WRITTEN QUESTION P-2111/01

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(10 July 2001)

Subject: Development cooperation and fisheries

International fisheries agreements, despite their status as commercial agreements, include sections concerned with the development of the fisheries sector in the signatory country, by such means as support for training and research.

However, local fishery development projects in developing countries are financed under the Community's development cooperation policy.

What fisheries sector development projects in developing countries have been financed to date under the Community's development cooperation policy?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2001)

The Commission has clearly stated its intention to pursue improved coherence between development policy and other policies likely to affect developing countries. More thans 15O million poor people in the world depend on the fishery sector, and the sector is an important source of foreign exchange to many developing countries.

Approving the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, EC has also recognised the contribution of small scale fishing to employment and to food security.

According to the Commission's records, a total of 334 programmes, projects or actions were launched during the period from 1980 to 2001 (31 July 2001), to support the fisheries sector in developing countries. 289 of them for the benefit of African, Carribean and Pacific countries (ACP), 31 for Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) and 14 for countries of the Asian, Latin American and Mediterranean areas (ALA/MED). On 31 July 2001, the cumulative commitment by the Community stood at 421 millions, of which 254 millions for the ACP countries, 30 millions for the OCT and 137 millions for the ALA/MED; the funding resources being the European Development Funds and the Commission's yearly Budgets.

Different types of fisheries have been given support: inland, lagoon, coastal and high seas, artisanal and industrial, as well as multiple special activities: aquaculture, pearl cultivation, seaweed harvesting, fish farming in rice fields, etc.

The support has taken many forms: assessment, management and control of marine resources, biodiversity management, collection of statistical data, setting up of data bases, feasibility studies, research, experimentation, training, information, extension, general technical assistance, etc.

Support has been focussed on various aspects of the fisheries sector: legislation, conservation, surveillance, planning, inspection of catches, compliance with Community sanitary requirements, control facilities (laboratories), processing, packing, canning, export and marketing, vessels and fishing equipment, port infrastructure and facilities for deep-freezing and storing, post harvest losses, etc.

Some project activities have been concentrated on particular species, notably tuna, trout, swordfish, eel and shrimps.

Costwise, the main programmes/projects are the following:

a) in the ACP countries:

- Maríne resources development programme, Pacific region, 10,7 millions;

- Lake Victoria fisheries research project, East Africa, 8,4 millions;

- Training and support for private involvement in the fisheries sector in IGAD member states, East Africa, 8 millions;

- Improvement of postharvest utilisation of artisanal catches, West Africa, 8 millions;

- Lake fisheries development project, Ethiopia, 7,5 millions;

- Fishing in the Gulf of Guinea, 7,2 millions;

- Tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean, 6,5 millions;

b) in the Overseas Countries and Territories:

- Pacific regional marine resources programme, 11,4 millions;

- Development of the fishing fleet, French Polynesia, 6,2 millions;

- Upgrading of Saint Pierre harbour, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 2,6 millions;

c) in the Asian, Latin American and Mediterranean areas:

- Fourth Fisheries Development project, Yemen, 44,5 millions;

- Inland fisheries development, India, 25,2 millions;

- Programa Pesca, South America, 25 millions;

- Support to artisanal fisheries development, Algeria, 15,6 millions;

- Programa Regional de Pesca, South America, 9,4 millions;

- Fujian marine fisheries development, China, 6,2 millions.