WRITTEN QUESTION E-2579/98

by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Effects of the activities of the trawler fleet on African fishing grounds

A number of organisations, including fishermen's associations and ecological groups, have complained over the effects on the equilibrium of the fishing grounds off the coast of north-east Africa (essentially, the coasts of the Western Sahara and Mauritania) of the methods and volume of fishing of the Community trawler fleet operating in the area.

According to these sources, the risk exists of overfishing in a number of fishing grounds, thus jeopardizing the sustainability and continuity of fishing activity in the area in the medium term.

Is the Commission aware of these complaints?

Does the Commission consider the continued use of these fishing practices by large trawlers to be compatible with the preservation of fish stocks in the area?

Has an assessment been carried out of the impact of these fleets on their small-scale, traditional counterparts?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1998)

The Commission is aware of various declarations made in relation to pelagic fishing activities in West African waters. With regard to Community vessels conducting their activities in the context of the fisheries agreements in the area, it can be confirmed that according both to reports from the inspection authorities of the coastal states concerned and to inspections carried out on the vessels during the landing of their catches in Community ports, the vessels have respected the terms laid down in the fisheries agreement for their activities.

In view of the fact that these pelagic activities constituted new fishing opportunities for the Community fleet under the agreements in question, the Commission has taken a number of initiatives. Firstly, it has requested the authorities of the Member States concerned to monitor the catch declarations of their pelagic vessels operating in West African waters. Secondly, it has requested Member States to inspect these pelagic vessels when they land their catches in Community ports. Finally, it has proposed to the Mauritanian authorities that they ensure the presence of national scientific observers on board this segment of the Community fleet, as has been done for other segments of the fleet, in order to gather full data on the fishing activities concerned.

With regard to a possible impact on artisanal fisheries, the Commission would point out that these Community vessels are subject to restrictions which notably exclude them from the coastal area inside 12 miles. They are subject furthermore to very strict bycatch requirements, which foresee zero bycatch of cephalopods and crustaceans, and 3 % of demersal species.

Furthermore, the Commission considers that the fishing practices of (inter alia) the Community fleet under fishing agreements and internal fishing activities of our partners must be fully compatible with the equilibrium of fishing grounds and the long term preservation of fishing stocks. This is a basic principle in conformity with the United Nations convention of the law of the sea and is regularly brought to the attention of third countries.

Specifically for North-West Africa, after a period of intensive consultation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries a project will shortly be presented for funding by the European development fund to develop a fisheries information and analysis system with the six countries of the Sub-regional fisheries commission (SRFC) (Mauritania, Senegal, Cap Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea). This collaboration aims to improve the performance of regional and national fisheries management and to mobilize national research institutions in the six countries with their European partners and have their research respond to the needs of decision-makers. This project has been endorsed by the ministerial conference of the SRFC in Conakry 9-10 October.