LOC13:41
10:41 GMT
BRUSSELS, June 8 (KUNA) -- The European Commission called on the EU memberr
states Tuesday to urgently apply the 'Mediterranean Regulation' to restore
fishing stocks to healthy level after a scientific research found that ovver
54% of the Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished.
To remedy this situation, the EU adopted 2006, the 'Mediterranean
Regulation' which aims to improve fisheries management in order to achieve
sustainable fisheries, protect the fragile marine environment and restore fish
stocks to healthy levels.
It applies to to the 7 EU member states bordering the Mediterranean: Spain,
France, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus and Malta..
To allow the EU member states time to get prepared for the implementation
of this Regulation, a long transition period of 3 years was agreed for a
number of its provisions.
As of 1 June , the Regulation is fully in force and must be implemented by
the EU Member States concerned, said the Euroepan Commission in a statement .
EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki insists
that the measures adopted through the Mediterranean Regulation should be fully
implemented at this stage:
"I will see to it that the Mediterranean Regulation is strictly
implemented. The transition period is over. I call on member states to take
action now.." she said.
"These are the rules that Member States unanimously agreed to through a
compromise in 2006,. It is difficult to accept that Member States are not
willing or able today to implement even the 2006 compromise. I am truly
disappointed ", she said .
"The state of several fish stocks in the Mediterranean is alarming, and
fishermen are catching less every year. We need to reverse the worrying trend
of unsustainable fishing practices and impoverishment of marine resources,
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