(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2006)0100)(1),

–   having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0106/2006),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A6-0476/2006),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3.  Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

5.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 Recital 4 a (new) (4a) According to the ICCAT Scientific Committee, current catch levels of bluefin tuna are not sustainable in the long term with the current exploitation patterns, and consequently the European Union should propose measures to rebuild the stock to ICCAT as a matter of urgency, including a recovery plan if necessary, together with control measures which will help to resolve the problems of overfishing and the underreporting of catches. Amendment 2 Recital 4 b (new) (4b) The scientific analyses point to a risk of collapse in the bluefin tuna fishery, and the European Union and its Member States should therefore urgently introduce control measures which will help to resolve the problem of overfishing, accompanied by a recovery plan, as recommended by the scientific analyses. Amendment 3 Recital 4 c (new) (4c) If they are to be effective, those control measures must enjoy general consensus, and it is therefore necessary for the Commission and the Member States to pursue an active policy to defend those measures in international fora as a matter of urgency, particularly vis-à-vis the regional fisheries organisations responsible for managing this resource and countries which are the main destination for bluefin tuna, such as Japan. Amendment 4 Recital 4 d (new) (4d) The growing demand for bluefin tuna has caused an increase in fishing pressure, both for direct sale and for supplying specimens to tuna farms, which requires, on the part of the European Union and the Member States, strict monitoring and improved information on both fishing and farming activity, since this is vital in order to be able to make a scientific assessment of the state of the resource. Amendment 5 Recital 4 e (new) (4e) The excessive capacity reached by bluefin tuna fattening farms, designed to meet growing demand, has caused an increase in the pressure on this species, and it is therefore necessary for the Union and the Member States to monitor their activity strictly and to improve the information they provide, which is vital in order to be able to make a scientific assessment of the state of the resource. Amendment 6 Recital 6 a (new) (6a) Given the current threat facing certain stocks of migratory species, the EU should promote and support the use of more selective and environmentally friendly fishing gear, in line with the commitments made under the common fisheries policy. Amendment 7 Recital 13 a (new) (13a) The high commercial value attained by some of these migratory species in the world market for fish requires a stringent inspection policy with regard to illegal fishing practices, which are responsible for the current depleted state of some of these stocks.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.