52000AC0082

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean and for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms"

(2000/C 75/04)

On 18 January 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 12 January 2000. The rapporteur was Mr E. Chagas.

At its 369th plenary session (meeting of 26 January 2000), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 113 votes to 1 with 3 abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1. In Regulation (EC) 1626/94(1) and Regulation (EC) 850/98(2), the Council adopted a number of technical measures to protect fishery resources in the Mediterranean and juveniles of marine organisms.

1.2. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) has recommended certain technical measures, as a consequence of which the Community, as a member of the organisation and bound by its recommendations, must amend the regulations in question.

2. General comments

2.1. The Committee approves the proposal.

2.2. The purpose of this fourth amendment is to prohibit the landing of bluefin tuna of age 0 weighing less than 3,2 kg, instead of the previous 1,8 kg, in accordance with the scientific recommendation adopted by the 11th extraordinary session of the ICCAT.

2.2.1. The draft amendment also proposes new wording for Article 3a, paragraph 1, of Regulation 1626/94, modifying the current periods in which Community fishing with encircling nets (purse seines) in the Mediterranean is forbidden.

2.2.2. This measure has also been adopted by the General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean (GFCM). It is therefore hoped that all the third countries operating in the Mediterranean will comply with these prohibition periods, in order to prevent excessive pressure on bluefin tuna.

Brussels, 26 January 2000.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli

(1) OJ L 171, 6.7.1994, as last amended by Regulation 782/98, in OJ L 113.

(2) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.