A4-0331/95

Resolution on fishing in the Mediterranean

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the communication from the Commission on progress towards and outlook for the common fisheries system in the Mediterranean (COM(95)0106 - C4-0132/95),

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Ligabue and Mr Tajani on behalf of the Forza Europa Group on technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean (B4-0388/95),

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A4-0331/95),

A. whereas under the Treaties the common policy of the European Union contains guidelines, provisions and regulations for fisheries management and development,

B. whereas the common fisheries policy and its legal framework have evolved gradually; whereas a new phase in its development will begin in 1996 with the full integration of Spain and Portugal,

C. whereas in the field of the common fisheries policy the European Parliament - as called for in its resolutions concerning the forthcoming 1996 intergovernmental conference - will increasingly take on greater legislative powers via the co-decision procedures on the basic legislation of the CFP,

D. whereas the CFP cannot concern only the activities of the European Union, but must be organized, through international relations, with third countries, in order to manage shared resources, taking account of the environment, other activities associated with the sector, technological innovation and human and financial resources,

E. whereas the European Union fleet operating in the Mediterranean representing 2.7 million kW and 423 000 GT accounts for 22% and 32% of the total engine power and tonnage of the Community fleet,

F. whereas the fisheries sector is now in a phase of structural crisis due to the decline in resources, ecological considerations which must be taken into account, and competition from third countries and their processing industries,

G. whereas the fisheries sector in the EU is sharply differentiated depending on different circumstances and biological variables; whereas this differentiation is partly the result of the economic rationalization imposed by Community regulations and increasingly strict systems of control by the national and international authorities; whereas, however, in order to ensure fair competition between Community products and those from third countries so as to protect consumers, it is advisable and essential to strengthen health controls on imported products,

H. whereas the variable and flexible nature of fishing activity - both industrial and small-scale - has made it possible to maintain minimum levels of employment, which has nevertheless not prevented the crisis in the sector, even when measures have been targeted at associated activities such as aquaculture;

I. whereas management of the CFP in the ICES and FCECA zones is currently organized in TACs and quotas which restrict fishing activity and regulate the corresponding authorizations,

J. whereas fisheries are also being regulated through specific regulations covering areas of the European Union and third countries, such as the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean,

K. whereas such regulations, particularly with regard to the Baltic Sea, concern the conservation of biological diversity of the marine environment, regulate fishing activity, administer control, strengthen sensitive areas, restrict engine power, set up environmental research agencies and encourage producers' associations for product marketing, promotion and marketing policy,

L. whereas the Mediterranean area is not only important strategically but represents a delicate point of economic and political balance, given the religious fundamentalism in North Africa and the fact that it includes countries currently in conflict with each other such as those of the former Yugoslavia,

M. whereas it must be remembered that there are also other crisis points in the region, such as the Arab-Palestinian problem, in which EU intervention is fundamental and of strategic importance to the consolidation of peace in those regions,

N. whereas the various EU actions in this area, including international agreements, also concern and affect fisheries questions,

O. whereas, in this regard, the value of a Mediterranean policy should be understood not only through positive and decisive EU foreign policy action but also by proposing economic and financial measures in response to regional and other requirements,

P. whereas in the Mediterranean fishing activity does not only involve EU Member States (Italy, Greece, Spain, France) but also many vessels of third countries such as Japan and Taiwan, as well as numerous roving vessels sailing under the flags of Panama, Honduras or Sierra Leone which fish in international waters without always paying attention to Community regulations or recommendations on tuna fishing issued by international organizations and which catch indiscriminately, especially bluefin tuna, an illegal form of fishing estimated at 18 000 tonnes per year,

Q. whereas both the Community fleet and that of third countries fish in many cases using techniques which go against Community regulations and thus undermine the preservation and protection of fishery resources,

R. whereas many Mediterranean countries have repeatedly stressed the need for shared management of fishery resources, the need for active cooperation with scientific research and the need to strengthen control measures and to promote the conversion of the sector, environmental monitoring, breeding and aquaculture,

S. whereas the only international organization which has earned credibility and which offers serious prospects is the General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean (GFCM), which has issued guidelines in many cases accepted by the countries which border the Mediterranean,

T. whereas the GFCM should be strengthened by making its recommendations binding and using it as a forum for deciding the objectives of international agreements in the Mediterranean area as well as bilateral agreements, providing for European Union membership and giving it the role of a management body, on the basis of agreement, for the Mediterranean area,

U. whereas the GFCM may also be the intermediary for an analysis of stocks and a point of reference for those operating under the CFP in the Mediterranean,

