2019/2160(INI) The impact on fisheries of marine litter
Lead committee dossier:
Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | PECH |
CHABAUD Catherine ( Renew)
|
MONTEIRO DE AGUIAR Cláudia ( EPP),
BARTOLO Pietro ( S&D),
GUERREIRO Francisco ( Verts/ALE),
CONTE Rosanna ( ID),
STANCANELLI Raffaele ( ECR),
HAZEKAMP Anja ( GUE/NGL)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Subjects
Events
2021/08/03
EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2021/03/25
EP - Results of vote in Parliament
Documents
2021/03/25
EP - Decision by Parliament
Details
The European Parliament adopted by 646 votes to 3 against, with 39 abstentions, a resolution on the impact on fisheries of marine litter.
The marine litter visible on beaches, coasts, shorelines and at the surface comes mainly from activities on land (80%), but also from activities at sea due to a significant increase in transport by large non-fishing vessels. 70% of the litter thrown into the sea ends up on the seabed, with the cumulative mass of litter floating on the surface representing only 1% of plastic dumped in the ocean. 730 tonnes of litter are dumped in the Mediterranean Sea every day.
Improving the legislative framework and governance on marine litter
Members stressed the need to revise the EU’s integrated maritime policy with a view to establishing a more strategic framework, including on marine litter, that incorporates all waste and marine environment laws.
The Commission and Member States are invited to:
- advocate an ambitious governance model in international UN negotiations on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions and recognise all oceans and seas as a global common good;
- coordinate efforts to adopt an ambitious and legally binding agreement on plastic pollution at the UN Environment Assembly;
- coordinate different pieces of legislation such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the directive on the reduction of the environmental impact of certain plastic products, the Directive on port reception facilities and the Directive on maritime planning, all within the same timeframe;
- adopt the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Voluntary Guidelines on Marking of Fishing Gear to promote responsible management of fishing gear with a view to achieving a reduction in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear.
Improving research and knowledge on marine waste
The shortage of available data and studies make it difficult to quantify the exact extent to which damage caused by marine litter is affecting the fisheries sector and its negative economic consequences for fishers. The Commission and the Member States are called to step up research finance and data collection on the amount and various types of litter in European waters and its impact on fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystems and to propose robust measures to address and prevent the impact of nano- and microplastics on both fishery resources and human health.
The resolution called for better reporting of lost fishing gear at sea and suggests developing new tools for identifying and tracking lost fishing gear at sea and recording data on marine litter.
The circular economy in the fisheries and aquaculture sector
The resolution stressed that the development of the circular economy in the fisheries sector must include increased support for research into solutions, smart design of fishing gear and innovation in fishing and aquaculture techniques to limit the discharge of waste, enhance the attractiveness of collection operations and the development of efficient recycling channels.
Parliament called for the eco-design of fishing gear to be supported as well as the promotion of research and innovation seeking to find alternative and environmentally friendly materials to use in fishing gear, including polymers. Member States should swiftly follow up on the setting of national minimum collection rates for fishing gear containing plastic, as agreed to in the directive on single-use plastics.
Members called on the Commission to create a specific fund to support Member States that establish production chains for recycled and environmentally friendly gear, using resources such as those under the NextGenerationEU instrument and from tax penalties imposed following infringement proceedings against Member States.
Collection and management programmes for marine waste
Parliament called on the Commission to draw up an EU-level action plan to combat littering in the Union’s hydrosphere by reducing waste at its source, cutting down on plastic use and consumption, and tackling the pollution of rivers, water courses and coastlines due to littering.
The upgrading of wastewater treatment plants and sewage systems is also imperative to reduce the impact on aquaculture and the marine and coastal environment in general. Members called for sufficient resources to be devoted to cleaning up all types of polluting materials derived from plastics.
Member States are urged, in this regard, to establish a ‘special fund for cleaning the seas’, managed through the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) or other relevant budget lines, in order to finance the following actions:
(1) the collection at sea by fishers of marine litter,
(2) the provision of adequate on-board waste storage facilities and the monitoring of passively fished litter,
(3) improvements in operator training,
(4) the financing of the costs of both waste treatment and the personnel required for the operation of such programmes to avoid the increase in costs for fishers who participate voluntarily,
(5) investments in ports so that appropriate reception and storage facilities can be provided for the lost fishing gear and marine waste collected.
Lastly, Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States to promote awareness-raising campaigns on the issue of marine pollution from plastic and microplastic.
Documents
2021/03/25
EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2021/03/24
EP - Debate in Parliament
Documents
2021/03/03
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details
The Committee on Fisheries adopted the own-initiative report by Catherine CHABAUD (Renew Europe, FR) on the impact on fisheries of marine litter.
Marine waste means all waste that has entered the marine environment, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and is identified by size (nano-, micro- and mega-waste) and nature (containers, bulky waste lying on the ocean floor, plastics, fishing gear, wrecks of semi-sunken vessels, hazardous waste such as explosives and other war debris, textile fibres, microplastics, etc.). 70 % of the marine litter that enters the sea ends up on the seabed and the cumulative mass of waste floating on the surface accounts for only 1 % of plastic in the ocean.
Improving the legislative framework and governance on marine litter
Members stressed the need to revise the EU’s integrated maritime policy with a view to establishing a more strategic framework, including on marine litter, that incorporates all waste and marine environment laws. In addition, they stressed the need to improve the European legislative framework to reduce financial costs for fishers who accidentally catch marine litter when fishing and to avoid presenting them with an excessive bureaucratic burden.
In order to improve and enhance the effectiveness of the legislative framework and governance relating to the collection, disposal and recycling of marine waste, the report stressed that it is essential to promote the greater involvement of all those working in the fishing sector and to broaden the existing awareness-raising, prevention and training projects with a view to ensuring the continuous exchange of information in order to support the preparation and updating of the relevant rules.
Improving research and knowledge on marine waste
The shortage of available data and studies make it difficult to quantify the exact extent to which damage caused by marine litter is affecting the fisheries sector and its negative economic consequences for fishers. The Commission and the Member States are called to step up research finance and data collection on the amount and various types of litter in European waters and its impact on fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystems and to propose robust measures to address and prevent the impact of nano- and microplastics on both fishery resources and human health.
The report called for improved reporting on the loss of fishing gear at sea.
