Agenda 2030 and circular economy; calls on the Commission, Member States and third countries to strengthen the international framework, for example through the implementation of the G7 Action Plan to Combat Marine Litter;

Amendment 19 #

Renata BRIANO, Ricardo SERRÃO SANTOS, Nicola CAPUTO, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Isabelle THOMAS, Ulrike RODUST, David Maria SASSOLI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Takes the view that the impact of seabed mining will be more serious and that the risks are unknown and will transcend borders;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Acknowledges the importance of~~Welcomes the Joint Communication entitled ‘"International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans~~’ (SWD(2016)0352), but stresses its generic terms, suitable only for describing general guidelines; regrets the lack of attention to the mor~~"(JOIN (2016) 49 final); recognising the cross-cutting nature of the subject, calls on the Commission and the Member States to further develop the concrete actions needed to accomplish the stated goals at international level;

Amendment 20 #

Renata BRIANO, Ricardo SERRÃO SANTOS, Nicola CAPUTO, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Isabelle THOMAS, Ulrike RODUST, David Maria SASSOLI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Stresses the importance of early response to invasive species considering the increased impact and risk they constitute for fisheries and ocean productivity, biodiversity and the role they play in disrupting natural ecosystems; calls on Member States to strengthen their cooperation between each other and with third countries, including through synchronised and cooperative actions, exchange of information, data and best practices;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the Common Fisheries Policy shall ensure that fishing mortality rates are set at levels that should allow fish stocks to recover above levels that are capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in order to protect marine resources and avoid overexploitation;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the Common Fisheries Policy shall ensure that fishing mortality rates are set at levels that should allow fish stocks to recover and maintain above levels that are capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in order to protect marine resources;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the Common Fisheries Policy sh~~all~~ould ensure that fishing mortality rates are set at levels that should allow fish stocks to recover above levels that are capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in order to protect marine resources;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses the importance of increasing and optimising the percentage of marine protected areas in the light of scientific advice and conservation objectives in order to conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development goal 14.5;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Considering that the EU is the world's largest importer of seafood and that some of the fish is being imported from areas that have far less sustainable fishing compared to the EU, encourages the use of this position in promoting an increase in sustainability in all sea basins;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Calls on the EU to promote and protect women in fisheries activities and fish-related industries, including by supporting local processing industries; by stimulating fair price for processed fish products and by ensuring better access to public support and financial resources by women in fisheries, including in its negotiations with third countries over the use of sector support in SFPAs, and in its programming of developing aid instruments and in different international fora;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Calls on the EU, in line with the CFP, to minimise the impacts of aquaculture on the environment by ensuring sustainable sourcing of feed and promote research to focus on the reduction of the pressure on wild fish stocks used for feed production;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the EU regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has made advancements, but that implementation should be improved in order to fully develop the concept of market State responsibility as a mechanism to ensure that no illegal fish enter the EU market;

Amendment 29 #

4. Notes that the EU regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has made advancements, but that implementation ~~should be improv~~in all member states and third countries should be improved and that more coordination is needed in order to ensure that no illegal fish enter the EU market;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Urges that Blue economy is steered towards rebuilding resilience of coastal communities to restore the productive potential of fisheries, in order to support food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable management of living aquatic resources; recalls that before any activities of the Blue economy sectors are implemented an impact assessment and a full information and participation process of all stakeholders must be guaranteed; insists that Blue economy must contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal number 14 on conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the EU regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has made advancements, ~~but that implementation should be improved in order to ensure that no illegal fish enter the EU market~~calls on the EU to continue its international efforts for other market states to also take measures to close markets to IUU-caught fish;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Urges that all States become parties to relevant fisheries instruments, the FAO Compliance Agreement, the United Nations Agreement on Straddling Fish stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) in particular, as well as to fully implement their provisions and those of the different FAO International Plans of action;

