WRITTEN QUESTION E-0009/03

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(16 January 2003)

Subject: Lack of objectivity in the Commission's study on fish-farming

In Written Question E-2675/02(1) I said the industrial farming of carnivorous fish is today the principal threat to the sustainable development of fisheries, a view based on a number of studies published by scientific journals such as Nature and the opinions of many environmental organisations, which can easily be found on the Internet and which, apparently, only the Commission does not know about.

To my amazement, instead of receiving an answer to my questions, I was confronted with a crude distortion of my statements, from which the specific reference to carnivorous fish which was the whole point of the question was omitted.

Furthermore, the Commission has shown itself incapable of acting responsibly, arguing that there is no detailed evidence of very high levels of PCBs in salmon in order to justify its inaction, despite the fact that this information is available to everybody and I myself mentioned some of the best-known sources.

In effect, the Commission managed the rare achievement of producing a 28-page document on fish-farming without making a single substantial reference to the problems caused to sustainable fisheries by the industrial farming of carnivorous fish.

Does the Commission not consider it its duty to take account of the precautionary principle and weigh up the facts in a balanced and objective manner when proposing policy strategies, instead of advocating formulae which may jeopardise the sustainability of fisheries? Has the Commission considered what responsibility it is assuming by adopting this kind of attitude?

(1) OJ C 155 E, 3.7.2003, p. 40.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2003)

In reply to the concern expressed by the Honourable Member about the pressure on wild fish stocks to produce fishmeal for carnivorous fish farming, the Commission observes that in its answer to the Honourable Member's Written Question E-2675/02 the Commission mentioned the Community strategy for sustainable development of European aquaculture(1) and other specific action to guarantee the sustainability of both aquaculture and the fisheries that support the farming industry. It should be noted that European aquaculture is essentially based on carnivorous species (trout, salmon, seabass, seabream, turbot, sturgeon), so the strategy applies essentially, although not exclusively, to this type of aquaculture.

The Commission is conscious of the extent to which European aquaculture may put pressure on the marine ecosystem (in particular, on wild species and habitats) and has addressed this concern in the strategy proposed and in its wider policy on fisheries management. On the basis of the scientific evidence available, the Commission is not in a position, however, to support the view that aquaculture constitutes the major threat to the sustainable development of fisheries, as the Honourable Member suggests.

Aquaculture production of carnivorous fish has grown steadily, while annual world fishmeal production has remained nearly constant at 6-7 million tons over the past 15 years, except for a decline during the 1998 El Niño period. This was possible because as aquaculture has grown, it has diverted a growing portion of the fishmeal supply from its traditional use in feed for land animals. The proportion of fishmeal used by aquaculture has passed from 10 % in 1988 to 35 % in 1998.

As duly pointed out by the Commission Communication on fish farming(2) the intensification of freshwater fish aquaculture in Asia may absorb by the end of this decade as much as 70-80 percent of world fish oil production and at least 50 percent of fishmeal production, creating problems of supply. This resource being limited, it is extremely important to continue the research effort to find substitute protein sources in the fish feed formulation.

The Commission considers that research to find alternative protein sources for fish feed should be given top priority, in order to allow a further development of carnivorous fish farming and, at the same time, ensure the sustainability of industrial fisheries.

Concerning the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in salmon, the Commission is conscious of the need to limit human exposure to PCBs from food. The Commission has adopted a comprehensive approach with regard to dioxins, furans and PCBs in food and feed. Legally binding maximum levels for dioxins and furans are in application in feed and food, including fish and fishery products, since 1 July 2002. These maximum levels will be reviewed by 31 December 2004 with a view to inclusion of dioxin-like PCBs in the levels to be set. As regards non-dioxin-like PCBs a risk assessment is currently undertaken, taking into account the most recent toxicological information. Given the very complex and

comprehensive nature of the risk assessment, the Commission is co-operating closely with other international official organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) to perform this assessment. The monitoring on the presence of non-dioxin like PCBs in feed and food, including fish and fishery products, is continuously ongoing and the obtained data are made available for the risk assessment. These data will further serve to determine the most appropriate Community measures to be taken to reduce the presence of PCBs in feed and food.

(1) Commission communication to the Council and the Parliament A strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture, COM(2002) 511 final.

(2) Commission communication to the Council and the Parliament A strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture, COM(2002) 511 final.