Circular economy in the fisheries and aquaculture sector
The report stressed that reducing the impact of marine waste is contingent on improvements to the circular economy on land, including phasing out unnecessary plastic and packaging and transforming waste into resources, and on the adoption of a life-cycle approach in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. In order to accelerate the development of the circular economy in the fishing and aquaculture sector, it is essential to plan future legislative solutions to the problem of marine waste collection and disposal in conjunction with the European Green Deal. Member States should swiftly follow up on the setting of national minimum collection rates for fishing gear containing plastic, as agreed to in the directive on single-use plastics.
Members called on the Commission to create a specific fund to support Member States that establish production chains for recycled and environmentally friendly gear, using resources such as those under the NextGenerationEU instrument and from tax penalties imposed following infringement proceedings against Member States.
Collection and management programmes for marine waste
The report called for the drawing up an EU-level action plan to combat littering in the EU’s hydrosphere by reducing waste at its source, cutting down on plastic use and consumption. It urged Member States and regions to collect data on, monitor and take action to address the issue of poor management of waste on land, to clear up hotspot areas in rivers and estuaries where marine waste has accumulated and to introduce measures to prevent marine waste from reaching the environment in the first place. Members urged the allocation of sufficient funding to clean up all types of plastic-derived pollutants.
Members stressed that fishers should be adequately trained on how to handle marine waste properly during collection, landing, disposal and delivery for recycling in order to minimise the health and safety risks.
Member States are urged, in this regard, to establish a ‘special fund for cleaning the seas’, managed through the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) or other relevant budget lines, in order to finance the following actions: (1) the collection at sea by fishers of marine litter, (2) the provision of adequate on-board waste storage facilities and the monitoring of passively fished litter, (3) improvements in operator training, (4) the financing of the costs of both waste treatment and the personnel required for the operation of such programmes to avoid the increase in costs for fishers who participate voluntarily, and (5) investments in ports so that appropriate reception and storage facilities can be provided for the lost fishing gear and marine waste collected.
Documents
2021/02/22
EP - Vote in committee
2020/11/13
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2020/10/06
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2020/01/09
EP - CHABAUD Catherine (Renew) appointed as rapporteur in PECH
2019/12/19
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
Documents
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2021)345
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T9-0096/2021
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A9-0030/2021
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE660.312
- Committee draft report: PE658.857
- Committee draft report: PE658.857
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE660.312
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2021)345
Activities
- Heidi HAUTALA
Plenary Speeches (3)
- Catherine CHABAUD
Plenary Speeches (1)
Votes
Les effets des déchets marins sur la pêche - Impact on fisheries of marine litter - Auswirkungen von Abfällen im Meer auf die Fischerei - A9-0030/2021 - Catherine Chabaud - Vote unique #
2021/03/25 Outcome: +: 646, 0: 39, -: 3
PPE
The Left
NI| Amendments | Dossier |
| 233 |
2019/2160(INI)
2020/11/13
PECH
233 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 10 a (new) - having regard to the 2005 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report entitled "Marine Litter - An analytical overview";
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to support a new UN treaty on marine plastic pollution, including effective global governance of lost fishing gear, or 'ghost gear';
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Stresses the need to foster inclusive solutions and dialogue between the representatives of all categories affected by the problem of marine waste; stresses, further, the need to strengthen the bottom-up approach, promoting practical solutions for workers in the fishing sector, with a view to ensuring more effective implementation of the rules;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Calls on the Commission to extend the MSFD to the outermost regions;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 d (new) 1d. Calls on the Commission, in the context of the Regulation on port services, to present implementing acts laying down eligibility criteria for a reduced charge for ‘green ships’, and methodological criteria for calculating the volume and quantity of passively caught waste, so that the marine waste reduction targets, as laid down by the Directive, can be quickly implemented;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 e (new) 1e. Calls for the framework of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive to be improved so that it takes account of the spatial dimension of the fight against marine waste;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to champion an ambitious governance model in international UN negotiations on marine biodiversity
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to champion an ambitious governance model in international UN negotiations on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions and to recognise all the oceans and seas as common g
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to champion an ambitious governance model in international UN negotiations on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions and to recognise the ocean as a common good, with a view to adopting a new approach that prioritises individual and collective responsibilities over the traditional principles of freedom and sovereign rights, as laid down in the Law of the Sea, and thus ensures that the sea is protected also from the detrimental impact of marine litter;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 10 a (new) — having regard to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) adopted in 1973 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO),
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to champion an ambitious governance model in international UN negotiations on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions and to recognise the seas and oceans as a common good, with a view to adopting a new approach that prioritises individual and collective responsibilities over the traditional principles of freedom and sovereign rights, as laid down in the Law of the Sea, and thus ensures that the sea is protected;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to champion an ambitious governance model in international UN negotiations on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions and to recognise the
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Emphasises that Resolution 11 of the UN Environment Assembly of the UN Environment Programme of 23- 27 May 2016 recognised that the presence of plastic litter and microplastics in the marine environment is an issue of global concern that is rapidly becoming more and more worrying and that needs an urgent global response that incorporates a product life-cycle approach;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the European Union to reinforce international initiatives such as the Global Partnership on Marine Litter, launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 14, ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Urges the Commission and the Member States to develop an ambitious European policy to protect the seas and oceans that is consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations in 2015, in particular SDG 14 on life below water and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Stresses the importance of continuing and stepping up the fight against IUU fishing, fisheries control and penalties for associated criminal practices, given that intrinsically polluting and illegal activities contribute to the deterioration of the marine environment;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to coordinate on the basis of a single timetable their work on laws such as the marine strategy framework directive, the water framework directive, the directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, the directive on port reception facilities and the framework directive for maritime planning, with a view to making legislation in this area more consistent and avoiding adding layers of regulation that could complicate the legal framework for action;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to coordinate on the basis of a single timetable their work on laws such as the marine strategy framework directive,
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new) (1) Calls on the Commission to ensure greater cooperation with third countries to ensure that those carrying out marine activities comply with the legislative framework;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to set up working tables involving all of the stakeholders to promote sharing of best practices for preventing, managing and disposing of marine litter and monitoring the application of the directives and regulations on waste management and treatment, with a view to ensuring continuous exchange of information to support the preparation and updating of the relevant rules;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 a (new) - having regard to the October 2020 report by the European Environmental Agency entitled "State of nature in the EU - Results from reporting under the nature directives 2013-2018",
