26 Protection of deep-water coral reefs
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12448/03
COM(03) 519
| Draft Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 as regards the protection of deep-water coral reefs from the effects of trawling in an area north west of Scotland.
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| Legal base | Article 37 EC; consultation; QMV
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| Document originated | 27 August 2003
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| Deposited in Parliament | 19 September 2003
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| Department | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 30 September 2003
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | No date set
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
26.1 According to the Commission, deep-water coral reefs have
been identified as endangered habitats needing protection, and
have been designated as such both in the relevant Council Directive
(92/43/EEC)[53] and within
the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of
the North East Atlantic (the OSPAR Convention). One such set
of reefs off the north-west of Scotland — the "Darwin
Mounds" — has been identified as in need of protection
against erosion by fishing gear, and the UK has expressed its
intention to designate them as a special area of conservation
in fulfilment of its obligations under Directive 92/43/EEC.
The current proposal
26.2 The current proposal arises because the UK has asked the
Commission to use the emergency powers now available to it under
the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) by virtue of Regulation (EC)
No. 2371/2002[54] to
prohibit the use of those types of towed fishing gear which are
known to damage the mounds. The Commission adopted a Regulation
(1475/2003) in August which bans trawling on the seabed for a
period of six months. However, although this measure can be extended
for a further six months, the Commission recognises the need for
a longer-term solution, and has therefore proposed in this document
a permanent ban on bottom (demersal) trawling in the area in question.
The Government's view
26.3 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 30 September 2003, the Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State (Commons) at the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Mr Ben Bradshaw) says that the UK welcomes
the proposal as protecting an area of high conservation value.
He also points out that there is little fishing by UK vessels
in this area, so that the proposal should not give rise to any
additional costs to the industry, or impair its ability to take
its quota allocations, bearing in mind also that other types of
gear (such as pelagic trawls, long lines and purse seines) may
still be used. Similarly, any enforcement needed would be undertaken
within existing resources.
Conclusion
26.4 This proposal is as uncontentious as it is welcome, and,
in clearing it, we are simply drawing it to the attention of the
House as an example of a step being taken to further the process
of integrating environmental protection requirements into the
CFP.
53 OJ No. L.206, 22.7.92, p.7. Back
54
OJ No. L.358, 31.12.02, p.59. Back
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