EU to protect marine ecosystems from fishing

The European commission has proposed measures to protect deep sea ecosystems from harmful fishing activities such as bottom trawling.  Under a plan announced on Wednesday EU high sea vessels would be banned from fishing unless they hold a permit demonstrating that their fishing will not cause "significant adverse impacts".  All vessels would also be banned from fishing at depths of more than 1,000 metres.  The plan is intended to implement recommendations made by the UN's general assembly in December.  It is part of a wider strategy announced last week (EED 10/10/07).  See commission press release and UN recommendations.

• Biodiversity
• Water