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to consider the application of progressive taxes on all plastic materials used by the fisheries industry, thus reducing the industry’s impulses on the unhindered use of plastics in manufacture and packaging; simultaneously promoting fiscal incentives or tax rebates for manufacturers, suppliers and retailers developing and implementing zero waste transition activities;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to lead efforts towards an ambitious legally binding agreement on plastic pollution at the United Nations Environment Assembly covering the full lifecycle of plastics, including shared global objectives for the reduction of plastic pollution and a vision for a transition to a safe, circular economy for plastics;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to better combat Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, which contributes to marine litter, ‘ghost gear’ and the destruction of the marine environment;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Urges the Member States to implement, promptly and without delays, the Directive 2019/833, of 17 April 2019, on Port Reception Facilities for the Delivery of Waste from Ships;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Calls on the Commission and Member States to prioritise the protection of the marine environment from marine litter by increasing the number of Marine Protected Areas to at least 30% of EU waters as provided for under the Biodiversity Strategy;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Calls for the data collected by Member States on the loss, marketing and collection of fishing gear to be recorded in a database at national or sea-basin level and harmonised in a single report to make it easier to identify and tackle marine waste and ensure better monitoring and better assessment at European level;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Calls on all other relevant stakeholders, namely the Fisheries Advisory Councils (ACs), to support the reduction of marine waste with effective and efficient measures. Call on the EC and Member States to adopt the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for the Marking of Fishing Gear to promote responsible fishing gear management, improve efforts to identify lost gear and support the sustainability of fisheries through the reduction of abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear, also in line with the provisions of the EU Fisheries Control Regulation. Calls on the Commission to support efforts to operationalise the marking and reporting of lost fishing gear in European waters and through efforts at the International Maritime Organization boost international cooperation to reduce this source of marine plastic pollution;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase the exchange of good practices for tackling marine waste; welcomes initiatives such as the ‘Plan Marlimpo’ (Clean Sea project) implemented by the Galician Government’s Ministry of the Sea (Spain), which aims to reduce the amount of waste in coastal areas and encourage the fisheries sector to incorporate good practices in order to help protect the marine environment and therefore ensure the sustainable exploitation of its resources;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Encourages the establishment of cooperation networks between the governments of the Member States, fishermen’s associations, waste water bodies, coastal stakeholders, ports, NGOs and regional conventions in order to facilitate cooperation between stakeholders and ensure the implementation of good practices in certain areas such as collection operations and recycling;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses that in order to improve and enhance the effectiveness of the legislative framework and governance relating to the collection, disposal and recycling of marine waste, it is essential to proceed with and broaden awareness raising, prevention and training projects aimed at those working in the fishing sector, thereby promoting greater involvement in those issues;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 a (new) - having regard to the Barcelona Convention for Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, which was signed in 1976 and entered into force in 1978,
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Highlights the lack of efficiency of the European Liability Directive (ELD) for marine litters including difficulties such as identifying the polluter and assigning responsibility, as well as its restricted scope, recalls that the European Parliament called for are vision of the ELD that would take into account the limits to its effectiveness;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Points out that marine protected areas can act as excellent laboratories for the implementation of solutions to tackle marine waste, by taking account of interactions between activities on land and those at sea and by supporting cooperation between the various maritime and land-based stakeholders with regard to the challenges facing marine and coastal ecosystems;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Urges the Commission to step up the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, given the extent of the phenomenon, including the generation of marine waste;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Calls on the European Commission and on Member States to better implement the polluter-pays principle;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to play a major role in the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to play a major role in the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science and to support digitisation and the use of artificial intelligence with a view to improving our understanding of the oceans and
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to play a major role in the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science and to support digitisation and the use of artificial intelligence with a view to improving our understanding of the seas and oceans and our impact on them;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Urges the Commission to play a major role in the UN’s Decade of Ocean Science and to support digitisation and the use of artificial intelligence with a view to improving our understanding of the
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Urges the
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up research and data collection on the impact of marine waste on fisheries and ecosystems and the impact of
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 13 a (new) - having regard to the results of the ‘Tackling marine litter in the Atlantic Area (CleanAtlantic)’ project, financed by the EU’s Interreg Atlantic Area Programme2a, _________________ 2a http://www.cleanatlantic.eu/results/.
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to step up research and data collection on the impact of marine waste on fisheries and ecosystems and the impact of nano- and microplastics on both fishery resources and human health; calls, further, on the Commission to conduct an assessment of the social and economic contribution of fishermen through ‘Fishing for Litter’ projects, with a view to quantifying more accurately the contribution of the fisheries sector to action for cleaner seas;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to step up research and data collection on the impact of marine waste on fisheries and ecosystems and the impact of nano- and microplastics on both fishery resources and human health, by significantly increasing European research grants;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to step up research and data collection on the impact of marine waste on fisheries and ecosystems and to introduce robust measures to address and prevent the impact of nano- and microplastics on both fishery resources and human health;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Commission to step up research and data collection on the impact of marine waste on fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystems and the impact of nano- and microplastics on both fishery resources and human health;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses that the shortage of available data and studies makes it difficult to quantify the exact extent to which damage caused by marine litter is affecting the fisheries sector and its negative economic consequences for fishermen; calls, therefore, on the Commission to increase collection of data on the amount and type of litter in European waters and its effect on fishing, increasing, too, the collection of data on the amount of waste landed, disposed of and delivered for recycling;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support research into not only the use of biodegradable fishing gear but also other sources of pollution of the sea with plastics and microplastics;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Points out that the directive on single-use plastics concerns waste commonly found on beaches; urges the Commission to
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Points out that the directive on single-use plastics concerns waste commonly found on beaches; urges the Commission to step up existing measures on single-use plastics, drawing, in particular, on work to be done on waste in the water column and on sea beds as part of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Points out that the directive on single-use plastics concerns waste commonly found on beaches; urges the Commission to step up existing measures on single-use plastics, drawing, in particular, on work to be done on waste in the water column and on sea beds as part of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 31 a (new) - having regard to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations Voluntary Guidelines for the Marking of Fishing Gear, adopted by the Committee on Fisheries, July 2018,
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Points out that, in the absence of a definition of biodegradability, care must be taken when labelling and recovering certain products as some members of the public may end up being less careful in the management of their waste, given that a recent study by the University of Plymouth has shown that bags labelled as ‘biodegradable’ have been found virtually intact in the marine environment several years after being discarded;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls for information on the loss of fishing gear at sea to be put to more effective use when it comes to tackling marine pollution through improved data- sharing among Member States and EU agencies
