BETA


2018/0109(COD) Multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead PECH AFFRONTE Marco (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) KUHN Werner (icon: PPE PPE), BRIANO Renata (icon: S&D S&D), TOMAŠIĆ Ruža (icon: ECR ECR), NICOLAI Norica (icon: ALDE ALDE), D'AMATO Rosa (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion ENVI VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana (icon: PPE PPE) Francisco de Paula GAMBUS MILLET (icon: PPE PPE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 043-p2

Events

2019/07/12
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to establish general rules for the implementation by the Union of a multi-annual recovery programme for the Mediterranean swordfish stock.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2019/1154 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 and Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT: this Regulation lays down general rules for the implementation by the Union of a multiannual recovery plan for swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ) in the Mediterranean Sea (‘Mediterranean swordfish’) adopted by ICCAT, starting from 2017 and continuing until 2031.

Subject matter and scope

The Regulation transposes ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 into EU law in order to enable the Union to fulfil its international obligations and to provide operators with legal certainty as regards rules and obligations.

By way of derogation from the basic Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the objective of the Regulation is to achieve a biomass of Mediterranean swordfish corresponding to MSY by 2031, with at least a 60 % probability of achieving that objective.

The Regulation shall apply to Union fishing vessels and Union vessels engaged in recreational fishing which catch Mediterranean swordfish or tranship or carry on board, including outside the ICCAT Convention area, Mediterranean swordfish; or tranship or carry on board, including outside the ICCAT Convention area, Mediterranean swordfish. It shall also apply to third country fishing vessels, and third country vessels engaged in recreational fisheries, which operate in Union waters and which catch Mediterranean swordfish.

The main elements of the new Regulation are as follows:

Fishing effort

Each Member State shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the fishing effort of fishing vessels flying its flag is commensurate with the fishing opportunities for Mediterranean swordfish available to that Member State. The carrying-over of any unused quota for Mediterranean swordfish shall be prohibited

Each Member State shall make provision for by-catch of swordfish within its Mediterranean swordfish quota and shall inform the Commission thereof when transmitting its annual fishing plan. Such provision shall ensure that all dead Mediterranean swordfish are deducted from the quota.

A capacity limitation by fishing gear type for fishing vessels shall apply for the duration of the recovery plan set out in this Regulation.

Closure periods

Mediterranean swordfish shall not be caught, either as targeted species or as by-catch, retained on board, transhipped or landed during the closure period. The closure period shall be from 1 January to 31 March of each year. In order to protect Mediterranean swordfish, a closure period shall apply to longline vessels targeting Mediterranean albacore ( Thunnus alalunga ) from 1 October to 30 November of each year.

Minimum conservation reference size for Mediterranean swordfish

The Regulation prohibits the catch, retention on board, transhipment, landing, transport, storage, sale, display or offer for sale of catches and by-catches of swordfish measuring less than 100 cm lower jaw to fork length (LJFL); or weighing less than 11.4 kg of live weight, or 10.2 kg of gilled and gutted weight.

Maximum number of hooks

The Regulation sets the maximum number of hooks that may be set by or carried on board fishing vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish shall be fixed at 2 500 hooks. A replacement set of 2 500 rigged hooks shall be allowed on board fishing vessels for trips longer than two days provided that it is duly lashed and stowed in lower decks so that it may not readily be used.

The hook size shall not be smaller than 7 cm in height.

The length of the pelagic longlines shall not exceed 30 nautical miles (55.56 km).

Recreational fisheries

Each Member State allowing recreational fishing for Mediterranean swordfish shall make provision for a recreational fisheries quota within its national quota and shall inform the Commission thereof when transmitting its annual fishing plan. Only ‘rod and line’ vessels shall be authorised to catch Mediterranean swordfish in recreational fisheries.

Member States shall ensure that vessels flying their flag that engage in recreational fishing for Mediterranean swordfish are included in the information on authorised vessels. Vessels not included in this information shall not be allowed to fish for Mediterranean swordfish.

Fishing gears

When implementing the ICCAT recovery plan, the Union and Member States should endeavour to promote coastal fishing activities and the research on and use of fishing gear and techniques which are selective, so as to reduce by-catches of vulnerable species, and which have a reduced environmental impact, including gear and techniques used in traditional and artisanal fisheries, thereby contributing to a fair standard of living for local economies.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 15.7.2019.

2019/06/20
   CSL - Draft final act
Documents
2019/06/20
   CSL - Final act signed
2019/06/20
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2019/06/12
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2019/06/07
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading
2019/06/07
   CSL - Council Meeting
2019/04/04
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2019/04/04
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 563 votes to 32, with 22 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a multi-annual recovery programme for Mediterranean swordfish stock and amending Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006 and (EU) 2017/2107.

