Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the fifth time Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms'
C 75/34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 3. 2000 Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the fifth time Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms’ (2000/C 75/12) On 18 January 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal. The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 12 January 2000. The rapporteur was Mr E. Chagas. At its 369th plenary session (meeting of 26 January 2000), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 62 votes to one with one abstention. 1. Introduction In Regulation (EC) No 850/98 (1), the Council adopted 1. 1. a number of technical measures to protect juveniles of marine organisms. 1. 2. Subsequent to the adoption and publication of the regulation, it was discovered that certain developments meant the text needed to be adjusted. The present proposal for a regulation amends the 1. 3. relevant aspects of Regulation (EC) No 850/98. 2. General comments 2. 1. The ESC approves the proposal. 2. 2. The amendments contained in the draft regulation generally supplement the wording and fill the gaps detected in the text of the original regulation, while also aiming to strike a better balance between ideal technical measures and the reality of the fisheries sector. (1) OJ L 125, 27. 4. 1998. Brussels, 26 January 2000. 2. 3. The measure set out in Article 1(3) was particularly necessary in the context of national measures for the conser- vation and management of stocks, given the lack of clarity of the previous text. The coordinates indicated for the drafting of a new 2. 4. Article 29 bis must be corrected. 2. 5. The proposed restrictions on fishing for sand eels, which only have commercial value when converted into meal, are designed on the basis of scientific advice to preserve the balance of certain populations of marine birds in a small area off England and Scotland, given the impact of industrial fishing in that area. 2. 5. 1. The Committee suggests that the Commission fund more detailed research into other factors affecting the marine environment and acting to reduce resources still further. Analysis of the impact of industrial fishing for reduction purposes (fish meal) on juvenile populations, the food chain of other species, as well as catches for human consumption, would be particularly welcome. 2. 6. The ESC suggests that the Commission consolidate the text of Regulation (EC) No 850/98 as soon as possible, as it has now been amended five times. The President of the Economic and Social Committee Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI