BRUSSELS (AP) — February 27, 2013 — Officials from the 27 European Union countries proposed Wednesday a phased-in ban on the discarding of unwanted fish by fishing vessels, but environmentalists immediately condemned the measure as too weak.
Dead and dying fish are often thrown overboard if they do not meet quotas or fishermen’s preferences, creating a huge waste of for the ecosystem and business alike. The aim of the proposed measure is to eliminate waste and preserve fish stocks, some of which are dwindling dangerously due to overfishing.
The proposal, approved early Wednesday in Brussels, is considered less stringent that one approved earlier this month by the European Parliament. Negotiations will have to take place to try to find a version on which the Parliament, the national officials, and the European Commission can all agree.
The measure passed earlier by the Parliament — by a vote of 502-137 — would also include a legally binding obligation to end overfishing and rebuild stocks, stop aid to member states that flout the rules, and make catch reporting requirements much tougher.
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