EkoKvarner: Politicians Lie about ZERP

11 March 2008

The Eko Kvarner environmental association believes that the Croatian public has not been properly informed that the expected suspension of implementation of fishing component in the Protective Environmental and Fishing Area (ZERP) for EU member-states will undoubtedly lead to an environmental disaster in the Adriatic.

That disaster, says Eko Kvarner, will be caused by Italians who will continue their excessive fishing in the Protected Area, having completely devastated the fisheries in their own territorial waters. That danger is further augmented by the rising incidents of invasive maritime wildlife species, which can easily penetrate the eco-system already destroyed by excessive fishing.

On the other hand, notes the organizaion, we have the incredulous statements by some Croatian politicians, who offer the solution of EU`s restrictive measures, which have proved totally ineffective, as proven by the case of last years failed attempt to restrict fishing in the North Sea.

Eko Kvarner also emphasizes the fact that all ad hoc public opinion polls demonstrate that the citizens, faced with the absurd dilemma of having to choose between ZERP and EU, were opposed to the proposed suspension of ZERP regulation for EU member-states.

- Having in mind that parties in the current ruling coalition made strong promises they won�t give up on the implementation of ZERP for EU member-states, we have to bring up the issue of legitimacy of announced suspension of implementation, which proves that the politicians lied to the voters in the election campaign, concludes Eko Kvarner adding that it is evident that the citizens of Croatia refuse to pay that price for the country`s EU membership.