A4-0270/96

Resolution on the communication from the Commission on the implementation of technical measures in the common fisheries policy (COM(95)0669 - C4-0016/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication (COM(95)0669 - C4-0016/96),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A4-0270/96),

A. whereas the positive analysis of the problems surrounding technical measures in the fisheries sector contained in the Commission's text generally follows the views often expressed in the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries,

B. whereas the Community fisheries sector is currently in crisis, caused by a combination of reduced stocks of fish in some areas and low market prices through uncontrolled imports into the Community of certain species with all the negative effects on morale in the industry that this entails,

C. whereas despite the inadequacy of the state of scientific knowledge in certain areas which needs to be urgently remedied, it is evident that the enforced intensive exploitation of some stocks may have placed them in a precarious position,

D. whereas the protection of juvenile fish, spawning adults and ultimately of the stocks themselves is of paramount importance for those who make their living from the fishing industry, both at sea and on shore, as well as for European consumers,

E. whereas fisheries represent the major source of employment in many coastal areas, particularly in peripheral regions, where few possibilities for diversification exist,

F. whereas the technical measures employed to date at a Community level have been less effective than ought to have been the case due to the dispersed nature of seagoing technical trials within the Community, with some countries making significant strides in conservation technology and others ignoring the process completely,

1. Believes that new Commission proposals must be introduced as a matter of urgency in order to remedy existing deficiencies once technical trials are undertaken in real commercial conditions to validate such proposals in a technical, biological and economic context;

2. Considers that it is vital for technical measures to be, at the same time, simple, cost effective, technically feasible and practical for operation in commercial conditions, readily understandable by fishermen and uncomplicated to enforce; considers that these circumstances and characteristics must be clearly reflected in the text of the regulations;

3. Calls on the Commission to take appropriate action to restore the confidence of fishermen in the work of scientists by means of a joint consultative process between EU fishermen, biologists and technical experts;

4. Believes that it is indispensable to improve consultation and cooperation at grass-roots level if policies are to be acceptable to the people who have to operate them;

5. Demands, as a matter of urgency, that a comprehensive scheme of incentives and training for fishermen in the use of conservation technology be included in any package of measures;

6. Shares the view that technical measures should be envisaged as an important part of an integrated policy for the preservation of stocks and that they must be accompanied by other measures which maintain the principle of relative stability, such as TACs and quotas;

7. Calls on the Commission to take an innovative approach in its proposals; in particular, measures should include:

- increased minimum mesh size in gradual stages once extensive sea trials are undertaken to determine the biological justification, the technical merits and economic consequences of such changes in the geographical areas concerned;

- geographical simplification;

- the introduction of square mesh panels or separator/grid trawls in those trawl fisheries where they are practicable and using stable mesh sizes which allow juveniles to escape and retain legal minimum sizes of fish;

- detailed specifications on net type and design to be formulated by EU technical experts in consultation with commercial net designers;

- box closures for the protection of juveniles following consultation with independent scientists and local fishing interests;

- in-depth studies of the biological impact of box closures and an assessment of the economic consequences of such measures, with provision being made for corresponding socio-economic flanking measures;

8. Considers that the Commission must address urgently the problems of by- catches and discards; calls for specific action in this regard in finding technical solutions which should be devised by EU accredited technical experts working in conjunction with the fishing industry;

9. Believes that the Commission should integrate proposals that have been scientifically validated on all static gears into its overall package of measures;

10. Considers that the Commission should, in order to encourage the adoption of technical measures, introduce an innovative system of conservation dividends to reward those EU countries who voluntarily adopt such measures in their fisheries;

11. Urges that proposals for technical measures be solicited from technical experts and the fishing industry;

12. Calls on the Commission to ensure that technical conservation measures and regulations to enforce them are included in all future international agreements;

13. Reminds the Commission of its responsibilities as guardian of the Treaties and its duty to defend the principles of the Common Fisheries policy; calls, therefore, on the Commission to play a more active role in the area of monitoring and control;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.