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The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, published a plan on Thursday to prevent the extinction of Mediterranean species.
Under the plan set out by EU Commissioner Franz Fischler, fishermen would use nets with bigger holes -- preventing them from catching young fish -- and trawlers would stay out of coastal zones.
"This proposal is a fresh approach to achieve sustainable fishing to safeguard the future of 100,000 fishermen," Fischler said in a statement.
Currently, Mediterranean species such as hake, swordfish, octopus and sardines -- firm favorites on dinner tables in Mediterranean countries -- are on the danger list.
Now fishing in the Mediterranean Sea includes EU members Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and Greece, as well as Malta and Slovenia, which are set to join the EU next May.
Italy, current EU presidency holder, is organizing a conference in Venice next month to encourage cooperation among countries which have a Mediterranean coastline to stop overfishing.
Since the Mediterranean is an international fishing zone bordered by many countries, the EU cannot save fish stocks from collapse on its own.
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