Amendment 32 #

Isabelle THOMAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for the introduction of a new international agreement on working conditions linked to the maritime sector; recalls the need to put an end to all forms of slavery that still exist on board vessels and highlights the impact that substandard working conditions can have on individuals, economic operators and the marine environment;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Reminds that in order to effectively fight against IUU fishing it is crucial to ensure that all types of seafood coming from these activities will not get on the markets; encourages the EU to promote, through all its partnerships and in all international fora, the ban of IUU seafood from as many markets as possible, thus decreasing the profitability of such activities;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Underlines the importance of continuing and expanding the bilateral partnerships if the fight against IUU and overexploitation is to be affective, otherwise EU's actions might have limited impact on the current situation;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Insists on more coordination and a stronger partnership between the different bodies in order to ensure a good ocean governance;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Suggests more agreements with third countries in order to conserve fish stocks and improve cooperation;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Suggests that Member States and third counties should be more consistent and effective in checks on catch documentation (catch certificates) and consignments, with a view to ensuring that the fish have been caught legally; encourages States to take measures to ensure better coordination between the fight against IUU fishing, and trade and market policy; stresses that the EU should promote and support, in all international spheres, the necessary action to eradicate IUU fishing;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Suggests that Member States and third counties should be more consistent and effective in checks on catch documentation (catch certificates) and consignments, with a view to delivering transparency on all seafood products and ensuring that the fish have been caught legally; stresses that the EU should promote and support, in all international spheres, the necessary action to eradicate IUU fishing;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Suggests that Member States and third counties should be more consistent and effective in checks on catch documentation (catch certificates) and consignments, with a view to ensuring that the fish have been caught legally; stresses that the EU should promote ~~and~~, support and implement, in all international spheres, the necessary action to eradicate IUU fishing;

Amendment 4 #

Nicola CAPUTO, Renata BRIANO, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the fisheries sector has tremendous importance as one of the main human activities carried out in the marine environment, making it an essential element of the Integrated Maritime Policy; points out that fisheries is the sector most affected by the many uses and activities taking place on the seas, such as maritime transport and tourism, urban and coastal development and the exploitations of renewable energies, as well as by environmental problems such as marine ~~pollution and climate change~~pollution (plastics, discarded fishing nets, oil spills, noise pollution, ballast water discharges, etc.) and climate change (rising sea level, increasing sea surface temperature, coastal flooding, ocean acidity, etc.);

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Commends the EU's international leadership in achieving concrete progress in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) and its strong commitment in implementing effective measures against IUU fishing; recalls the EU's efforts to reinforce its international actions against IUU fishing at bilateral, regional and multilateral level, including by continuing bilateral dialogues with third partners, using vessel tracking instruments and securing greater role for key international agencies such as Interpol; calls on the Member States' authorities to actively support the Commission's work in establishing an electronic tool for management of catch certificates;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recommends that the Commission genuinely suspend imports from third countries which do not take the necessary measures to prevent, discourage and eradicate IUU fishing which are required of them by international law as flag states, port states, coastal states or countries of marketing;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Welcomes the progress made by the EU with regard to the external dimension of the CFP; stresses that that dimension, including international and partnership agreements, is an important instrument by means of which to promote the EU's environmental and social standards and its provisions to combat IUU fishing at international level;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that the Fisheries Transparency Initiative has recently adopted its global standard; encourages States to apply as Candidates to FITI; calls for the EU and its Member States to support this initiative;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – introductory part

6. Insists that international ocean governance should, inter alia, apply the following principles:

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point b

(b) the need to ensure appropriate involvement of stakeholders, including representatives of the artisanal and small- scale fishing sector, and social partners at all stages in fisheries, from the conception to implementation of measures, through advisory councils;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point b

(b) the need to ensure pragmatic science-based tools and appropriate involvement of cross-sectoral, multi- stakeholders and social partners at all stages in fisheries, from the conception to implementation of measures, through advisory councils;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point b

(b) the need for an inclusive approach designed to ensure appropriate involvement of stakeholders and social partners at all stages in fisheries, from the conception to implementation of measures, through advisory councils;

Amendment 48 #

Peter van DALEN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point b

(b) the need to ensure appropriate involvement of, and support from, stakeholders and social partners at all stages in fisheries, from the conception to implementation of measures, through advisory councils;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point b a (new)

(ba) the need to make sure the Advisory Councils' opinions are integrated into the final decisions and actions;

Amendment 5 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the fisheries sector has tremendous importance as one of the main human activities carried out in the marine environment, making it an essential element of the Integrated Maritime Policy; points out that fisheries is the sector most affected by the many uses and activities taking place on the seas, such as maritime transport and tourism, uncontrolled oil and gas extraction and exploration, urban and coastal development and the exploitations of renewable energies, as well as by environmental problems such as marine pollution and climate change;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point c

(c) the need to carry out environmental and strategic impact assessments while ensuring economic, environmental and social sustainability, as well as the conservation and restoration of fish stocks;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point c

(c) the need to carry out environmental and strategic impact assessments, based on data that are as precise as possible and on the best scientific opinions;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point c

Amendment 53 #

Isabelle THOMAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point c a (new)

(ca) the need to map the seabed in order to introduce a system for managing and protecting vulnerable ecosystems;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point d

(d) the need to take the lead in strengthening regional fisheries management organisations in order to improve their performance, including through independent bodies ~~to ensure that their recommendations are fully implemented~~;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point d

(d) the need to take the lead in strengthening regional fisheries management organisations in order to improve their performance, including through independent bodies to ensure that their recommendations are fully implemented and that sustainability is assured;