The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Subject matter

This Regulation lays down general rules for the implementation by the Union of a multiannual recovery plan for swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ) in the Mediterranean Sea ('Mediterranean swordfish') adopted by ICCAT, starting from 2017 and continuing until 2031 (recovery plan).

This Regulation shall apply to Union fishing vessels, and Union vessels engaged in recreational fisheries, which catch Mediterranean swordfish or tranship or carry on board , including outside the ICCAT Convention area, Mediterranean swordfish.

Management measures

Each Member State shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the fishing effort of fishing vessels flying its flag is commensurate with the fishing opportunities for Mediterranean swordfish available to that Member State.

Member States shall endeavour to allocate any increase in fishing opportunities resulting from the successful implementation of this Regulation to fishing vessels to which no quota for Mediterranean swordfish has previously been allocated and that fulfil the criteria for the allocation of fishing opportunities set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

A capacity limitation by fishing gear type for fishing vessels shall apply for the duration of the recovery plan set out in this Regulation. Member States shall limit by fishing gear type the number of fishing vessels flying their flag and authorised to catch Mediterranean swordfish to the average yearly number of vessels flying their flag that fished for, retained on board, transhipped, transported or landed Mediterranean swordfish during the period 2013-2016.

Member States may decide to use the number of vessels flying their flag that fished for, retained on board, transhipped, transported or landed Mediterranean swordfish in 2016 for the purpose of calculating the capacity limitation, if that number is lower than the average yearly number of vessels during the period 2013–2016. That capacity limitation shall be applied by gear type for fishing vessels.

By-catches

By-catches of Mediterranean swordfish shall not exceed at any time following a fishing operation the by-catch limit that Member States establish in their annual fishing plans for the total catch on board by weight or number of specimens.

Fishing gears

The maximum number of hooks that may be set by or carried on board fishing vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish shall be fixed at 2 500 hooks. A replacement set of 2 500 rigged hooks shall be allowed on board fishing vessels for trips longer than two days provided that it is duly lashed and stowed in lower decks so that it may not readily be used.

Recreational fisheries

Each Member State allowing recreational fishing for Mediterranean swordfish shall make provision for a recreational fisheries quota within its national quota and shall inform the Commission thereof when transmitting its annual fishing plan. Such provision shall ensure that all dead Mediterranean swordfish are deducted from the quota.

Only 'rod and line' vessels shall be authorised to catch Mediterranean swordfish in recreational fisheries. Member States shall, for the vessels flying their flag which are engaged in recreational fisheries for Mediterranean swordfish, ensure that the information on authorised vessels includes those vessels. Vessels not included with that information shall not be authorised to fish for Mediterranean swordfish.

Documents
2019/02/18
   EP - Approval in committee of the text agreed at 1st reading interinstitutional negotiations
2019/02/06
   CSL - Coreper letter confirming interinstitutional agreement
2019/02/06
   EP - Text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations
Documents
2018/12/10
   EP - Committee decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations confirmed by plenary (Rule 71)
2018/11/28
   EP - Committee decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations announced in plenary (Rule 71)
2018/11/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
Details

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Marco AFFRONTE (Greens/EFA, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish and amending Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006 and (EU) 2017/2107.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission's proposal as follows.

Subject matter : the proposed Regulation seeks to lay down general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), starting from 2017 and continuing through 2031 ('the recovery plan').

Allocation of fishing opportunities : national quotas shall be distributed fairly among the various fleet segments, ensuring in particular that quotas are allocated to traditional and artisanal fishing. Member States shall provide incentives to Union fishing vessels deploying selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact.

Member States shall endeavour to allocate any increase in fishing opportunities, resulting from the successful implementation of this Regulation, to fishing vessels to which no swordfish quota has previously been allocated and that fulfil the criteria for the allocation of fishing opportunities set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, in order to contribute to the objective of an equal and fair distribution of quotas among the different fleet segments.

Fishing gear : Members proposed that additional 2 500 replacement hooks be allowed on board fishing vessels for trips longer than 2 days. A second set of rigged hooks may be allowed on board for trips longer than 2 days, provided that it is duly lashed and stowed in lower decks so that it cannot readily be used. Members States shall encourage the use of circle hooks .

National observer programmes in pelagic longline vessels : until three years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation, each Member State concerned shall ensure that national scientific observers are deployed on at least 10 % of pelagic longline vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish. After that date, the Member State concerned may reduce the observer coverage to at least 5 %. The percentage coverage will be measured in fishing days, number of sets or trips.

