A4-0305/96

Resolution on the Commission report on monitoring the common fisheries policy (COM(96)0100 - C4-0213/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission report (COM(96)0100) - C4-0213/96),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0305/96),

A. whereas the success of the common fisheries policy involves implementing an effective system of control and resources management covering all aspects of the policy,

B. whereas compliance with measures for the conservation and management of fishery resources requires an increased sense of responsibility on the part of all operators in the fishing industry and also on the part of all Member States, which should encourage and implement forms of associated management and self-management of fishery resources by fishermen's associations,

C. whereas it is important to ensure that effective control programmes are implemented for all sectors of the Community fishing fleets, including both coastal and deep sea vessels,

D. whereas the imposition of penalties is an important element of the control of the Common Fisheries Policy, but can only be of value if infringements are detected,

E. cognizant of the recent improvements in national fisheries monitoring programmes, but noting the need for extensive revisions of the programmes implemented by all Member States in order to monitor the Common Fisheries Policy effectively, with the participation of fishermen's associations and regional administrative authorities,

F. whereas, in order to make monitoring more effective and to improve compliance with measures for the conservation and management of fish resources, it is necessary to ascertain which rules are being ignored at local level in homogeneous areas and what the reasons for non-compliance are,

G. whereas the grant of Community aid should be dependent upon compliance with Community legislation on fisheries, which should be fully reviewed in the light of the application of the subsidiarity principle and with the participation of fishermen's associations,

H. whereas the technical regulations currently in force are insufficient to ensure a proper balance between fishery resources and fishing effort,

I. recognizing the extent of EU fishing activities in international waters and the waters of third countries,

J. whereas one of the main aims of the common fisheries policy is to adjust fishing capacities to available resources and whereas this objective can be achieved only by making available the financial resources needed for the conversion of activities and for maintaining employment within the sector,

K. whereas the objectives and detailed rules for restructuring must take into account the fishing types and methods and their effects on fish stocks and the marine environment, by providing opportunities and aid programmes for employment in sectors which give priority to preserving biological balance and species diversity,

L. whereas the employment generated by the sector in areas dependent on fishing must be taken into account and whereas particular attention must be devoted to small-scale coastal fishing, because of the reduced scope of its activity and the specific characteristics of zones in which this activity is often carried out,

M. whereas the fishing industry provides much-needed jobs in coastal peripheral areas of the Union,

1. Urges the Member States to assess, in cooperation with fishermen's associations, the conclusions of the Commission in its report on monitoring the common fisheries policy, and to promote innovative forms of control using modern data-processing tools;

2. Considers the shortcomings in the national implementation of the control and monitoring Regulations to be indicative of the lack of political will in this area on the part of the Member States; believes that this lack must be remedied if control measures are to be effective; considers that this situation illustrates how the Common Fisheries Policy, in its present form, cannot conserve fish stocks;

3. Supports the objective of satellite control for ships longer than 15 metres with effect from 1999; call for Community funding to be provided for the installation of the necessary equipment on board these ships;

4. Urges the Commission to make provision for deciding not to grant, to suspend, to reduce or to cancel its financial aid provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 3699/93 or Regulation (EEC) No 3687/91 in the event that the provisions of Council Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93 and (EEC) No 3759/92 are not complied with and for the possibility of imposing penalties such as quota reductions or other genuinely deterrent measures, in the event of serious and repeated infringements;

5. Believes that members of the fishing industry should face similar levels of penalty for similar offences throughout the European Union;

6. Urges the Council, in agreement with the Member States, to take measures to ensure that fishing vessels do not carry on board during fishing trips nets prohibited by the regulations;

7. Considers that the EU inspectorate should be granted increased powers to enable them to carry out fully effective independent inspections;

8. Urges the Member States to increase their efforts with regard to monitoring the marketing and transport of fish, in line with the powers granted to them under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93;

9. Calls on the Commission to reformulate as soon as possible the rules concerning compulsory suspension of fishing activities for biological reasons on the basis of a careful scientific evaluation of the biological cycles of the various species, also taking into account the needs of the sea areas according to density of shipping and the number and type of catches;

10. Requests the Commission to prepare urgently a report on monitoring programmes in international waters and the waters of third countries with which the European Union has negotiated fisheries agreements; notes that this report should not only describe the programmes as they exist, but also evaluate the extent to which they ensure compliance with relevant legislation and recommend, where appropriate, possible improvements; also urges the Commission to remedy the existing imbalance between controls in Community waters and those in international waters;

11. Calls on the Commission to present a report as soon as possible to the Council and the European Parliament on the relative effectiveness of the alternative methods of monitoring, both in terms of detecting infringements and cost (by air, at sea, in port, during transport and at markets);

12. Welcomes moves by the Commission to ensure cooperation between Member States with regard to monitoring the landings of EU vessels in waters or ports other than those of their flag state;

13. Urges the Council to implement an equitable programme of effort limitation, entitled PESCAside, in those fleet segments and zones where such is scientifically justified, to assure sustainable exploitation of fish stocks. Such measures must fully take into account the socio-economic consequences in areas dependent on fishing and provide adequate compensation for the fishermen thus affected in the same manner as set-aside for Community farmers;

14. Urges the Commission to draw up proposals for a decentralized control system which would directly involve fish producers in decisions concerning their fisheries; strongly believes that this approach would lead to a greater sense of responsibility and trust amongst all those involved in the industry;

15. Urges the Council to adopt a Multi-Annual Guidance Programme IV which considers the impact of various fishing gears on the environment and also the employment they generate with respect to the catches, as well as bringing fishing capacities into balance with the available resources on a sustainable basis and in particular the effects on fishery resources of the various forms of pollution which have a growing impact on the conservation of resources;

16. Calls on the Council to extend Community aid to organizations and firms operating on land which are involved in marketing, industry and transport in connection with the fishery sector;

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