V. whereas it would be appropriate to apply the precautionary criteria approved at the UN Conference on the Environment and Development held in Rio,

W. whereas the Mediterranean has become an increasingly delicate ecosystem as revealed by numerous scientific analyses which have shown that the ecosystem has suffered serious disturbances because of pollution from industrial plant and urban development (particularly through lack of investment and technology in third countries),

X. whereas the Mediterranean (which is practically closed, with a low rate of replenishment) has seen a sharp increase in human presence, with adverse consequences in the biological cycle and the ecosystem, and this has led indirectly to a change in fishing systems, because of the resulting biological imbalance,

Y. whereas the November 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Conference held in Barcelona dealt with the strategic value of the area within the EU with regard to North-South relations, trade between countries and relations connected with environmental issues,

Z. whereas, at this conference, there was a section devoted specifically to fisheries,

AA. whereas a detailed analysis should be made focusing in particular on positive reference data: there are, in fact, established collaborative relations in the field of research and aquaculture which also involve fishing in the Mediterranean and which can provide an important point of reference for EU fisheries policy,

AB. whereas in the Adriatic and other homogeneous areas, the economic, environmental and international relations are sufficiently well established to make it possible to experiment with multilateral forms of management, in accord with the CFP and the GFCM, which concern fishing, aquaculture and the biological-environmental equilibrium,

AC. whereas in this area certain species are under serious threat as a result of overfishing; whereas such problems can only be tackled on the basis of agreement among the countries of the EU and third countries since, for biological and morphological reasons, they are shared,

AD. whereas such forms of experimentation can, on the basis of the necessary scientific and environmental analyses, lead to systems of self-management of fishery resources by fisheries associations organized at multinational level or, for specific species, also at regional level,

AE. whereas the CFP will have to be diversified if it is to cope with the crisis and all the related issues and, at this stage, it is necessary to avoid renationalization and instead to develop positive policies in homogeneous and regional areas, with shared biological, geographical and environmental characteristics, as long as such policies do not deviate from the common principles which apply to all fisheries and fleets governed by the CFP,

AF. whereas in the Mediterranean, besides the specific regulatory framework of the CFP, there is highly fragmented national legislation which needs to be harmonized by identifying common sensitive areas and marine park areas, in particular at supranational level,

AG. whereas legislative harmonization between the regions in which a given species reproduces and those in which it is fished is vitally important, particularly in relation to the application of biological recuperation rules,

AH. aware that these regulations, whether they involve the national authorities or Community bodies, cannot exclude the involvement of local fishermen's associations or ignore their capacity for self-regulation; whereas a balance must be sought between the use of resources and their development and environmental equilibrium; whereas fishermen and their associations can develop these principles through forms of regulated self-management of fisheries activities in defined areas with homogeneous characteristics as regards type of fleet and type of species; whereas priority should be given to the conversion to small-scale fishing and the reduction of trawling, aquaculture and fish marketing and processing activities,

AI. whereas measures to involve fishermen and make them aware of their responsibilities cannot be carried out in isolation but through the promotion and support and organization of the various levels of association of fishermen,

AJ. whereas such associations must have rules and characteristics which are recognized at national and international level, so that the final agreement represents at least 85% of fishermen of a species or form of fishing or who market or process, over a period of at least five years, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% or 75% of the catch,

AK. whereas provision should be made for the associations to be organized also on a regional basis, by specific type of fishing, breeding or aquaculture of specific species, with the possibility of certifying the species of origin, fishing methods and health conditions,

AL. whereas the associations, as regards the Mediterranean, may have priority financial support if they diversify their activity by reducing fishing and moving towards associated activities (small-scale fishing, fishing tourism, pollution control, development of training of fisheries operators in new, environment-friendly techniques),

AM. whereas the same priority system in financing will apply to those associations which carry out measures for inter-regional involvement among various countries of the EU and third countries, particularly developing countries bordering on the Mediterranean and those which have association agreements with the EU or structured dialogues,

AN. whereas the role of associations is fundamental for building forms of participation of operators in fishing activities, so that fishermen - through various forms of cooperatives, associations and fishermen's guilds - may use the financial instruments provided to promote the sector and to organize safeguards and common, mutual support in times of crisis,

AO. agreeing therefore on the need to provide for forms of financial support via a fairer and more balanced distribution of EU resources, in line with programmes at Community and national level,

AP. whereas the involvement of operators should also concern active market intervention, via modern methods of marketing and planned regulation of fishing, to guarantee a proper balance between supply and demand, and consequently the price of the product,

AQ. whereas, because of their characteristics, the technical regulations in the Mediterranean must be of a general nature, with the possibility of dealing when necessary with fishing gear, engine power of vessels, taking account of the acquisition of the relevant technological and scientific know-how,

