We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to advise the EU NOT to change the “Technical Conservation Regulations” and ban spear fishing.”
Details of Petition:
“The European Union is planning on making changes to the “Technical Conservation Regulations” this will mean a ban on spear fishing. which is an enjoyable hobby for many men and women throughout Europe the article change is listed below: Article 12 Destructive fishing practices The catching, retention on board, transhipment, storage, landing, sale, display or offer for sale of marine organisms caught using methods incorporating the use of explosives, poisonous or stupefying substances, electric current or any kind of projectile shall be prohibited. This is a significant change from the current legislation which is Article 31 of Council Regulation 850/98 which permits spear fishing but prohibits the sale of fish caught using a projectile: Article 31 Unconventional fishing methods 1. The catching of marine organisms using methods incorporation the use of explosives, poisonous or stupefying substances or electric current shall be prohibited. 2.The sale, display or offer for sale of marine organisms caught using methods incorporating the use of any kind of projectile shall be prohibited.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
Under existing EU rules, the “sale, display, or offer for sale of marine organisms caught using methods incorporating the use of any kind of projectile” is prohibited. However, the European Commission is proposing to extend these controls to include the “catching, retention on board, the transhipment, storage, landing, sale, display or offer for sale” of marine organisms caught using methods incorporating, among others, “any kind of projectile”. As such, this would effectively ban spearfishing.
Government’s response to the Commission on their proposals, which we developed after consultation with stakeholders, interested parties and the Devolved Administrations, made the case that the UK is not convinced of the conservation value to be gained from now prohibiting the practice completely (given that this is often a more selective and less intrusive method of capture). We will certainly repeat this view as the negotiations develop, and ensure that spearfishermen and their representatives are kept up to date with developments.
Meanwhile, we have been informed by the British Spearfishing Association that the Information and Communication Unit (of the Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) think that an outright ban on spearfishing was not intended. The Commission intends to clarify this at a later date (possibly by defining what is meant by a “projectile”) - this should, hopefully, be a fairly straightforward issue to resolve.
Negotiations on the Commission’s proposals are on-going. The French Presidency has set itself the ambitious target of agreeing the Council framework regulation before the end of the year, so that it can apply from the start of 2009. However, given the complexity of the necessary discussions, we anticipate the negotiations will continue into next year.
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