The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Zdzisław Kazimierz CHMIELEWSKI (ALDE,PL) amending the proposed regulation establishing a multi-annual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks. The main amendments were as follows:
- the 10% reduction in fishing days proposed by the Commission in Article 8(3) should be brought down to 8%;
- a new Article states that, by way of derogation from the rules on minimum landing size for cod laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005, the minimum landing size for cod in Subdivisions 22 to 32 shall be 40 cm;
- the permitted margin of tolerance in estimating quantities in kilograms of fish subject to a TAC (Total Allowable Catches) that are retained on board vessels should be 10% of the logbook figure instead of 8%, as proposed by the Commission. Parliament inserted a 10% margin for catches which are landed unsorted;
- Parliament felt that the provisions laid down in Article 17(2), applicable to a vessel which exits from Area A, B or Subdivision 28-32 (Area C) with more than 100kg of cod on board, were unnecessarily complicated and stated instead that the vessel's master should immediately notify the appropriate fisheries inspectorate of the size of the catch in the Area the vessel has left;
- the cod weight limit in respect of which notification is required should be increased from 100 kg, as proposed by the Commission, to 300 kg;
- the Commission should evaluate the impact of the management measures on the cod stocks concerned and on the fisheries exploiting those stocks in the second year of the application of the proposed regulation and each second successive year of its application, and not in the third year, as originally proposed;
- lastly, a new Article 27a states that the Commission shall draft a report on the socio-economic impact of the application of the Regulation on the fisheries sector, particularly on employment and the economic situation of fishermen, shipowners and firms engaged in cod fishing and processing. The Commission shall produce this report in the second year of application of this Regulation and in each subsequent year of its application, for submission to the European Parliament by 30 April of the relevant year.