17. Highlights the specific situation of female shellfishers (a job carried out principally by women aged over 50, who suffer health problems as a result of their work) and reiterates its call, therefore, for the Commission to draw up a specific pilot project covering all these points and providing solutions to the problems resulting from this work; urges the Commission and the Member States to provide legal recognition for periods of enforced inactivity for public-health reasons (toxins, natural disasters, discharges, oil spills), and to recognise certain conditions or illnesses that affect women working in the artisanal fishing and shellfi ...[+++]shing sector (such as rheumatic and bone disorders);

support for the promotion and marketing of artisanal fishery and extensive aquaculture products, through the creation of a European label to distinguish and identify European artisanal fishery and shellfish products, provided they comply with good sustainability practices and the principles of the Common Fisheries Policy;

A. whereas small-scale fishing – comprising artisanal fishing and some types of coastal/inshore fishing, shellfishing and other traditional extensive aquaculture activities such as the natural breeding of molluscs in inshore waters – has a very diverse territorial, social and cultural impact in mainland and island areas and in the outermost regions, and has specific problems that set it apart from large-scale fishing and from intensive or industrial aquaculture;

1. Considers that small-scale fishing comprises artisanal fishing and some types of coastal/inshore fishing, shellfishing and other traditional extensive aquaculture activities such as the natural breeding of molluscs in inshore waters;