MEPs voted today (12 September) to reject the European Commission’s proposal to rebuild depleted fish stocks by ensuring they remain above maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

The amendment was added to a non-binding report on the Commission’s proposal to revise the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Though the report is non-binding, it indicates how the Parliament’s fisheries committee may vote in November.

The amendment was proposed by Greek MEP Nikolaos Salavrakos and supported by centre-right MEPs, securing a majority of five. They said that by restricting catches and maintaining numbers above the maximum amount needed, the Commission’s plan would cause hardship for fishermen.

British liberal MEP Chris Davies, secretary of the cross-party ‘Fish for the Future’ group, said he is concerned the vote will set a precedent for the fisheries committee’s binding vote in November.

“The fear is that the CFP rapporteur will now seek a weak compromise rather than risk the defeat of her proposals,” he said.

The Parliament also rejected proposed new rules on fish labelling that would have required more information to be displayed on fish packages. European consumers group BEUC condemned the vote.

“Consumers who want to support artisanal fishermen who land their catch within 24 hours need to know the date when fresh fish was caught, not when it was landed,” said secretary general Monique Goyens. “Date of landing is meaningless to consumers and will not help them distinguish between fish caught a day ago by a small fisherman or several weeks ago by an industrial vessel”.

The labelling issue will also be voted on by the fisheries committee in November.