In an historical move, the European Parliament today adopted an ambitious position for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. After almost twenty months of debate, 502 of the voting members supported a reform that will ensure that fish stocks are rebuilt above levels which can produce the Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2015, that discarding no longer happens in Europe and that European fisheries transition towards low impact fishing.
Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana in Europe, issued the following statement:
«Today the EU took a major step towards the proper management of our fishery resources. On behalf of Oceana, I thank all the representatives of European citizens for backing worldwide calls to act urgently for the health and future of our oceans.»
The Council of Fisheries ministers and the European Parliament will soon start negotiations, along with the Commission, to reconcile their respective positions and reach a final agreement on the reform by June 2013.