Management measures : the amended text stated that in recreational fisheries, it shall be prohibited to catch, retain on board, tranship or land more than one swordfish per vessel per month (as opposed to per day as proposed by the Commission).

Documents
2018/11/21
   IT_CHAMBER - Contribution
Documents
2018/11/21
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading
2018/11/21
   EP - Committee decision to open interinstitutional negotiations with report adopted in committee
2018/10/01
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2018/09/19
   ESC - Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
Documents
2018/09/03
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2018/07/23
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2018/05/31
   EP - AFFRONTE Marco (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in PECH
2018/05/16
   EP - VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana (PPE) appointed as rapporteur in ENVI
2018/05/02
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading
2018/04/24
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to establish general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multi-annual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish.

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: during the 2016 ICCAT Annual Meeting held in Vilamoura (Portugal), the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties, entities or fishing entities to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) took a decisive step to address the alarming situation of Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) by adopting a 15-year recovery plan in the ICCAT Recommendation 16-05.

The recommendation lays down rules for the conservation, management and control of the Mediterranean stock of swordfish as to achieve a biomass corresponding to a maximum sustainable yield by 2031 with at least 60% probability of achieving that objective.

ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 obliges to discard swordfish on board vessels, including in sport and recreational fisheries that exceed the allocated quota of the vessel, and/or the maximum level of permitted by-catches. Mediterranean swordfish caught on board vessels that are below the minimum conservation reference size will also have to be discarded, with the exception of a given by-catch limit established by Member States in their annual fishing plans.

The purpose of this proposal is to transpose ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 into EU law to allow the Union to comply with its international obligations and to provide operators with legal certainty regarding rules and obligations.

CONTENT: the proposal for a Regulation lays down general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), starting from 2017 and continuing through 2031.

The general rules cover management, technical conservation measures, catch control measures and management measures in recreational fisheries.

By way of derogation of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the objective of this Regulation is to achieve a biomass of swordfish in the Mediterranean corresponding to the maximum sustainable yield by 2031, with at least 60% probability of achieving that objective .

The measures adopted by ICCAT Recommendation 16-05, which are transposed by this Regulation, are more restrictive or more precise that those measures already in force to allow the recovery of the stock. The main differences could be summarized as follows:

minimum conservation reference size : the proposal prohibits to target, retain on board, tranship, land, transport, store, sell or display or offer for sale catches and by-catches of swordfish, including in recreational fisheries: (a) measuring less than 100 cm Lower Jaw to Fork Length (LJFL); or (b) weighing less than 11.4 kg of round weight, or 10.2 kg of gilled and gutted weight; maximum number of hooks : the proposal sets the maximum number of hooks that may be set or taken on board vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish at 2 500; closed seasons : Mediterranean swordfish shall not be caught, either as targeted species or as bycatch, retained on board, transhipped or landed during the period from 1 January to 31 March of each year. In order to protect Mediterranean swordfish, a closure period shall apply to longline vessels targeting Mediterranean albacore (Thunnus alalunga) from the 1 October to 30 November of each year; TAC definition and quota allocation : these have already been transposed in 2017 and are now included in Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120 fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters. Therefore, it is not necessary to include the transposition of the fishing opportunities in this proposal.

The recovery plan takes into account the specificities of the different types of gear and fishing techniques. When implementing the recovery plan, the Union and Member States should endeavour to promote coastal fishing activities and the use of fishing gear and techniques which are selective and have a reduced environmental impact, including gear and techniques used in traditional and artisanal fisheries, thereby contributing to a fair standard of living for local economies.

Documents

Votes

A8-0389/2018 - Marco Affronte - Am 42 #

2019/04/04 Outcome: +: 563, -: 32, 0: 22
DE IT ES PL FR GB RO BE PT NL BG HU CZ SE FI DK LT IE SK EL AT HR SI LV LU MT EE CY
Total
83
58
44
38
63
52
27
21
20
24
17
17
17
17
11
11
10
10
10
12
16
7
7
7
6
6
3
2
icon: PPE PPE
175

United Kingdom PPE

2

Finland PPE

2

Slovakia PPE

3

Greece PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3
icon: S&D S&D
157

Netherlands S&D

3

Czechia S&D

3

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Croatia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3
icon: ALDE ALDE
63
3

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Romania ALDE

3

Portugal ALDE

1

Denmark ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2
icon: ECR ECR
60

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Sweden ECR

2

Finland ECR

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
46

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
4

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
43

Italy GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

2

Italy NI

For (1)

1

Poland NI

Abstain (1)

1

France NI

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Hungary NI

For (1)