AR. whereas it is necessary to ensure the reproduction of species,

AS. whereas the provisions concerning minimum sizes should be established on a biological basis which takes account of the size at which the first spawning takes place,

AT. whereas the technical measures governing fishing gear must be adapted appropriately and cover on-board safety,

AU. whereas legal and social regulations governing fishing activities at sea and on land must establish European reference parameters, stipulating maximum working time and minimum rest periods,

AV. whereas it will be necessary increasingly to establish uniform regulations on fishing vessels, in order to avoid insecure working conditions with dangerous equipment, unacceptable working hours and illegal activities by unregulated vessels which sign on sailors from third countries,

AW. whereas Regulation (EC) 1626/94 on fishing in the Mediterranean is an important step forward, but this precautionary measure has proved inadequate given the biological diversity of the Mediterranean; whereas fishing must therefore be regulated more through mesh sizes, technical equipment, engine power and respite for breeding grounds or sensitive areas which act as repopulation sites, and also through systems of integrated coastal management, with the installation of artificial barriers, the reduction of fishing time and quantity of catch and the systematic enforcement of fishing moratoria,

AX. whereas such regulations must be accompanied not only by the agreement of producers' associations but also by the harmonization of national legislation, in order to guarantee uniformity in the Mediterranean area, ensuring that the different degrees of legislation and development do not hinder competition,

AY. whereas in order to be effective, regulations must have definite plans which establish long- and medium-term objectives for the management and control of fishing, drawn up by agencies,

AZ. whereas such plans, in line with resource management schemes and environmental constraints, and adopted following receipt of technical and scientific opinions, must involve environmental and fishermen's associations,

BA. whereas it is nevertheless well established that certain fishing techniques such as the use of drift nets, as confirmed by numerous resolutions by Parliament and by international organizations, must be banned throughout the whole Mediterranean seaboard and that this ban must underlie all negotiations and bilateral and multilateral agreements which the EU intends to conclude with third countries either in the Mediterranean or in other seas,

BB. whereas it is necessary immediately to begin a true census of the structures to be converted and to apply the necessary monitoring measures, using not only seaborne instruments but also remote surveillance systems,

BC. whereas fishing activity and the conversion of the sector may be harmonized via better management of the structural funds and ad hoc programmes such as the FIFG, which must increasingly represent an obligatory reference framework for multiannual operational plans for all the countries of the Union; whereas aspects of conversion must nevertheless take account of safeguarding income, avoiding an increase in the conflict between the various fishing professions, and at the same time providing for appropriate training and retraining of fishermen,

BD. whereas certain fishing activities need to be evaluated from the point of view of the negative effects they may have on marine stocks and on the reproduction of species,

BE. whereas, to this end, it is necessary to carry out over ten years a gradual conversion of trawling and of fishing using turboblowers, by reducing engine power, harmonizing and reducing tonnage and increasing periods of suspension of fishing based on detailed scientific assessment; whereas in order to safeguard quantity it is necessary to give new impetus to aquaculture, in particular by experimenting with new species for breeding,

BF. whereas, in any case, in the coming years it will be necessary to reduce fishing activity to take account of the environmental balance and the conservation of species,

BG. whereas it is necessary to implement further programmes under the common fisheries policy concerning conversion, with regional projects for homogeneous areas, along the lines of the Leader projects,

BH. whereas these further programmes must concern the technical conversion of certain fishing activities which adversely affect the biological level of species, taking account also of the relative human resources and the maintenance of income and employment levels, giving priority to projects proposed by recognized fishermen's associations and to fisheries sectors in crisis and under conversion declared as such by the Commission in co- decision with the EP,

BI. whereas the geopolitical characteristics of the Mediterranean are such that the Community bodies must pay special attention to preventing the enforcement of exclusive fishing zones by third countries, or the enlargement of territorial waters up to the 'centre line', which if enforced in some cases (such as the Adriatic, the Aegean, the Ionian Sea or the Straits of Sicily) would not only lead to inextricable crisis in the sector but would have also serious international repercussions even more disruptive than recent problems involving some NAFO countries,

BJ. whereas fisheries agreements in the Mediterranean area, including those which because of their urgent nature are concluded at bilateral level, must nevertheless take account not only of the harmonization of Community legislation but also of the wishes of the FAO and the guidelines of the GFCM and of the Convention on the Law of the Sea which entered into force on 16 November 1994,