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls for information on the loss of fishing gear at sea to be put to more effective use when it comes to tackling marine pollution through improved data- sharing among Member States and EU agencies, and for this information to be used to develop new tools for identifying and tracking fishing gear lost at sea; considers that this information must be provided to environmental protection associations in a transparent manner to help them in their work of analysing and assessing marine waste;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls for information on the loss of fishing gear at sea to be put to more effective use when it comes to tackling marine pollution through improved data- sharing among Member States, the Commission and EU agencies, and for this information to be used to develop new tools for identifying and tracking fishing gear lost at sea without, however, creating a financial burden on fisheries and aquaculture operators;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Calls for information on the loss of fishing gear at sea to be put to more effective use when it comes to tackling marine pollution through improved data- sharing and exchange of best practices among Member States and EU agencies, and for this information to be used to develop new tools for identifying and tracking fishing gear lost at sea;
Amendment 156 #
8a. Stresses the need for annual mapping of marine waste collected through the ‘Fishing For Litter’ programme in relation to the various catchment basins with a view to obtaining information on the origin of the marine litter caught and strengthening campaigns for selective collection;stresses that this must be linked to existing mapping efforts; urges the Commission to draw up an annual report on the amount of marine waste landed in ports through the FFL programme, including the volumes, materials and types of items caught;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Welcomes the implementation of European projects such as ‘CleanAtlantic’, financed by the EU’s Interreg Atlantic Area Programme, which aims to improve knowledge and capabilities to monitor, prevent and reduce marine litter, and to increase awareness of its impact; urges the 19 project partners, from Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal, and in particular the project coordinator, the Centro Tecnológico del Mar (Cetmar), to continue their work and publish the project results;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. To ensure better information on the marine litter landed in ports, i.e. get a better overview of the amounts of different kinds of waste and their recyclability, ports should be key collaborative partners responsible for the handling of waste and ensuring possible reuse of fishing gear.
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 b (new) 8b. A properly managed logistics around waste and end-of-use gear collection should be ensured to assist the fishers in their largely voluntary endeavours. This includes unified collection of the gear on board vessels in bags or containers, and provision of adequate facilities in the ports.
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 31 b (new) - having regard to the International Maritime Organization Action Plan to address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships,
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that reducing the impact of marine waste is contingent on improvements to the circular economy on land, and on the adoption of a life-cycle approach in the fisheries sector; underlines that the circular economy in the fisheries sector must be developed through greater support for solution finding, smart design of fishing gear and innovation in fishing and aquaculture techniques in order to limit waste dumping, make collection operations more attractive and increase the development of efficient recycling channels;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that reducing the impact of marine waste is contingent on improvements to the circular economy on land, including through removing from the market unnecessary plastics and packaging and on the adoption of a life- cycle approach in the fisheries sector;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that reducing the impact of marine waste is contingent on improvements to the circular economy on land, transforming waste into resources, and on the adoption of a life-cycle approach in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that reducing the impact of marine waste is contingent on improvements to the circular economy on land, and on the adoption of a
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for the eco-design of fishing gear to be supported through the swift adoption of guidelines on the development of harmonised standards for a circular economy for fishing gear;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for the eco-design of fishing gear to be supported through the swift adoption of guidelines on the development of harmonised standards for a circular economy for fishing gear; supports the marking of materials used in fishing gear by means of product passports; supports the promotion of research and innovation
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for the eco-design of fishing gear, which should be practical, safe and cost-effective, to be supported through the swift adoption of guidelines on the development of harmonised standards for a circular economy for fishing gear; supports the marking of materials used in fishing gear by means of product passports; supports the promotion of research and innovation seeking to simplify the materials used in
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for the eco-design of fishing gear to be supported through the swift adoption of guidelines on the development of harmonised standards for a circular economy for fishing gear; supports the marking of materials used in fishing gear and of finished products by means of product passports to be applied to all imported equipment, too; supports the promotion of research and innovation seeking to simplify the materials used in fishing gear, including polymers;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Stresses the importance of strengthening cooperation and promoting synergies with start-ups and private initiatives involved in the eco-design and recycling of fishing gear; stresses, further, the need to strengthen a model for synergy between the fisheries and research areas; urges the Commission, therefore, to organise future projects for the circular economy for fishing gear in relation to existing EU funding programmes for research and innovation;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Calls the use of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the support of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the transition to more sustainable materials, including the acquisition of new technically more efficient and less polluting vessels for small-scale artisanal fleets, in particular in the Outermost Regions;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 31 c (new) - having regard to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) - Annex V, entering into force 31 December 1988,
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Stresses the importance of promoting dialogue between the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and businesses manufacturing environmentally friendly gear, with a view to involving them in the design of such gear;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Urges the Commission to set an appropriate, ambitious and binding European target for both the collection and recycling of fishing gear;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) 10b. Urges the Commission to create incentives for the circular economy throughout the production chain for fishing and aquaculture gear, promoting research and supporting businesses that recycle and reuse gear; calls on the Commission, therefore, to create a specific fund to support Member States that establish production chains for recycled and environmentally friendly gear, using resources such as those from the NextGenerationEU instrument and from tax penalties following infringement proceedings against the Member States;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) 10b. Stresses that in order to accelerate the development of the circular economy in the fishing and aquaculture sector, it is essential to plan future legislative solutions to the problem of marine waste collection and disposal in conjunction with the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 c (new) 10c. Stresses that it is essential, as regards the circular economy for fishing gear, to fully involve fishermen and other fisheries operators in the fishing sector when identifying new materials and designing new fishing gear;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Supports the development of efficient recycling channels
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Supports the development, and the creation where necessary, of efficient recycling channels through the upgrading of reception facilities at all European ports with a view to improving selective waste sorting; calls for collection operations to be made more attractive by taking measures to support fishermen and aquaculture producers that bring their end-
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Supports the development of efficient recycling channels through the upgrading of reception facilities at European ports with a view to improving selective waste sorting; calls for collection operations to be made more attractive by taking measures to support sea fishermen and aquaculture producers that bring their end-
Amendment 179 #
11a. Pilot projects to explore reduction of materials, easier and faster disassembly and testing of gear functionality may be established to aid the (gradual) transition
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 31 d (new) - having regard to the European Council Conclusions addressing the formulation of an international agreement on plastic pollution, published 19 November 2019,
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Stresses that very few Member Sates have used resources within the framework of the current EMFF to fund ‘Fishing For Litter’ actions, the total contribution amounting to only a small percentage of all of the measures implemented or envisaged in the 2014- 2020 period to support the EU fishing fleet; stresses, further, that for the present the activity of collecting marine litter consists almost exclusively of largely voluntary initiatives and programmes, for the most part privately funded; calls therefore on the Commission to step up identification, sharing and promotion of best practices with a view to encouraging the adoption FFL programmes in a greater number of Member States;
Amendment 181 #
11a. Stresses that in order to reduce waste from fishing vessels, fishermen needs to be incentivised to bring waste to recycling facilities. Notes therefore that fishermen should be compensated for recycling or at minimum have access to free disposal of waste at harbour facilities.