1

Denmark NI

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
29

Germany EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
29

Poland ENF

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

2

Belgium ENF

For (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3
AmendmentsDossier
80 2018/0109(COD)
2018/06/19 ENVI 23 amendments...
source: 623.803
2018/10/01 PECH 57 amendments...
source: 628.471

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/ENVI-AD-625402_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PECH-PR-626718_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PECH-AM-628471_EN.html
docs/5
date
2019-06-12T00:00:00
docs
title: SP(2019)443
type
Commission response to text adopted in plenary
body
EC
docs/5
date
2019-02-06T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/commissions/pech/inag/2019/02-06/PECH_AG(2019)634759_EN.pdf title: PE634.759
type
Text agreed during interinstitutional negotiations
body
EP
docs/5/docs/0/url
/oeil/spdoc.do?i=31844&j=0&l=en
docs/6
date
2019-06-12T00:00:00
docs
title: SP(2019)443
type
Commission response to text adopted in plenary
body
EC
docs/7
date
2018-11-22T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2018)0229 title: COM(2018)0229
type
Contribution
body
IT_CHAMBER
docs/8
date
2018-11-21T00:00:00
docs
url: https://connectfolx.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2018)0229 title: COM(2018)0229
type
Contribution
body
IT_CHAMBER
events/7/date
Old
2019-02-19T00:00:00
New
2019-02-18T00:00:00
committees/0/shadows/4
name
FERREIRA João
group
European United Left - Nordic Green Left
abbr
GUE/NGL
docs/0/docs/0/url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402&secondRef=02
docs/1/docs/0/url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE626.718
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://dmsearch.eesc.europa.eu/search/public?k=(documenttype:AC)(documentnumber:3230)(documentyear:2018)(documentlanguage:EN)
docs/3/docs/0/url
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE628.471
events/1/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading
events/2/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee, 1st reading
events/4
date
2018-11-23T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0389_EN.html title: A8-0389/2018
summary
events/4
date
2018-11-23T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0389_EN.html title: A8-0389/2018
summary
events/5
date
2018-11-28T00:00:00
type
Committee decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations announced in plenary (Rule 71)
body
EP
events/6
date
2018-12-10T00:00:00
type
Committee decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations confirmed by plenary (Rule 71)
body
EP
events/7
date
2019-04-04T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0353_EN.html title: T8-0353/2019
summary
events/9
date
2019-04-04T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0353_EN.html title: T8-0353/2019
summary
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Notes
  • 30/11/2018 Decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations confirmed by plenary (Rule 69c)
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
docs/5/body
EC
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0389&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0389_EN.html
events/7/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2019-0353
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2019-0353_EN.html
events/11/summary
  • PURPOSE: to establish general rules for the implementation by the Union of a multi-annual recovery programme for the Mediterranean swordfish stock.
  • LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2019/1154 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 and Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
  • CONTENT: this Regulation lays down general rules for the implementation by the Union of a multiannual recovery plan for swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ) in the Mediterranean Sea (‘Mediterranean swordfish’) adopted by ICCAT, starting from 2017 and continuing until 2031.
  • Subject matter and scope
  • The Regulation transposes ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 into EU law in order to enable the Union to fulfil its international obligations and to provide operators with legal certainty as regards rules and obligations.
  • By way of derogation from the basic Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the objective of the Regulation is to achieve a biomass of Mediterranean swordfish corresponding to MSY by 2031, with at least a 60 % probability of achieving that objective.
  • The Regulation shall apply to Union fishing vessels and Union vessels engaged in recreational fishing which catch Mediterranean swordfish or tranship or carry on board, including outside the ICCAT Convention area, Mediterranean swordfish; or tranship or carry on board, including outside the ICCAT Convention area, Mediterranean swordfish. It shall also apply to third country fishing vessels, and third country vessels engaged in recreational fisheries, which operate in Union waters and which catch Mediterranean swordfish.
  • The main elements of the new Regulation are as follows:
  • Fishing effort
  • Each Member State shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the fishing effort of fishing vessels flying its flag is commensurate with the fishing opportunities for Mediterranean swordfish available to that Member State. The carrying-over of any unused quota for Mediterranean swordfish shall be prohibited
  • Each Member State shall make provision for by-catch of swordfish within its Mediterranean swordfish quota and shall inform the Commission thereof when transmitting its annual fishing plan. Such provision shall ensure that all dead Mediterranean swordfish are deducted from the quota.
  • A capacity limitation by fishing gear type for fishing vessels shall apply for the duration of the recovery plan set out in this Regulation.
  • Closure periods
  • Mediterranean swordfish shall not be caught, either as targeted species or as by-catch, retained on board, transhipped or landed during the closure period. The closure period shall be from 1 January to 31 March of each year. In order to protect Mediterranean swordfish, a closure period shall apply to longline vessels targeting Mediterranean albacore ( Thunnus alalunga ) from 1 October to 30 November of each year.
  • Minimum conservation reference size for Mediterranean swordfish
