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.