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The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources met today, Tuesday, 15 February 2022, to discuss the following items:
1. 772-2021)
The Committee continued its discussion of this matter at its meeting today, at which it was awaiting information from the relevant government departments in relation to the actions they had taken in the time allotted to them in order to address the problem of the fragmentation of responsibilities between ministries and the Police in relation to this matter, which had been identified by the Committee at an earlier meeting. During the discussion it became apparent that the executive has not yet effectively addressed the problem of the fragmentation of competences to deal with this phenomenon.
Therefore, the Commission again invited the executive to undertake the necessary consultations in order, firstly, to identify and document the source of the problem in question and, secondly, to find a mechanism for the effective management of the phenomenon in question with regard to both the relevant government departments and the Cyprus Police. In the light of the above, the Commission has decided to monitor the progress of the matter in question.
2. The problems faced by the owners of multi-purpose fishing vessels
(Ex officio examination following a recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources)
(Doc. No.: 23.04.038.020-2022)
The Commission started the discussion of the above matter in the presence of representatives of the competent state authorities and stakeholders, in the context of which it examined the problems identified in the multi-purpose fishing sector.
The Commission was briefed by the relevant State departments and agencies on the Plan for Temporary Cessation of Fishing Activities, which is a specific measure to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the fisheries sector. In particular, it was informed that the final approval of this plan by the Internal Audit Service of the Republic was expected in March 2022 and that the call for proposals would be for a maximum of three months, with a retroactive effective date of 15 February 2022 and a minimum temporary cessation of thirty days. It is also noted that whether or not these months are required to be cumulative will be reviewed by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research in consultation with stakeholders.
The Commission was also concerned about the imposition of a quota on the alalunga multispecies fishery. In particular, it was informed by the Director of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment that, in the context of the recovery plan for this species, it had been decided to impose a quota on fishing for this species and that the European Commission's decision on the allocation of the quota provided for in relation to the Mediterranean Member States of the European Union was expected within the day. The Commission has therefore requested the Director of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research to inform it, when the final decision is taken, of the percentage of the catch of this species to be allocated to the Republic of Cyprus.
The Commission also asked whether the Department intends, in the context of addressing the problems faced by the multi-purpose fishing industry, to announce a plan to withdraw multi-purpose vessels, in response to which the Director of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research stated that, according to the procedure laid down, at the end of May each year the Member States of the European Union would draw up a 'balance report' in which, after an assessment of certain parameters, it would be determined whether the implementation of such a measure was justified. The Commission has therefore decided to continue its examination of this issue at a meeting to be held in June 2022, once the aforementioned report has been completed.
3. The Fisheries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2022.
(File No.: 23.01.062.200-2021)
The Committee took a position in relation to the provisions of the above Bill, the purpose of which is to amend the Fisheries Act to provide the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment with the power to prepare management plans for marine areas where fishing and/or vessel passage is prohibited. The bill will be referred to the plenary session of the House, after the consultation stage on amendments that may be tabled by MPs.
Secretariat of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Email: parliamentary-committees@parliament.cy
IK
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