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 4 Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to draw up an EU-level action plan to combat littering so that the pollution of rivers and water courses can be drastically reduced in a coordinated manner; calls for the run-off of snow from roads and pavements directly into the ocean to be minimised, in particular by supporting alternative collection methods during exceptionally heavy snowfall;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to draw up an EU-level action plan to combat littering; urges the Commission to present an action plan to tackle the mountains of litter along Europe’s coastlines;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to draw up an EU-level action plan to combat marine littering by reducing waste at its source, and cut down plastic use and consumption;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to draw up an EU-level action plan to combat littering in Union seas;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Stresses how strengthening and extending existing good practices also involves simplification and streamlining of administrative processes for all vessels participating in ‘Fishing for Litter’ campaigns, regardless of their home port or size; stresses, therefore, the need for harmonisation and a more complementary approach to the rules on landing of marine waste collected during FFL actions in Member State ports;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Stresses that waste water networks and treatment plants must be upgraded in order to reduce the impact on aquaculture and the marine and coastal environment in general, particularly the risks of aquaculture products being contaminated;
Amendment 19 #
- having regard to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (Barcelona Convention),
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Stresses that it is essential to address the issue of poor management of waste on land, primarily inappropriate waste disposal in coastal cities, cities built along rivers and island cities;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 b (new) 12b. Calls on the Commission to increase the awareness of maritime operators in all their potential interactions with the marine environment, in particular during the sale or leasing of ships;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13 Urges the Member States to take action to clear up areas in rivers and estuaries where marine waste has accumulated; urges, further, the Member States to establish a ‘special fund for cleaning the seas’, managed through the EMFF or other relevant budget lines, in order to support collection of marine litter by fishing vessels, ensure provision of adequate on-board waste storage facilities and monitoring of passively fished litter, improve operator training, promote voluntary participation in initiatives for collection of sea litter, and cover the costs of both waste treatment and the personnel required for the operation of such programmes;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Urges the Member States to collect data and monitor, to take action to clear up areas in rivers and estuaries where marine waste has accumulated and to introduce legal measures for marine waste not to reach the environment in the first place;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Urges the Member States and regions to take action to clear up areas in rivers and estuaries where marine waste has accumulated;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Stresses the importance of involving coastal communities and fishermen in the fight against marine litter to ensure an effective approach that takes account of the special characteristics of local communities;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that the
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that the role of fishermen in voluntary collection programmes which
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that the role of fishermen in voluntary collection programmes which make it possible to identify, collect and recycle marine waste, such as the ‘Fish for Litter’ programme must be promoted and supported; reiterates that the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) must provide support to compensate for the collection at sea by fishermen of lost fishing gear or other marine waste, particularly plastics, and to invest in ports so that appropriate reception and storage facilities can be provided for lost fishing gear and marine waste that is collected;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 2 Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 32 b (new) - having regard to the Regional Plan for Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean,
Amendment 200 #
14. Stresses that only seven Member States have used the European Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for marine waste active collection programmes, and that the role of fishermen in voluntary collection programmes which make it possible to identify, collect and recycle marine waste, such as the ‘Fish for Litter’ programme must be promoted and supported;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that the role of fishermen in voluntary collection programmes which make it possible to identify, collect and recycle marine waste, such as the ‘Fish for Litter’ programme must be promoted and supported, using Community funds to incentivise investment for such purposes;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that the role of fisher
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that the role of fishermen in voluntary collection programmes which make it possible to identify, collect and recycle marine waste, such as the ‘Fish for Litter’ programme must be promoted, financially incentivised and supported;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Stresses that the role of fishermen in voluntary collection programmes which make it possible to identify, collect and recycle marine waste, such as the ‘Fishing for Litter’ programme must be promoted and supported;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Calls on the Commission to act on the recommendations made by Mission Starfish 2030 on tackling marine waste, and in particular to assess the proposal for the marking of fishing gear, using new geolocation technologies, in order to help locate and collect lost gear;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Urges the Commission to go beyond the aims of Directive (EU) 2019/883, studying and quantifying in economic terms the environmental damage caused by man-made marine waste and setting up a ‘Marine Litter Fund’ to combat discharges of waste into the sea, mitigate damage to fisheries, and protect the seas and oceans.
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Calls on the Commission to urge the Member States to create incentives for fishermen involved in the collection of marine litter, including tax credits and a reduction of the indirect fee under Article 8 of Directive (EU) 2019/883, in recognition of their service;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Encourage, through financial support or material supply, fishermen in the collection of marine waste, avoiding the increase in costs for those who voluntarily do so;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Fishing harbours should be discouraged to charge for disposal of litter brought to shore by fishers, as this would pose a counter-incentive to fishers.
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital -A (new) -A. whereas only a clean, healthy, productive and biologically diverse coastal and marine environment can meet the long-term needs of people in general and fishermen, shellfish gatherers and fishing communities in particular;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Points out that the accidental collection of waste by fishing vessels is excluded from the cost recovery system;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 b (new) 14b. Calls on the Commission to urge the Member States to ensure proper management and adequate disposal of waste accidentally caught or collected during voluntary campaigns, so that responsibility for and costs of delivery, management and disposal of such waste are not borne by the fishermen, and to avoid further damage to the environment; stresses, therefore, the need to establish effective systems for waste collection and disposal, ensuring, too, the presence of adequate port waste reception facilities;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 b (new) Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 b (new) 14b. There is a market for recycled material from fishing gear, which provides a potential to make the use of recyclable materials a legal requirement. Together with the EMFF provisions on the programming for support under shared management, this is an important incentive for the fishers and a way to see the value of their contribution to recycling.
