Conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)

2020/0095(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 674 votes to 2, with 17 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the Regulation (EU) 2019/833 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation

As a reminder, the proposal aims to transpose into EU law the amendments to the conservation and enforcement measures (CEMs) adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) at its 41st and 42nd annual meetings held in 2019 and 2020 respectively. These new ECMs are binding on all NAFO Contracting Parties.

The European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure:

- specifies the control measures that will apply to vessels with more than 1250 kg of cod catches from Division 3M on board. Each Member State will inspect vessels with less than 1250 kg of cod of division 3M on board according to a risk management approach;

- stipulates that fishing vessels conducting a directed trawl fishery for cod in Division 3M shall use a sorting grid for the purpose of reducing the catches of smaller individuals of cod with a minimum bar spacing of 55 mm. The sorting grid shall be placed in the top side panel of the trawl preceding the codend;

- introduces area restrictions for bottom fishing activities applicable until 31 December 2021.

The Commission may adopt delegated acts as regards the regulation of mesh sizes, sorting grids and toggle chains for the Northern prawn fishery, and as regards area restrictions for the bottom fishing activities.