ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's decision of Friday to declare a protected fishing and ecological zone in the Adriatic Sea, to go into force within a year's time from its declaration, has met with negative reactions in
the EU, Italy and Slovenia, although protected fishing zones are what the European Commission has recommended that Mediterranean countries introduce to protect fish stocks threatened by overfishing.
ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's decision of Friday
to declare a protected fishing and ecological zone in the Adriatic
Sea, to go into force within a year's time from its declaration, has
met with negative reactions in the EU, Italy and Slovenia, although
protected fishing zones are what the European Commission has
recommended that Mediterranean countries introduce to protect fish
stocks threatened by overfishing. #L#
As part of the reform of its Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the
European Commission in October 2002 adopted an action plan for the
protection and sustainable use of fish stocks in the
Mediterranean.
The most important measure proposed in the plan is development of a
concerted approach to expansion of jurisdiction in the open sea.
Other measures are related to prevention of overfishing,
introduction of fishing quotas, improvement of fishing techniques
to reduce the adverse impact on stocks and the marine ecosystem,
improvement of control and implementation of laws, as well as a
greater role of scientific research.
It is also noted in the action plan that the current situation
regarding the proclamation of exclusive economic zones or
protected fishing zones in the Mediterranean is very
inconsistent.
Only one EU member, Spain, has proclaimed a protected 49-nautical
mile-wide fishing zone, while Malta, a future member, has declared
an exclusive 25-nm-wide fishing zone.
In March this year France proclaimed an ecological zone. Although
the EC does not advocate such zones, it does attach great importance
to the environmental protection of the Mediterranean.
Under the action plan, the declaration of a protected fishing zone
with the width of up to 200 miles can significantly contribute to
the promotion of fisheries management, since EU member-countries'
fleets catch 95 percent of fish within 50 nautical miles from the
Mediterranean coastline.
It is also noted that protected fishing zones would facilitate
control and contribute to fighting illegal and unregulated
fishing. It is estimated that the proclamation of protected fishing
zones would be most efficient with a harmonised approach of EU
member-countries and other countries in the region.
Unlike economic zones, protected fishing zones refer exclusively
to jurisdiction over fish stocks, without affecting other segments
of jurisdiction, for example, over mineral resources and
navigation.
The advantages of proclaiming a protected fishing zone include the
implementability of techniques for fisheries management in a much
wider area, significant improvement of control and implementation
of laws, exclusion or control of some fleets (from the Far East)
currently fishing in the international waters of the
Mediterranean, and the prevention of illegal fishing.
The shortcomings include the danger of loss of some fishing areas
for EU vessels if non-member countries decide to follow the EU's
example. Croatia and Tunis are mentioned in the document in this
context. However, it is also noted that this problem can be overcome
with bilateral agreements on fishing.
The possibility of significant political difficulties in certain
areas and problems in determining the borders of protected fishing
zones in narrow areas of the Mediterranean is noted as well.
The EC has suggested adopting a concerted approach on the
declaration of protected fishing zones through debate among EU
members, to be followed by talks with candidate-countries, and with
all Mediterranean countries.
The final step would be a conference at which a joint approach to the
issue of protected fishing zones would be adopted.
Such a conference, dedicated to the sustainable development of
fishing in the Mediterranean, will be held in Venice on 25 and 26
November this year.
(hina) rml sb