On the fisheries management approaches for safeguarding sensitive species, tackling invasive species and benefiting local economies
PECH-PR-769962
Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: André Rodrigues
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This draft report addresses safeguarding sensitive marine species, tackling invasive alien species (IAS), and benefiting local economies. It urges the Commission and Member States to prioritize conservation, improve IAS monitoring and management, and support coastal communities.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution urging the Commission and Member States to enhance conservation of sensitive species, improve IAS management, and support coastal communities through integrated, science-based approaches.¶¶¶
Key points
- Urges the Commission and Member States to promote fisheries management approaches that prioritize conservation of sensitive species, including implementing EU goals on marine protected areas and reinforcing protection of critical habitats.¶
- Calls for full use of CFP tools, especially technical measures, to address fisheries interactions and enhance protection of sensitive species; recalls importance of CFP data.¶¶
- Highlights the need to reinforce protection and recovery of sensitive species in all relevant legal proposals, extending beyond CFP.¶
- Regrets that the current list of species of Union concern includes only two marine species; calls for improvement based on scientific advice and risk assessments.¶
- Regrets lack of specific monitoring programmes for marine IAS; calls for improved monitoring methods, harmonised indicators, and increased technical and financial support.¶
- Recommends establishing threshold-setting methodology and values for all European marine regions, considering impact on fisheries, pathway manageability, and enforcement of Ballast Water Management Convention and hull fouling guidelines.¶
- Calls for a comprehensive strategy addressing links between IAS in land/freshwater and marine ecosystems; encourages use of horizon scanning, novel techniques, and citizen science.¶¶
- Calls on Member States to strengthen cooperation for rapid-response measures for early detection and eradication of marine IAS, and to manage widely spread species.¶
- Highlights the Mediterranean as a hotspot requiring particular attention; urges Member States to enhance the EASIN Notification System with additional information, including from fishers.¶¶
- Suggests EU reinforce international action via regional fisheries management organisations, CBD and GBF, and enhance knowledge sharing with other countries.¶
- Calls for awareness-raising campaigns and financial support for marine ecosystem protection, monitoring, and early warning systems for IAS at regional, national, and EU level.¶¶
- Calls for recognition of the importance of protecting sensitive species and combating IAS in outermost regions, highlighting potential of sustainable eco-tourism.¶
Who is affected
- The Commission and Member States are urged to implement measures for conservation and IAS management.¶¶¶
- Fishers and coastal communities are encouraged to contribute to monitoring and benefit from awareness campaigns and financial support.¶¶¶
- Outermost regions are highlighted as vulnerable to IAS and important for sensitive species, with potential for eco-tourism.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 12 423 alien species monitored by EASIN, of which 1 440 (11.6 %) are marine.¶
- 53 % of Europe's sea coastlines under pressure from IAS, with regional variation: 33 % Baltic, 100 % Black Sea, 98 % Mediterranean, 25 % North-east Atlantic.
- 88 IAS are strictly regulated in the EU, including 47 animal and 41 plant species.¶
- Only two marine species (Plotosus lineatus and Rugulopteryx okamurae) are on the list of species of Union concern.¶
Legal basis: Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