There have been many messages so far this year. Before and after publication. But one thing seems certain: Action Plan launched in February by European Commission Marine protected areas occupying 30% of community waters will veto trawling. Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General of Maritime and Fisheries of the European Commission, warns of this before its official release and during a visit to Vigo (“we cannot argue that we will protect the seabed and also allow trawling”) and the Fisheries industry itself and the Spanish and Galician governments. However, Virginijus Sinkevicius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries of the European Commission, continues to send conflicting messages that it will not affect the fleet, while warning countries to implement the plan. He did it again on Thursday in the European Parliament, where the majority of MPs had him cornered, and defended himself: “He doesn’t force us environmentalismHowever science”.
Popular, socialist and European liberals, as well as far-right Conservatives and Reformists, and Identity and Democracy groups criticized the Plan presented by Sinkevicius. Allies in the Left and Greens groups Europeans
For the Lithuanian, we are at a “very important moment” for the health of the oceans. Sinkevicius, who was criticized for the lack of scientific basis for the suggestions, argued that “science is the foundation from which we started”. “About 80% of our funds suffered and we propose solutions at the regional level,” he insisted.
For this reason, according toWe must move from words to actionsHe reminded that the Brussels proposal is therefore not “legally binding”, as a balance needs to be guaranteed between fishing gear and marine populations. But at the same time, it once again urged member states to draw up “regional plans” to create marine protected areas in their waters, thereby complying with political commitments in this area.
Even though he said that fishing would not be banned, he acknowledged that the Action Plan could cause “concern” for the sector, and once again called for “invest in new ideas, new fishing gear”. “However If we don’t protect the marine environment, we all lose.”, he condemned.
Galician MP Francisco Millán Mon (PP) denounced that the Commission has “suffered” from what it described as “a structural problem in recent years”: domination environmentalism radical to the detriment of the fishing industry”. Regarding the Plan of Action, he described it as “inefficient” and “legally confusing and unfair”.
Ana Miranda (BNG), on the other hand, condemned Brussels’ decisions against the fishing industry and The “demonization” of certain fishing gear, such as trolls. “On May 9, the Galician and European fleet stopped at the ports and asked him to resign, as he had lost his confidence and legitimacy. “Because a commissioner cannot demonize some hunting gear without scientific, environmental, and also social and economic foundations,” he said.
Isabel Carvalhais, a socialist MEP, who called for “realistic goals” based on scientific research, or Izaskun Bilbao, a European liberal who reaffirmed Brussels’ plans to eliminate trolls.threatens an unconsulted industry” wanted to consult with fishermen to keep moving forward on “sustainability and resilience” for this.