  • The Regulation prohibits the catch, retention on board, transhipment, landing, transport, storage, sale, display or offer for sale of catches and by-catches of swordfish measuring less than 100 cm lower jaw to fork length (LJFL); or weighing less than 11.4 kg of live weight, or 10.2 kg of gilled and gutted weight.
  • Maximum number of hooks
  • The Regulation sets the maximum number of hooks that may be set by or carried on board fishing vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish shall be fixed at 2 500 hooks. A replacement set of 2 500 rigged hooks shall be allowed on board fishing vessels for trips longer than two days provided that it is duly lashed and stowed in lower decks so that it may not readily be used.
  • The hook size shall not be smaller than 7 cm in height.
  • The length of the pelagic longlines shall not exceed 30 nautical miles (55.56 km).
  • Recreational fisheries
  • Each Member State allowing recreational fishing for Mediterranean swordfish shall make provision for a recreational fisheries quota within its national quota and shall inform the Commission thereof when transmitting its annual fishing plan. Only ‘rod and line’ vessels shall be authorised to catch Mediterranean swordfish in recreational fisheries.
  • Member States shall ensure that vessels flying their flag that engage in recreational fishing for Mediterranean swordfish are included in the information on authorised vessels. Vessels not included in this information shall not be allowed to fish for Mediterranean swordfish.
  • Fishing gears
  • When implementing the ICCAT recovery plan, the Union and Member States should endeavour to promote coastal fishing activities and the research on and use of fishing gear and techniques which are selective, so as to reduce by-catches of vulnerable species, and which have a reduced environmental impact, including gear and techniques used in traditional and artisanal fisheries, thereby contributing to a fair standard of living for local economies.
  • ENTRY INTO FORCE: 15.7.2019.
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
rapporteur
name: AFFRONTE Marco date: 2018-05-31T00:00:00 group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
date
2018-05-31T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: AFFRONTE Marco group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
rapporteur
name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana date: 2018-05-16T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
date
2018-05-16T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
docs/5
date
2019-06-12T00:00:00
docs
url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=31844&j=0&l=en title: SP(2019)443
type
Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events/6
date
2019-04-04T00:00:00
type
Results of vote in Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=31844&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402&secondRef=02
events/10
date
2019-07-12T00:00:00
type
Final act published in Official Journal
docs
procedure/final
title
Regulation 2019/1154
url
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32019R1154
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
New
Procedure completed
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402&secondRef=02
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402&secondRef=02
activities
  • date: 2018-04-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0229/COM_COM(2018)0229_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0229 type: Legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52018PC0229:EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/maritime-affairs-and-fisheries_en title: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner: VELLA Karmenu type: Legislative proposal published
  • date: 2018-05-02T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: ENVI date: 2018-05-16T00:00:00 committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety rapporteur: group: EPP name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: KUHN Werner group: S&D name: BRIANO Renata group: ECR name: TOMAŠIĆ Ruža group: ALDE name: NICOLAI Norica group: GUE/NGL name: FERREIRA João group: EFD name: D'AMATO Rosa responsible: True committee: PECH date: 2018-05-31T00:00:00 committee_full: Fisheries rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: AFFRONTE Marco
  • date: 2019-03-25T00:00:00 body: EP type: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
commission
  • body: EC dg: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries commissioner: VELLA Karmenu
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
date
2018-05-31T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: AFFRONTE Marco group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
ENVI
date
2018-05-16T00:00:00
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
rapporteur
group: EPP name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
date
2018-05-16T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/1
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
PECH
date
2018-05-31T00:00:00
committee_full
Fisheries
rapporteur
group: Verts/ALE name: AFFRONTE Marco
council
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy meeting_id: 3696 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=3696*&MEET_DATE=07/06/2019 date: 2019-06-07T00:00:00
docs
  • date: 2018-07-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE625.402 title: PE625.402 committee: ENVI type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2018-09-03T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE626.718 title: PE626.718 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2018-09-19T00:00:00 docs: title: CES3230/2018 type: Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report body: ESC
  • date: 2018-10-01T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE628.471 title: PE628.471 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2019-02-06T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/commissions/pech/lcag/2019/02-06/PECH_LA(2019)001531_EN.pdf title: GEDA/A/(2019)001531 type: Coreper letter confirming interinstitutional agreement body: CSL
  • date: 2019-06-20T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=[%n4]%2F19&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 00018/2019/LEX type: Draft final act body: CSL
  • date: 2018-11-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2018)0229 title: COM(2018)0229 type: Contribution body: IT_CHAMBER
events
