Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-10-09-Speech-3-162"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-10-09"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Fishing for deep-sea stocks2
dcterms:Language	"pt"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20021009.12.3-162"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-10-09-Speech-3-1632
lpv:speaker	lp:Carlos Lage2
lpv:spokenAs	member; PECH (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and Delegation for relations with Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; PES (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Partido Socialista (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (2002-01-30--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, it is entirely fitting that at this time of the night we should be talking about species of fish that live in deep waters and which therefore also function to some extent in the night, in the darkness, as a result of the aquatic atmosphere in which they are immersed. Leaving irony aside, however, I shall say that these species of fish living away from the continental shelves are precious and are part of the rich diversity of marine life. We all agree, furthermore, that it is crucial to protect these species, these population units, from the heightened exploitation to which they have been subject in the last few years. In fact, the scarcity of fish on the continental shelf and in the major fishing grounds has caused many vessels and many fishermen to turn to these species that have survived or that have been largely ignored until now, and which are, consequently, on the way to suffering total despoliation. It is, therefore, absolutely crucial to protect these fish species and we also all agree that scientific research is essential since there is still a great deal we do not know about these species because they are, shall we say, rather mysterious, like everything from the deep, like everything from afar. Much more research must be carried out on observing these population units, their ecosystems, their living and reproductive habits and their fertility rates, because there are major fears that since these species’ growth rates are slow, they are much more vulnerable to the exploitation to which they are subject. Although there is agreement on the diagnosis and on the shortcomings of the research carried out to date, there seems to be some disagreement about the methodology with which to protect these species, as far as I could understand from Commissioner Fischler’s intervention. Nevertheless, I do not see how we can avoid the need for total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas – the old methodology, which produced some results, although it has its limitations; nor do I see how we can avoid limiting fishing efforts. I know that this is a very sensitive matter, because nowadays, the activity of fishermen, fishing communities and investments clearly always take priority. In this case, however, the precautionary principle must be applied. Where we cannot be certain, we must be cautious and prudent. Consequently, we must do everything that can be done, even though we cannot be certain about the result and the efficiency of this action, to protect these fish species, these dozens and dozens of species, the habits of some of which may even be unknown or almost unknown. I therefore congratulate the Commission and Mr Holmes on their work, because this work is crucial to the protection of nature."@en1

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