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Points out that, in order to be more effective, tackling marine waste must be a joint effort with European neighbourhood countries; Calls on the Commission to put an end as soon as possible to the exporting of waste to third countries;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Points out that tackling marine waste must be a joint effort with European neighbourhood countries and countries outside Europe, as in the case of the outermost regions; Calls on the Commission to put an end to the exporting of waste to third countries;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Recalls that marine litter is transboundary; Points out that tackling marine waste must be a joint effort with European neighbourhood countries; Calls on the Commission to put an end to the exporting of waste to third countries;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Suggests that the Member States should put pressure on European neighbourhood countries, particularly around the Mediterranean, to end their policy of waste dumping; considers that it is not right for such countries to receive EU funding without solving this problem and, therefore, that a list of non- cooperative countries in the fight against marine waste should be drawn up so that the necessary financial measures can be taken;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Due to its natural vulnerability, calls on the Commission to create a support mechanism for the collection of marine litter in the outermost regions, providing these regions with infrastructure for their cycling of collected waste;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to step up cooperation within the framework of specific programmes under regional conventions for the protection of seas and to provide adequate resources to tackle the issue of marine waste;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital -A (new) -A. whereas the best way to reduce the amount of marine plastic waste is to reduce and avoid its production and shift towards recycling and reusing material and products;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. International discussion on circularity should be encouraged featuring all stakeholders, including fishers, and especially, the rope and netting manufacturers from third countries.
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 b (new) 15b. Expresses its deep concern about the increasing deoxygenation of the oceans and the expansion of ‘dead zones’ at sea; points out that the surface area of such ‘dead zones’ at sea has increased tenfold since 1950 and that, in 50 years, the oceans have lost 77 billion tonnes of oxygen; points with concern to the severe deterioration in marine biodiversity caused by this phenomenon and its significant socioeconomic impact on local small-scale fisheries;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 b (new) 15b. Recalls that the issue of marine waste cannot be tackled effectively at national level alone but requires cooperation at all levels, including global, European and regional level;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 c (new) 15c. Urges the Commission to combat this expansion of ‘dead zones’ in the oceans by drastically reducing the quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus released into the oceans through the further development of organic farming and by tackling the high concentration of aquaculture farms;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 c (new) 15c. Calls on the Commission, in the EU accession negotiations, to demand full implementation of waste management legislation in candidate countries, including through the establishment of integrated waste management infrastructure;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 d (new) 15d. Urges the Commission, given the extent of the pollution caused by cigarette butts and their toxicity, to revise Directive (EU) 2019/904 and end the special rules for the tobacco industry concerning extended producer responsibility; requires the Commission to introduce a ban on cigarette filters in due course as it has not been proven that they have a positive effect on smokers’ health;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Stresses that
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Stresses that little is known about
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Stresses that little is known about nano- and microplastic pollution and its effect on the environment and on human health; points out that this lack of knowledge may make consumers distrustful of the quality of fisheries and aquaculture products, and that scientific research is needed to better understand this pollution phenomenon;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the marine waste visible on beaches, along coastlines, in coastal areas and on the surface of open bodies of water represents only a fraction of a much further reaching pollution phenomenon
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote campaigns to raise awareness of the issue of marine pollution caused by plastics and microplastics, underlining the fact that fishermen are also often affected by this phenomenon, especially in the case of microplastics;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Welcomes the preparatory work done by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on restrictions on microplastics intentionally added to products; Calls on the Commission to be ambitious in following up this proposal,
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Welcomes the preparatory work done by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on restrictions on microplastics intentionally added to products; Calls on
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Calls on the Commission to tackle the problem of the loss and spread of microplastics, such as plastic pellets, in the environment throughout the supply chain, especially during land or sea transport, and the associated risks of spillage;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the marine waste visible on beaches and on the surface of open bodies of water represents only a fraction of a much further reaching pollution phenomenon; whereas this waste stems from activities on land
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the marine waste visible on beaches and on the surface of open bodies of water represents only a fraction of a much further reaching pollution phenomenon; whereas this waste stems from activities on land but also at sea, and ranges from nanoplastics to containers lost at sea, from wrecks of semi-sunken vessels to waste that is potentially very hazardous to fishermen and the quality of their catches, such as explosives or other war debris;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the marine waste visible on beaches and on the surface of open bodies of water represents only a fraction of a much further reaching pollution phenomenon; whereas this waste
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the marine waste visible on beaches and on the surface of open bodies of water represents only a fraction of a much further reaching pollution phenomenon; whereas this waste stems from activities on land (80%) but also at sea, and ranges from nanoplastics to containers lost at sea;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the world ocean is a continuous body of water, whereas its good environmental status is vital to ensuring its resilience and its continued provision of ecosystem services such as CO2 absorption and oxygen production, and whereas any change in marine and coastal ecosystems could diminish its role as a climate regulator;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas considerable amounts of marine waste are generated by the fishing industry, namely by the use and disposal or loss of containers and buoys made of plastic, in particular expanded polystyrene, also known as styrofoam;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 2 a (new) - having regard to its legislative resolution of 4 April 2019 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (COM(2018)0390 – C8-0270/2018 – 2018/0210(COD))2a, _________________ 2a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0343.
