WRITTEN QUESTION E-1490/97 by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (30 April 1997)

Subject: Protecting Cetacea in Tenerife and La Gomera (Canary Islands)

The sea channel separating the islands of Tenerife and La Gomera contains a site of outstanding natural and scientific interest frequently visited by many species of Cetacea such as the pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and the bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Both species are covered by Council Directive 92/43/EEC ((OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7. )) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, specifically Annexes IV and II, and the stable population of more than 250 animals makes the area an important observation site for these species.

More than 500 000 people now visit the habitat of these mammals and tourists are taken to the site by dozens of authorized and unauthorized boats, generating an annual income of around PTA 2 billion.

This activity is placing excessive pressure on the cetacean population, and the environmental departments of the Canary Islands Government have acknowledged that the animals are suffering from being constantly chased and cornered throughout the year, which is leading to stress, nervousness, the dispersal of individual animals and families and even accidents with visiting boats. The regulations issued by the Canary Islands Government in response to this situation are not preventing incidents such as those described above.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

Does the Commission consider that it amounts to a breach of the conservationist spirit of Directive 92/43/EEC?

Has the Commission considered analysing whether the activities carried out in the south of the island are compatible with conserving pilot whales, which are listed in Annex IV among the 'Animal and plant species of Community interest in need of strict protection'?

Can the above incidents be considered as contravening the provisions of Article 12 of the Habitat Directive, which prohibits the deliberate disturbance of species listed in Annex IV(a) (as is the case with the species in question) and deterioration of their resting places?

What measures will the Commission take to ensure that the Directive is complied with in the case of these species?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 June 1997)

A single species of Cetacea, the bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is included in Annex II to Directive 92/43/EEC. All species of this family, including Globicephala macrorhyncha, are included in Annex IV to the Directive.

The Commission is aware of the difficulties in conserving these species, and particularly in achieving compatibility between protection measures and the tourist industry which has grown around the provision of observation trips in certain parts of the Canary Islands Archipelago. It was for this reason that the Commission, during the first meeting held with the Spanish authorities to select locations for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network, expressed its concern at the absence of marine areas suitable for the conservation of these species in the proposed Spanish list.

In response to the Commission's questions, and in order to fulfil the requirements of the Directive and preserve the habitat of the bottle-nosed dolphin, the Canary Islands Government has recently proposed two special conservation zones for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. These include some of the biggest populations of Globicephala macrorhyncha in the islands. According to the Directive, in particular Article 6, it is the Member States who must determine what measures are necessary in order to guarantee the conservation of the species in these areas.

As well as conserving the habitat, the Canary Islands Government has published Decree 320/95 on the regulation of tourist activities involving observation of cetaceans in the area. The responsibility for monitoring these measures also lies with the Canary Islands Government.

As regards Commission activities to help protect cetaceans, the Commission is currently evaluating the project for conservation of the species Caretta caretta and Tursiops truncatus in the Canary Islands, proposed by the Consejería de Política Territorial of the Canary Islands Government as part of the Life-Nature 97 programme.

The Commission is also currently supporting a project that aims to demonstrate the potential of voluntary financial schemes within the European tourism industry, as an approach to generating monetary contributions from visitors towards the conservation and tourism managament of tourist destinations. One of the schemes consists of an extensive research exercise amongst visitors in Tenerife based on the conservation of dolphins and whales.

Another scheme is the promotion of conservation holidays concerned with pilot whale watching in Tenerife, through attracting tourists to pay for the cost of research on the effects of tourism on the cetaceans of the area by offering their own time and money. The project, selected in 1995 under the Community action plan to assist tourism, will be completed by July 1997.