  • date: 2018-04-24T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0229/COM_COM(2018)0229_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0229 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2018&nu_doc=0229 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to establish general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multi-annual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish. 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: during the 2016 ICCAT Annual Meeting held in Vilamoura (Portugal), the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties, entities or fishing entities to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) took a decisive step to address the alarming situation of Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) by adopting a 15-year recovery plan in the ICCAT Recommendation 16-05. The recommendation lays down rules for the conservation, management and control of the Mediterranean stock of swordfish as to achieve a biomass corresponding to a maximum sustainable yield by 2031 with at least 60% probability of achieving that objective. ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 obliges to discard swordfish on board vessels, including in sport and recreational fisheries that exceed the allocated quota of the vessel, and/or the maximum level of permitted by-catches. Mediterranean swordfish caught on board vessels that are below the minimum conservation reference size will also have to be discarded, with the exception of a given by-catch limit established by Member States in their annual fishing plans. The purpose of this proposal is to transpose ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 into EU law to allow the Union to comply with its international obligations and to provide operators with legal certainty regarding rules and obligations. CONTENT: the proposal for a Regulation lays down general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), starting from 2017 and continuing through 2031. The general rules cover management, technical conservation measures, catch control measures and management measures in recreational fisheries. By way of derogation of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the objective of this Regulation is to achieve a biomass of swordfish in the Mediterranean corresponding to the maximum sustainable yield by 2031, with at least 60% probability of achieving that objective . The measures adopted by ICCAT Recommendation 16-05, which are transposed by this Regulation, are more restrictive or more precise that those measures already in force to allow the recovery of the stock. The main differences could be summarized as follows: minimum conservation reference size : the proposal prohibits to target, retain on board, tranship, land, transport, store, sell or display or offer for sale catches and by-catches of swordfish, including in recreational fisheries: (a) measuring less than 100 cm Lower Jaw to Fork Length (LJFL); or (b) weighing less than 11.4 kg of round weight, or 10.2 kg of gilled and gutted weight; maximum number of hooks : the proposal sets the maximum number of hooks that may be set or taken on board vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish at 2 500; closed seasons : Mediterranean swordfish shall not be caught, either as targeted species or as bycatch, retained on board, transhipped or landed during the period from 1 January to 31 March of each year. In order to protect Mediterranean swordfish, a closure period shall apply to longline vessels targeting Mediterranean albacore (Thunnus alalunga) from the 1 October to 30 November of each year; TAC definition and quota allocation : these have already been transposed in 2017 and are now included in Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120 fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters. Therefore, it is not necessary to include the transposition of the fishing opportunities in this proposal. The recovery plan takes into account the specificities of the different types of gear and fishing techniques. When implementing the recovery plan, the Union and Member States should endeavour to promote coastal fishing activities and the use of fishing gear and techniques which are selective and have a reduced environmental impact, including gear and techniques used in traditional and artisanal fisheries, thereby contributing to a fair standard of living for local economies.
  • date: 2018-05-02T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-11-21T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-11-21T00:00:00 type: Committee decision to open interinstitutional negotiations with report adopted in committee body: EP
  • date: 2018-11-23T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0389&language=EN title: A8-0389/2018 summary: The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Marco AFFRONTE (Greens/EFA, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish and amending Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006 and (EU) 2017/2107. The committee recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission's proposal as follows. Subject matter : the proposed Regulation seeks to lay down general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), starting from 2017 and continuing through 2031 ('the recovery plan'). Allocation of fishing opportunities : national quotas shall be distributed fairly among the various fleet segments, ensuring in particular that quotas are allocated to traditional and artisanal fishing. Member States shall provide incentives to Union fishing vessels deploying selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact. Member States shall endeavour to allocate any increase in fishing opportunities, resulting from the successful implementation of this Regulation, to fishing vessels to which no swordfish quota has previously been allocated and that fulfil the criteria for the allocation of fishing opportunities set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, in order to contribute to the objective of an equal and fair distribution of quotas among the different fleet segments. Fishing gear : Members proposed that additional 2 500 replacement hooks be allowed on board fishing vessels for trips longer than 2 days. A second set of rigged hooks may be allowed on board for trips longer than 2 days, provided that it is duly lashed and stowed in lower decks so that it cannot readily be used. Members States shall encourage the use of circle hooks . National observer programmes in pelagic longline vessels : until three years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation, each Member State concerned shall ensure that national scientific observers are deployed on at least 10 % of pelagic longline vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish. After that date, the Member State concerned may reduce the observer coverage to at least 5 %. The percentage coverage will be measured in fishing days, number of sets or trips. Management measures : the amended text stated that in recreational fisheries, it shall be prohibited to catch, retain on board, tranship or land more than one swordfish per vessel per month (as opposed to per day as proposed by the Commission).
