The persistence of areas of the high seas where there is no regulatory body yet in place represents, however, a major weakness in the international system of marine governance. It amounts to an open invitation to the continuation and possible intensification of destructive fishing practices, especially given the risk of displacement of effort once they have been effectively banned elsewhere.

Suppose that a given disease affects a given area and the area is therefore declared a non-free area.

By way of derogation from Articles 3, 4 and 5 and in accordance with Article 95(10) of the Treaty, a Member State may take measures to require that in specific areas, within its territory, fuels may be marketed only if they comply with more stringent environmental specifications than those provided for in this Directive for all or part of the vehicle fleet with a view to protecting the health of the population in a specific agglomeration or the environment in a specific ecologically or environmentally sensitive area in that Member State, if atmospheric or ground water pollution constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to constitute, a ...[+++]serious and recurrent problem for human health or the environment".

1. By way of derogation from Articles 3, 4 and 5 and in accordance with Article 95(10) of the Treaty, a Member State may take measures to require that in specific areas, within its territory, fuels may only be marketed if they comply with more stringent environmental specifications than those provided for in this Directive for all or part of the vehicle fleet with a view to protecting the health of the population in a specific agglomeration or the environment in a specific ecologically or environmentally sensitive area in that Member State, if atmospheric or ground water pollution constitutes or may reasonably be expected to constitute a ...[+++] serious and recurrent problem for human health or the environment".

1. By way of derogation from Articles 3, 4 and 5, Member States may require that in specific areas fuels may only be marketed if they comply with more stringent environmental specifications than those provided for in this Directive for all or part of the vehicle fleet with a view to protecting the health of the population in a specific agglomeration or the environment in a specific ecologically sensitive area in a Member State, if atmospheric pollution constitutes or may reasonably be expected to constitute a serious and recurrent problem for human health or the environment.

(a) 'special fishing permit' means a prior fishing authorization issued to a Community fishing vessel to supplement its fishing licence, thereby enabling it to carry out fishing activities during a specified period, in a given area, for a given fishery, in accordance with the measures adopted by the Council;