1. Accepts and adopts the analysis and the objectives set out above;

2. Calls on the Commission, the Council, national and regional authorities, fishermen's associations, consumers' associations and environmental associations to work along the lines set out under point 1 of the official declarations of Crete of December 1994 and underlines the urgent need for fishing vessels on the high seas to comply with international conservation and management measures (Compliance Agreement);

3. Considers it necessary to give the General Fisheries Council of the Mediterranean (GFCM) full powers and status, with the EU as a member alongside the Member States which have already joined and, in order to avoid a situation like that in the FAO and to give status to the role of the GFCM, to ensure that the Member States of the Union arrange for the EU to have exclusive competence, taking account of the specific characteristics of fisheries organizations in individual countries;

4. Considers also that the EU should join the GFCM with all its weight and energy at the plenary session in 1997, and that the GFCM should promote pilot agreements between the countries of the Union and third countries which join the GFCM covering the management of homogeneous Mediterranean areas in which biological and environmental degradation and the crisis in the fisheries sector require extraordinary measures and forms of fisheries resources management which are environment-friendly and advanced, which promote the reduction of fishing, seasonal fishing, park areas, biological recovery and support for income and employment through targeted support measures by the European Union and countries signatory to the pilot agreement;

5. Calls for a 'Euro-Mediterranean' conference on the sea to be held as part of the follow-up to the Barcelona Conference; looks to the Commission for firm support for this proposal; considers that such a meeting might be organized by the GFCM and the European Union at a geopolitically appropriate venue;

6. Calls for vigorous action by the European Union in favour of maritime regions in difficulties and employment via a 'Maritime Leader' programme; looks to the Commission to advocate such a project which would allow integrated economic development plans to be drawn up, land-sea complementarity, training and information campaigns and the setting up of marketing networks;

7. Points to the need to identify, by means of environmental research and monitoring, areas which share biological and environmental characteristics or contain the same species of fish, so that legislative harmonization designed to ensure targeted, consistent management of fishery resources may be stepped up in such areas;

8. Agrees that Mediterranean policy must be developed via global agreements in the area and that certain options to combat pollution such as those concerning toxic and harmful waste cannot be delayed, and that it is necessary to take measures, through extraordinary agreements and financing, in the industrial and urban areas which cause the most pollution;

9. Advocates enhancing the image of Mediterranean catches by means of the promotion of fresh fish and fish products certified at the place of origin, requiring an appropriate modern technical and commercial structure to carry out ongoing real-time monitoring of supply and demand using an interactive radio-telematic system, allowing local, national and European coordination of operators in the fisheries sector itself (including those involved in marketing and distribution) and in the secondary industrial processing and fisheries-related tourism sectors;

10. Hopes also for targeted research action managed under specific programmes, so as to avoid fragmentation and dissipation which would be detrimental to well-established objectives, with a Union database on research projects and their results, a database for projects being managed or which have been managed in the Mediterranean area with funding from the Union or Member States or third countries and public institutions or research institutions; thus, by monitoring the situation, it will be possible to avoid overlap, duplication and dispersal of resources in the research sector; considers that, in the field of research activity, European or national programmes or programmes by research or regional institutions should have opinions from the relevant national or regional technical and scientific committees expressly set up, should be notified to the EU database, and should, as a matter of priority, have the support of environmental and consumer protection associations and fishermen's associations;

11. Emphasizes the importance of promoting the implementation of protocols between the Member States of the European Union and non-Community countries bordering on and fishing in the Mediterranean, by organizing conventions and trade fairs aimed specifically at fishermen from the Mediterranean area with a view to raising their awareness of the common ground they share and, thereby, their shared interest in adopting uniform rules and thus putting an end to conflicts arising from claims of superiority in terms of traditional practice or nationality;

12. Considers it necessary to establish control measures operating through land- and sea-based structures in the Mediterranean area; control structures would be developed and agreed with the national and regional authorities and with environmental associations, consumer protection associations and fishermen's associations, through specific conventions and plans agreed annually for specific fishing seasons or for monitoring measures established through agreed protocols; control measures should make increasing use of technologically advanced instruments for analysis and guidance, verifying the state of biomass and the potential of species, and also the extent of the fishing effort and its impact, providing for the possibility, for certain species, of a real-time database on the progress of the fishing year using information gathered directly on board vessels and, using this data, for the measurement of discarding and the use of fishing gear;

13. Believes that in any case, taking account of the specific factors affecting fishing grounds in the Mediterranean area, any regulation must seek to avoid contributing to creating water-tight compartments within the CFP nor must it involve such a number of exceptions to the application of general CFP measures that these fishing grounds constitute self-contained zones with special rules which could undermine and disturb competition and impede the application of the law in other areas of the EU;

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