  • date: 2019-02-19T00:00:00 type: Approval in committee of the text agreed at 1st reading interinstitutional negotiations body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/commissions/pech/inag/2019/02-06/PECH_AG(2019)634759_EN.pdf title: PE634.759 url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/commissions/pech/lcag/2019/02-06/PECH_LA(2019)001531_EN.pdf title: GEDA/A/(2019)001531
  • date: 2019-04-04T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2019-0353 title: T8-0353/2019 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 563 votes to 32, with 22 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a multi-annual recovery programme for Mediterranean swordfish stock and amending Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006 and (EU) 2017/2107. The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows: Subject matter This Regulation lays down general rules for the implementation by the Union of a multiannual recovery plan for swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ) in the Mediterranean Sea ('Mediterranean swordfish') adopted by ICCAT, starting from 2017 and continuing until 2031 (recovery plan). This Regulation shall apply to Union fishing vessels, and Union vessels engaged in recreational fisheries, which catch Mediterranean swordfish or tranship or carry on board , including outside the ICCAT Convention area, Mediterranean swordfish. Management measures Each Member State shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the fishing effort of fishing vessels flying its flag is commensurate with the fishing opportunities for Mediterranean swordfish available to that Member State. Member States shall endeavour to allocate any increase in fishing opportunities resulting from the successful implementation of this Regulation to fishing vessels to which no quota for Mediterranean swordfish has previously been allocated and that fulfil the criteria for the allocation of fishing opportunities set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). A capacity limitation by fishing gear type for fishing vessels shall apply for the duration of the recovery plan set out in this Regulation. Member States shall limit by fishing gear type the number of fishing vessels flying their flag and authorised to catch Mediterranean swordfish to the average yearly number of vessels flying their flag that fished for, retained on board, transhipped, transported or landed Mediterranean swordfish during the period 2013-2016. Member States may decide to use the number of vessels flying their flag that fished for, retained on board, transhipped, transported or landed Mediterranean swordfish in 2016 for the purpose of calculating the capacity limitation, if that number is lower than the average yearly number of vessels during the period 2013–2016. That capacity limitation shall be applied by gear type for fishing vessels. By-catches By-catches of Mediterranean swordfish shall not exceed at any time following a fishing operation the by-catch limit that Member States establish in their annual fishing plans for the total catch on board by weight or number of specimens. Fishing gears The maximum number of hooks that may be set by or carried on board fishing vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish shall be fixed at 2 500 hooks. A replacement set of 2 500 rigged hooks shall be allowed on board fishing vessels for trips longer than two days provided that it is duly lashed and stowed in lower decks so that it may not readily be used. Recreational fisheries Each Member State allowing recreational fishing for Mediterranean swordfish shall make provision for a recreational fisheries quota within its national quota and shall inform the Commission thereof when transmitting its annual fishing plan. Such provision shall ensure that all dead Mediterranean swordfish are deducted from the quota. Only 'rod and line' vessels shall be authorised to catch Mediterranean swordfish in recreational fisheries. Member States shall, for the vessels flying their flag which are engaged in recreational fisheries for Mediterranean swordfish, ensure that the information on authorised vessels includes those vessels. Vessels not included with that information shall not be authorised to fish for Mediterranean swordfish.
  • date: 2019-06-07T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after Parliament's 1st reading body: EP/CSL
  • date: 2019-06-20T00:00:00 type: Final act signed body: CSL
  • date: 2019-06-20T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/maritime-affairs-and-fisheries_en title: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries commissioner: VELLA Karmenu
otherinst
  • name: European Economic and Social Committee
procedure/Mandatory consultation of other institutions
European Economic and Social Committee
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Notes
  • 30/11/2018 Decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations confirmed by plenary (Rule 69c)
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
PECH/8/12919
New
  • PECH/8/12919
procedure/instrument
Old
Regulation
New
  • Regulation
  • Amending Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 2003/0229(CNS) Amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 2016/0187(COD)
procedure/other_consulted_institutions
European Economic and Social Committee
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.15.01 Fish stocks, conservation of fishery resources
New
3.15.01
Fish stocks, conservation of fishery resources
procedure/summary
  • Amending Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006
  • Amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
activities/0/docs/0/text
  • PURPOSE: to establish general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multi-annual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish.