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the Mediterranean is an enclosed sea that is particularly vulnerable to marine waste and that should be the subject of intense and constant attention;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas marine waste has negative morphological effects, particularly on islands;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas marine waste means all waste that has intentionally or unintentionally entered the marine environment and that is identified by size (nano-, micro- and mega-waste) and nature (containers, bulky waste lying on the ocean floor, plastics, fishing gear, textile fibres, microplastics);
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A c (new) Ac. whereas marine waste is a global challenge as it knows no borders and is carried huge distances around the world by ocean currents; whereas, across the world, large quantities of waste are still being dumped directly into the sea; whereas a holistic approach must be taken to marine pollution by supporting action at all levels, from local level to international level;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A d (new) Ad. whereas the spread of marine waste around the world is affecting developing third countries, particularly coastal communities that depend on fishing and that do not necessarily have the capacity or means needed to effectively protect themselves;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A e (new) Ae. whereas marine waste particularly accumulates around small remote islands and in coastal areas, whereas the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories are host to 80% of Europe’s marine biodiversity, and whereas their economies are largely based on fishing and tourism;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A f (new) Af. whereas the pollution of the ocean by plastic marine waste, and particularly microplastics, is compounded by meteorological phenomena that enable microplastics to spread through the air, rain and snow and that result in the pollution of environments once regarded as virgin, such as high mountains or the Antarctic, and even beyond the Arctic Circle;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A g (new) Ag. whereas marine waste offers a surface to which many organisms or bacteria can cling, which facilitates the introduction of invasive species that can alter the balance of marine ecosystems, and whereas bacteria on marine waste can also be ingested by marine wildlife when it mistakes waste for food;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the problem of waste at sea is largely the result of poor management of waste on land,
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the problem of waste at sea is largely the result of poor management of waste on land, ranging from pollution of water courses and rivers and poor management of waste and waste water to littering
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 3 Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas the problem of waste at sea is
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas the COVID-19 crisis has shown how the poor management of waste on land can quickly lead to new waves of marine pollution, particularly due to the use of single-use products such as surgical masks and disposable gloves;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas 70% of the marine litter that enters the sea ends up on the seabed, and whereas half of the remaining amount is found on beaches and half is floating on the water surface;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas due to the effects of sea currents and wind, marine waste accumulates significantly in certain locations, with some coastal and island areas additionally burdened with marine waste;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas a substantial proportion of the plastics and microplastics in the sea comes from land-based sources;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas diffuse pollution, such as treated or untreated waste water, which can contain chemicals, or water that runs off or leaches from the urban or agricultural environment, threatens the marine environment with eutrophication due to the high concentration of nutrients, which can eventually starve sea beds of oxygen leading to the proliferation of ‘dead zones’, excessively increase the number of cyanobacteria, contribute to the phenomenon of green algae and red algae, and more extensively contaminate marine plants and wildlife;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas the volume of plastic in the sea also has a significant impact on fisheries, which is even greater and more costly where small-scale fishing is concerned;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B c (new) Bc. whereas poor management of waste water networks places aquaculture producers and oyster farmers at risk as the quality of their products can be threatened by the presence of viruses and bacteria such as the noroviruses, which can result in temporary bans on the sale and distribution of their products if they are no longer fit for consumption;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the presence of marine waste seriously undermines the
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 6 a (new) — having regard to the Commission report of 23 March 2020 on the implementation of the Commission Communication on a stronger and renewed strategic partnership with the EU’s outermost regions,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the presence of marine waste seriously undermines the resilience and productivity of marine ecosystems, particularly the most fragile, which are already facing many cumulative pressures, such as climate change; whereas it can also lead to the smothering of benthic organisms on sea beds and risks increasing disease due to the presence of pathogens;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the presence of marine waste seriously undermines the resilience and productivity of marine ecosystems, which are already facing many cumulative pressures, such as climate change; whereas industrial fishing, unregulated fishing and illegal fishing lead to the overexploitation and endangerment of protected fishery resources;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the presence of marine waste seriously undermines the resilience and productivity of marine ecosystems, which are already facing many cumulative pressures, such as climate change, pollution and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the presence of marine waste seriously undermines the resilience and productivity of marine ecosystems, which are already facing many cumulative pressures, such as climate change and biodiversity decline;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the European Union has already missed its biodiversity targets for 2020;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas marine waste poses a serious threat to a number of marine animal species, due to risks of strangulation, suffocation, ingestion, injury and contamination, some of which are already endangered or even critically endangered;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas marine waste poses a threat to a number of marine animal species, some of which are already endangered or even critically endangered, and therefore also poses a threat to the future of the fisheries sector in general;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas marine waste poses a threat to a number of marine animal species and other animal species like birds, some of which are already endangered or even critically endangered;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas fisheries themselves generate marine waste, both when fishing at sea (loss or discarding of towed nets, buoys and longlines) and in shellfish farming and aquaculture (pots, bags), which can be lost through negligence, during onboard repairs, or as a result of accidents or episodes of bad weather; whereas this can be the entire fishing gear or parts of the original gear;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas fish species already have the highest proportion of bad conservation status according to the EEA 2020 report;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas fishermen, particularly small-scale fishermen, and aquaculture producers are the first to feel the impact of marine waste, which puts their activities at risk, as this waste can act as an obstacle, get snarled up in fishing gear, damage gear and cause it to be lost, and block vessels’ engines and cooling systems,
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas fishermen
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas fishermen and aquaculture producers are the first to feel the impact of marine waste, which puts their activities at serious risk, as this waste can act as an obstacle, get snarled up in fishing gear, damage gear and cause it to be lost, block vessels’ engines and cooling systems, generate significant economic losses and pose a threat to the security of seafarers on ship;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas the impact of marine waste on the fisheries sector is felt more by small-scale fisheries than industrial fisheries, since smaller vessels are more vulnerable to damage by waste to their propellers, engines and fishing gear,and since marine litter is more concentrated in shallow marine waters, where most small- scale fishing takes place;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas, in addition to causing serious damage to fishing gear and aquaculture, forcing undertakings to waste precious time cleaning their gear, marine litter can also damage the catch to the point of making it unmarketable, causing further financial losses to fisheries and aquaculture businesses;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas marine waste can be carried by currents over long distances, and it can thus have negative effects on areas and sectors that are far from its point of origin and that are not responsible for its production;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas Article 48 of the Fisheries Control Regulation, which lays down measures for the retrieval of lost fishing gear, is a step in the right direction but is too limited in