What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text

Added:2. Highlights the intrinsic value of the ocean and all species depending on it; stresses that healthy marine ecosystems are essential for life on Earth and play a key role in planetary well-being; acknowledges the need to improve ocean protection at global and EU level;

Added:12. Welcomes the fact that the action plan also addresses the potential for introducing additional measures to boost selectivity, including innovations to improve the selectivity of fishing gear and devices and measures to reduce catches of juveniles and the by-catch of sensitive species; recalls that incidental catches of sensitive marine species have to be reduced and, where possible, eliminated so that they do not threaten the conservation status of these species, as required by Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures;

Added:13. Welcomes the Commission’s calls to reduce the by-catch of sensitive species; highlights, in particular, the urgent need to act to reduce the by-catch of common dolphins and porpoises by establishing short-term closures of certain fishing areas combined with acoustic deterrent devices and improved monitoring systems, in line with scientific advice; recalls that financial compensation and incentives are available under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) for mitigating the socio-economic impacts of those measures;

Added:15. Stresses, for example, that scientific studies show that increasing mesh sizes and minimum landing sizes would make it possible to leave the youngest fish in the water and therefore increase the chances for fish populations to reproduce, leading to higher yields for fishers and higher landings per unit effort;

Added:18. Notes that there is a strong scientific consensus that MPAs can be beneficial to fisheries because of their spillover effect and their positive effects on recruitment, for example, through the protection of reproduction sites, juveniles and big mother fish with high reproductive capacities, as shown in various MPAs across the EU; highlights that, when successful, MPAs offer substantial socio-economic benefits, especially for coastal communities and the fisheries and tourism sector, and that MPAs can perform key ecological functions for the reproduction of fish populations, such as by providing spawning grounds and nurseries, and improve their resilience;