Deep-sea fisheries in the north-east Atlantic

Mad-Daqqa t’Għajn 07-12-2016

Deep-sea species and marine ecosystems are particularly sensitive to human activities. The European Parliament is now to finalise the adoption of a regulation aimed at sustainable deep-sea fishing activities, while freezing their zonal footprint and protecting vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems. This regulation is the outcome of lengthy negotiations between the EP and the Council, after both institutions rejected a 2012 Commission proposal to put a definitive end to the use of bottom trawls and bottom set nets in deep-sea fisheries in the north-east Atlantic.