scope;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas fishing gear lost or abandoned at sea continues to fish for years, as shown by the phenomenon of ghost nets, and indiscriminately impacts all marine wildlife, including fish stocks;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E b (new) Eb. whereas ghost fishing occurs when lost or abandoned, non-biodegradable fishing nets, traps and lines catch, entangle, injure, starve and cause the death of marine life; whereas the phenomenon of ghost fishing is brought about by the loss and abandonment of fishing gear; whereas the Fisheries Control Regulation requires the mandatory marking of gear and the notification and retrieval of lost gear; whereas some fishermen therefore bring back to port, at their own initiative, lost nets retrieved from the sea;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E b (new) Eb. whereas the fisheries sector has for some time acted as a first line of defence against pollution caused by marine waste, although this is only a small contribution to tackling the problem on a global scale, fishermen and aquaculture producers having for some time played an active and proactive role in contributing to cleaner seas;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 6 b (new) - having regard to the Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E b (new) Eb. whereas the costs of disposing of marine waste are very often covered, while labour costs, costs deriving from lack of space aboard vessels, and costs relating to damage to fishing gear and engines are not covered;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E b (new) Eb. whereas marine waste also impacts the quality of catches, which can be contaminated by this waste;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E c (new) Ec. whereas an estimated 80% of marine litter is accounted for by plastic and microplastic, somewhere between 20% and 40% of plastic marine litter is linked in part to human activities at sea, including merchant and cruise ships, with the rest originating on land, and, according to a recent FAO study, roughly 10% comes from lost and abandoned fishing gear; whereas lost and abandoned fishing gear is one component of plastic marine litter and, given that an estimated 94% of the plastic entering the ocean ends up on the sea floor, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) needs to be used to ensure that fishermen become directly involved in fishing for marine litter schemes by being paid or offered other financial or material incentives;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas, by nature, fishing gear differs significantly depending on whether it is used as passive gear (gillnets, longlines, pots or creels, fish-aggregating devices) or active gear such as trawl nets, and has a different impact on the marine environment, and whereas fishing gear with the greatest impact should be gradually replaced by techniques that are more compatible with the marine environment;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas fishermen bring back to land litter accidentally caught while fishing and marine litter collection campaigns contribute to reducing the problem of marine waste while performing a service that benefits the entire community; whereas the costs of collecting, managing and disposing of the waste should therefore be borne by the whole community;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas it is estimated that up to 80% of fishermen would be prepared to take part in marine waste collection schemes if support mechanisms were established16a; _________________ 16ahttps://cetmar.org/resultados- cleanatlantic/.
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F b (new) Fb. whereas waste from fishing activities generally consists of hard- wearing, non-degradable and polymer- based synthetic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyamide, which, once collected, pose sorting and recycling challenges due to their mixed use in fishing gear and their purity, given that material exposed to UV and the marine environment deteriorates and becomes contaminated more quickly;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F c (new) Fc. whereas the challenges of designing, disassembling and recycling such materials must also take account of the requirements of technical measures associated with fishing gear under the common fisheries policy, so that there is no risk of a long-term change in the quality, durability and efficiency of gear or technical obligations such as mesh size;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas only 1.5%17 of fishing gear is recycled and whereas there is an urgent need to
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas only 1.5%17 of fishing gear is recycled and whereas there is an urgent
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 6 c (new) - having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 26 October 2017 on the application of Directive 2004/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage (the ‘ELD’) (2016/2251(INI)),
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas only 1.5%17 of fishing gear is recycled and whereas there is an urgent need to provide support for the collection, recycling and repair of
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Ga. whereas, according to the WHO, tobacco waste is the largest type of litter by count globally; whereas, according to the American NGO Ocean Conservancy, cigarette butts top the list of the 10 items most collected during international beach clean-up operations; whereas a single cigarette butt takes 12 years to degrade and contains nearly 4 000 chemical substances; whereas, for every cigarette butt that ends up in the oceans and rivers, 500 litres of water are polluted;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Ga. whereas fishermen and aquaculture producers cannot be expected to collect marine waste without a compensation mechanism tailored to their efforts;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Ga. Whereas coastal areas, in particular islands and European Outermost Regions, are the ones that most experience the harmful effects of marine litter;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G b (new) Gb. whereas 730 tonnes of waste are dumped in the Mediterranean every day; whereas, according to a WWF report from June 2019, every year 11 200 tonnes of plastics dumped in the environment find their way into the Mediterranean; whereas the equivalent of 66 000 refuse collection trucks of plastic is dumped in the Mediterranean every year; whereas the microplastics in the Mediterranean are reaching record concentration levels, with 1.25 million fragments per km2; whereas small particles account for around 90% of all the plastic floating in the Mediterranean, which means around 280 billion fragments of floating microplastics; whereas an average consumer of Mediterranean shellfish ingests on average 11 000 fragments of plastic every year; whereas the Mediterranean is therefore one of the most polluted seas in the world;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G b (new) Gb. whereas the blue economy, which is expected to double by 2030, represents a real opportunity for the sustainable development of maritime and coastal activities, particularly through the development of infrastructure with a positive impact, such as artificial reefs and other innovations encouraging the reef effect and the reserve effect, which can help to restore ecosystems;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G b (new) Gb. whereas illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing is recognised as one of the main sources of ‘ghost gear’;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G c (new) Gc. whereas ocean deoxygenation is increasing; whereas the surface area of ‘dead zones’ caused by this phenomenon has increased tenfold since 1950; whereas, in 50 years, the oceans have lost 77 billion tonnes of oxygen; whereas the impact on marine biodiversity and local small-scale fisheries is devastating; whereas this phenomenon is mainly due to the massive discharges of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and the high concentrations of aquaculture farms in coastal areas;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G c (new) Gc. whereas fishing activity largely takes place in coastal areas, whereas the European Union is trying to promote an integrated approach to marine activities and whereas marine waste must be tackled by taking greater account of the spatial dimension of maritime and coastal activities;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 9 — having regard to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G d (new) Gd. whereas the deterioration of marine and coastal ecosystems poses a risk to all economic operators in coastal areas and therefore threatens the sustainability, durability and attractiveness of coastal communities;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G e (new) Ge. whereas fishermen and their associations are already working to collect waste and solutions for recovering marine waste, particularly waste from fishing, already exist;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 1 Improving the legislative framework and governance on marine litter and making them more effective
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the need to revise the EU’s integrated maritime policy with a view to establishing a strategic framework on marine litter that incorporates all marine environment laws;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Stresses the need to revise the EU’s integrated maritime policy with a view to establishing a strategic framework that incorporates all waste and marine environment laws;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the need to strengthen communication and coordination between the Member States and between sea basins so as to ensure an integrated approach allowing fishing vessels to land marine waste in any Union port;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Points out that the maritime vision urgently needs to be reinforced in the European Union’s new strategies, particularly the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy and the Farm to Fork Strategy;
source: 660.312
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