    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: during the 2016 ICCAT Annual Meeting held in Vilamoura (Portugal), the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties, entities or fishing entities to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) took a decisive step to address the alarming situation of Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) by adopting a 15-year recovery plan in the ICCAT Recommendation 16-05.

    The recommendation lays down rules for the conservation, management and control of the Mediterranean stock of swordfish as to achieve a biomass corresponding to a maximum sustainable yield by 2031 with at least 60% probability of achieving that objective.

    ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 obliges to discard swordfish on board vessels, including in sport and recreational fisheries that exceed the allocated quota of the vessel, and/or the maximum level of permitted by-catches. Mediterranean swordfish caught on board vessels that are below the minimum conservation reference size will also have to be discarded, with the exception of a given by-catch limit established by Member States in their annual fishing plans.

    The purpose of this proposal is to transpose ICCAT Recommendation 16-05 into EU law to allow the Union to comply with its international obligations and to provide operators with legal certainty regarding rules and obligations.

    CONTENT: the proposal for a Regulation lays down general rules for the implementation by the Union of the multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), starting from 2017 and continuing through 2031. 

    The general rules cover management, technical conservation measures, catch control measures and management measures in recreational fisheries.

    By way of derogation of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the objective of this Regulation is to achieve a biomass of swordfish in the Mediterranean corresponding to the maximum sustainable yield by 2031, with at least 60% probability of achieving that objective.

    The measures adopted by ICCAT Recommendation 16-05, which are transposed by this Regulation, are more restrictive or more precise that those measures already in force to allow the recovery of the stock. The main differences could be summarized as follows:

    • minimum conservation reference size: the proposal prohibits to target, retain on board, tranship, land, transport, store, sell or display or offer for sale catches and by-catches of swordfish, including in recreational fisheries:  (a) measuring less than 100 cm Lower Jaw to Fork Length (LJFL); or  (b) weighing less than 11.4 kg of round weight, or 10.2 kg of gilled and gutted weight;
    • maximum number of hooks: the proposal sets the maximum number of hooks that may be set or taken on board vessels targeting Mediterranean swordfish at 2 500;
    • closed seasons: Mediterranean swordfish shall not be caught, either as targeted species or as bycatch, retained on board, transhipped or landed during the period from 1 January to 31 March of each year. In order to protect Mediterranean swordfish, a closure period shall apply to longline vessels targeting Mediterranean albacore (Thunnus alalunga) from the 1 October to 30 November of each year;
    • TAC definition and quota allocation: these have already been transposed in 2017 and are now included in Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120 fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters. Therefore, it is not necessary to include the transposition of the fishing opportunities in this proposal.

    The recovery plan takes into account the specificities of the different types of gear and fishing techniques. When implementing the recovery plan, the Union and Member States should endeavour to promote coastal fishing activities and the use of fishing gear and techniques which are selective and have a reduced environmental impact, including gear and techniques used in traditional and artisanal fisheries, thereby contributing to a fair standard of living for local economies.

activities/1
date
2018-05-02T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
committees
activities/2/committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
  • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Fisheries committee: PECH
activities/2/date
Old
2018-05-02T00:00:00
New
2019-03-25T00:00:00
activities/2/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
committees/0/date
2018-05-16T00:00:00
committees/0/rapporteur
  • group: EPP name: VĂLEAN Adina-Ioana
committees/1/date
2018-05-31T00:00:00
committees/1/rapporteur
  • group: Verts/ALE name: AFFRONTE Marco
committees/1/shadows
  • group: EPP name: KUHN Werner
  • group: S&D name: BRIANO Renata
  • group: ECR name: TOMAŠIĆ Ruža
  • group: ALDE name: NICOLAI Norica
  • group: GUE/NGL name: FERREIRA João
  • group: EFD name: D'AMATO Rosa
activities
  • date: 2018-04-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0229/COM_COM(2018)0229_EN.pdf celexid: CELEX:52018PC0229:EN type: Legislative proposal published title: COM(2018)0229 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/maritime-affairs-and-fisheries_en title: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner: VELLA Karmenu
  • date: 2018-05-02T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Fisheries committee: PECH
committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
  • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Fisheries committee: PECH
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/maritime-affairs-and-fisheries_en title: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries commissioner: VELLA Karmenu
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
PECH/8/12919
Mandatory consultation of other institutions
European Economic and Social Committee
reference
2018/0109(COD)
instrument
Regulation
legal_basis
Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 043-p2
stage_reached
Awaiting committee decision
summary
subtype
Legislation
title
Multiannual recovery plan for Mediterranean swordfish
type
COD - Ordinary legislative procedure (ex-codecision procedure)
subject
3.15.01 Fish stocks, conservation of fishery resources