An error needs to be corrected in the TAC table for mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in areas VI, VII, VIIIa, VIIIb, VIIId and VIIIe; Union and international waters of Vb; international waters of IIa, XII and XIV (MAC/2CX14-).

Commencing at a northwestern point at approximate latitude 47º19′12″N and approximate longitude 61º57′41″W; thence southwesterly along the ordinary high-water mark of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to a southwestern point 47º17′56″N and 61º58′43″W; thence easterly in a straight line to a southeastern point at approximate latitude of 47º18′11″N and approximate longitude 61º56′33″W; thence northerly, along the ordinary high-water mark of Baie de Plaisance to a northeastern point at approximate latitude 47º18′59″N and approximate longitude 61º56′09″W; thence westerly in a straight line to the point of commencement ; together with a zone extending 200 m eas ...[+++]terly from the ordinary high-water mark of Baie de Plaisance and a zone extending 200 m westerly from the ordinary high-water mark of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; the northern and southern limits of said zones being an extension of the northerly boundary between the northeastern and northwestern points previously described and the extension of the southerly boundary between the southeastern and southwestern points previously described; the eastern and western limits of said zones being lines parallel to the ordinary high-water marks of Baie de Plaisance and the Gulf of St. Lawrence;

However, fresh water bathing areas show some cautiously encouraging results: while for the 1996 bathing season 1 out of 3 fresh water zones was insufficiently monitored or did not meet the minimum quality requirements, almost 80% of the fresh water bathing areas respect the minimum requirements of the Directive during the 1997 bathing season.

Trawlers * Spain and Portugal will include in their respective reference lists a list of the names of the vessels with access to the waters of the other country (Portuguese waters in ICES area IX and CECAF - continental coast - and Spanish waters in ICES areas VIII and IX and CECAF - continental coast); * for the areas mentioned, Spain and Portugal will draw up their national fishing plans regulating the activity of their vessels in the waters of the other Member State.

The Commission has published its tenth report on the quality of bathing water in the Community. This reveals a number of interesting trends between 1982 and 1992: * The number of bathing areas monitored has more than doubled since 1982, to reach 16 000 sites in 1992. * The proportion of bathing areas failing to comply with the standards set by the Community Directive has fallen by one third. * Despite the constant improvements in quality brought about by the clean-up measures taken by the Member States, 19% of the areas analysed still fall short of the standards set by the Directive. * Implementation of the 1991 Directive concerning urba ...[+++]n waste water treatment should allow further improvements in bathing water quality in the Community in the future.

The declared purpose of the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act is “to see that the natural resources of the Canadian arctic are developed and exploited and the arctic waters adjacent to the mainland and islands of the Canadian arctic are navigated only in a manner that takes cognizance of Canada’s responsibility for the welfare of the Inuit and other inhabitants of the Canadian arctic and the preservation of the peculiar ecological balance that now exists in the water, ice and land areas of the Canadian arctic” (29) The amended definition of “arctic waters” in Bill C-3 extends the application of the Act to a much vaster expanse of th ...[+++]e Arctic Ocean, thereby enlarging the area to which pollution prevention measures may be applied.