EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 70/186

(2004/C 70 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2991/03

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject: Ban on mechanised cockle fishing in the Wadden Sea

Further to my question P-2375/03 (1) of 10 July on mortality among eider ducks resulting from fishing for shellfish in the Wadden Sea, I would like to draw the Commission's attention to the ‘Natuurbalans’ of the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), which sets out the provisional conclusions of the assessment of the impact of fishing for shellfish (EVA II).

The second phase (1988-2003) of the study of the effects of fishing for shellfish in Netherlands coastal waters (EVA II) contains a number of important provisional results:

— Mussel beds on the flats in the eastern part of the Wadden Sea have recently recovered. This has been found to be partly as a result of the creation of areas in which fishing for shellfish was not permitted.

— Mussel bed fishing has been found not to be favourable to the development of beds.

— Increased mortality among eider ducks has been found to be caused by a shortage of suitable food.

— The system of food reserves assists the survival of shellfish-eating birds in thin years. The fact that numbers of eider ducks and oyster catchers in the Wadden Sea has, nevertheless, declined may point to inadequate reserves. The effect of the presence of mussel parks in the Wadden Sea on total supplies of shellfish depends on their management. During the period 1970-1980 the way in which they were managed resulted in parks being well stocked with mussels (and possibly an increase in the number of eider ducks). As a consequence of the sea bed being turned over by mechanised cockle fishing methods, changes in the sediment have been appearing locally within a short space of time, which result in cockles growing less quickly. That means less food for shellfish-eating birds like the eider duck. The species has been declining in numbers since 1996. Mortality among eider ducks has been linked in recent years to the shortage of food in the form of shellfish. According to the latest count in 2003, eider ducks are increasingly concentrated in the Wadden Sea, an area protected under the Birds Directive. Seven other species of breeding bird and eight winter visitors (knots, oyster catchers) are also declining in numbers.

Is the Commission prepared to ban mechanised cockle fishing in the Wadden Sea now that its negative impact has been scientifically established?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 2003)

As indicated in its reply to the Honourable Member's written question P-2375/03, the Commission has opened cases relating to, inter alia, the adverse effects of shellfish harvesting in the Wadden Sea on the populations of wild birds. The Wadden Sea has been designated by the Netherlands as a special protection area under Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (2) and has been put forward as a proposed site of Community importance under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (3). The Commission has taken note of the information provided by the Honourable Member regarding the possible negative effects of these activities on these birds.

In the framework of the mentioned cases, the Commission has recently addressed a letter to the Netherlands.

The Commission will examine all information that will be provided by the Dutch authorities, including the results of the study mentioned by the Honourable Member once these become definitive, and will then consider the possible further steps to be taken in this context.

(1) OJ C 33 E, 6.2.2004, p. 256.

(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.

(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.