Amendment 56 #

Alain CADEC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points out that the central Arctic Ocean is not covered by international conservation or management systems; stresses the need for a coordinated approach by the European Union and Member States with regard to preventing unregulated fishing in the Arctic Ocean;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for greater cooperation among Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and urges their Contracting Parties to ensure that they are sufficiently resourced and strengthened;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on RFMOs to: – continue to conduct regularly independent performance reviews as well as to fully implement the recommendations from such performance reviews; – fully implement the recommendations from the 2nd Resumed Review Conference of the United Nations Agreement on Straddling Fish stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks; – harmonise measures, monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement measures in particular, including agreeing on deterrent penalties and sanctions;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Calls on the EU to promote that allocation of fisheries resources must take into account the environmental and social impact, food security needs and developing countries aspiration to develop their own fisheries while at the same time ensuring a sustainable level of fishing that do not lead to excess of fishing capacity in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal number14;

Amendment 6 #

Ruža TOMAŠIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the fisheries sector has tremendous importance as one of the main human activities carried out in the marine environment, making it an essential element of the Integrated Maritime Policy; points out that fisheries is the sector most affected by the many uses and activities taking place on the seas, such as maritime transport and tourism, urban and coastal development and the exploitations of renewable energies, as well as by environmental problems such as marine pollution (especially marine litter and microplastics) and climate change;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Notes the utmost importance of ensuring accurate data in the fisheries sector, as an essential prerequisite for the achievement of good ocean governance; stresses that appropriate and realistic financial resources must be provided to guarantee this objective; considers it necessary to improve cooperation and coordination with international partners on the basis of the example of the EMODnet network and in line with the G7's Tsukuba communiqué;

Amendment 61 #

Nicola CAPUTO, Renata BRIANO, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Notes the utmost importance of ensuring accurate data in the fisheries sector, as a~~n essential prerequisite~~ condition for the achievement of good ocean governance; stresses that appropriate and realistic financial resources must be provided to guarantee this objective;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Looks forward to the Commission's proposals on coordinating EU research and observation activities with international partners, and exploring ways to improve research quality inter alia through extending the existing EU research and observation tools and activities, including the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) in order to put in place a shared database, the European Earth Observation Programme (Copernicus), the European Global Ocean Observing System (EuroGOOS) and the Joint Programming Initiative 'Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans' (JPI Oceans), all with the aim of creating an international marine and maritime data network;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Recalls that one of the aims of the 'blue growth' strategy is to improve oceanographic knowledge; calls on the Commission and Member States to propose marine research and science partnerships with international actors and to step up those which already exist, such as BLUMED;

Amendment 64 #

Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls for full European legal authorisation and integration of innovative, proven selective fishing techniques, which should be monitored in close cooperation with scientific establishments and without national protectionism;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Urges for more investments in scientific research in order to have a better understanding of our oceans. As of yet, 95 percent of this realm still remains unexplored;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls for seabed mining to be halted, starting with the withdrawal of licences for the Solwara 1 mine;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Asks that no activities should be permitted, as part of the so-called Blue Economy, that entail economic, social and environmental damage for artisanal and small-scale fisheries, which are key sectors both for coastal communities and in terms of guaranteeing peoples’ food sovereignty;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Supports the continuation of the 2013 Galway Statement and encourages the establishment of such cooperation with other countries;

Amendment 69 #

7c. Underlines the importance of sharing the research and data resulting from marine science and technology with scientific communities from other countries; promoting further investments in marine science in other third countries, as well as the establishment of international networks where results and information can be shared, is highly important for the development of more sustainable fishing, better marine management and for tackling common ocean problems;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the fisheries sector has tremendous importance as one of the main traditional human activities carried out in the marine environment, making it an essential element of the Integrated Maritime Policy; points out that fisheries is the sector most affected by the many other uses and activities taking place on the seas, such as maritime transport and tourism, urban and coastal development and the exploitations of ~~renewable energies,~~energies, deep-sea mining as well as by environmental problems such as marine pollution and climate change;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Calls for all seabed hydrocarbon exploration projects to be halted;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Urges the Council and the Commission to leverage market and finance mechanisms to drive sustainability standards and to prepare a sound multiannual financial framework for the period after 2020, in accordance with the objectives that are to be adopted.

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Is of the opinion that securing a level playing field for the EU fishing fleet is of utmost importance, especially considering EU's high environmental standards and sustainability regulations these vessels have to apply;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Insists on the fact that the EU should promote the same environmental standards for fishing in international fora and all bilateral cooperation as not to put our fleet at an economic sustainability disadvantage;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Notes the significance of biodiversity in the world's oceans. It forms the cornerstone of our oceans and plays a vital role in maintaining the productivity and functionality of marine ecosystems;

Amendment 8 #