Mediterranean fishing: West Med 2, the coup de grace?
Aurélien Lopez-Liguori was present this Friday in Sète, Agde and Loupian, during the visit of the Minister Delegate in charge of the Sea and Fisheries.
The latter's arrival was necessary in a territory where the fishing situation is critical and where the shellfish farming sector has experienced multiple episodes of contamination.
Now, time to act!
For fishing, France must not accept a West Med 2 plan. Between the reduction in days at sea, the reduction in fishing effort and no-fishing zones, professionals can't take it anymore. The deputy asks for an explicit commitment from the State that it will not implement such a devastating plan.
The State must help modernize the Mediterranean trawl fleet.
Today, fishermen cannot create the boat of the future: they are prevented from doing so by European standards which do not allow the payment of aid to the Mediterranean fleet.
A moratorium on the installation of offshore wind turbines must be implemented. Offshore wind turbines reduce fishing grounds; their gradual establishment in the Mediterranean threatens the survival of the sector, already out of breath.
The MP also calls for fair and rapid compensation from the State for shellfish farmers whose shellfish have been contaminated by norovirus, for example. The State must take its responsibilities when professionals are forced to withdraw their products from the market and destroy them.
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