In order to protect cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay from the risk of accidental capture of cetaceans, the French government has implemented a measure of spatio-temporal closure of certain fishing activities, which will extend from January 22 to February 20, 2024, in the French waters of the Bay of Biscay.
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While the decision of the Council of State provided that these measures only apply to fishing vessels flying the French flag, the government notified the European Commission as well as the Member States concerned of its decision to activate a measure emergency provided for in the European regulation relating to the common fisheries policy (CFP), in order to extend this ban to all vessels carrying out fishing activities affected by space-time closures.
From January 22, all French and foreign-flagged vessels will be affected by the ban on certain fishing activities considered to be at risk for cetaceans for a period of one month.
The expansion of all European fleets is a measure of fairness for our fishermen and protection of biodiversity and the environment, taken within the framework of European Union law.
As a measure of fairness and in order to guarantee compliance with these measures, controls will be adapted and reinforced in order to verify the application of the measures during the closure period.
Any vessel affected by the closure period which is found to be operating with at least one of the risk gear in the French waters of the Bay of Biscay will be subject to legal and administrative proceedings.
For French ships, non-compliance with space-time closure measures will immediately lead to the suspension of associated aid.
To draw the consequences of the decision of the Council of State to toughen the conditions of application of space-time closures, the government will broaden and strengthen the conditions of compensation for fishermen.
Fishing companies will be compensated for their losses, and France has notified a maximum aid package made possible by the European framework.
The government will also support, in addition to the support provided by the Regions, the entire downstream and marketing sector, with the activation, if necessary, of partial unemployment measures and specific aid adapted to different situations.
The Government will do everything possible to ensure that complete aid files are paid as quickly as possible.
While awaiting payments, he invites banks to fully and actively play their role in supporting the cash flow of the companies concerned.
Finally, the Government calls on the entire sector, and in particular mass distribution, to demonstrate responsibility to support the resumption of activity at the end of the closure period. ■