Plenary Session: Specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector

Specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector

I voted in favour of this urgent resolution, despite my opposition and my negative vote on the amendments tabled by other political groups. I believe that the Commission's proposal was well balanced and responded adequately to the current crisis.

I do believe that these measures are necessary, but that they must be well targeted and limited in time. It is essential that the most affected fishermen, in particular small-scale fishermen, are those who will benefit most from this exceptional aid. In particular, it is necessary to prevent these emergency aid measures from becoming harmful subsidies, i.e. subsidies that, in the long run, will contribute to overfishing.
The Covid-19 crisis should also not lose sight of the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), namely with regard to the protection of biodiversity and the increase in the resilience of marine ecosystems (fauna and flora). The difficulties encountered by the fisheries sector should not be used as an excuse to prolong fishing periods or increase quotas for the following periods beyond the flexibilities provided for in the CFP.

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