WRITTEN QUESTION E-1792/96 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (3 July 1996)

Subject: Hazards of driftnets

On 28 May 1996, the Greek press reported Greenpeace as saying that a meeting had been called in Brussels between representatives of the Community and the Italian Presidency to settle the dispute over the use of driftnets in the Mediterranean and the hazards this entails. The reports claim that four years after the European Regulation banning the use of driftnets more than 2.5 kilometres long, Italian fishing boats are constantly breaching this limit in the Ionian and Aegean, killing thousands of dolphins and other species, 80% of which are thrown back into the sea dead.

1. What was the outcome of the above-mentioned meeting?

2. What measures is the Commission taking to deal with this ecological disaster and enforce Community regulations?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1727/96 and E-1792/96 given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (9 September 1996)

Taking into account the specific problems related to the drift-net fishery in the Mediterranean as well as in other areas, the Commission presented in 1994 a proposal to the Council ((OJ C 118, 29.4.1994. )) that drift-net activitites be gradually reduced with a total cessation of these activities by 31 December 1997 at the latest. Despite the Commission's efforts to work actively together with the subsequent Council presidencies with a view to reaching a compromise solution on this issue, the Council has not been in a position to adopt the proposal.

Within the framework of the common fisheries policy each Member State is responsible for monitoring implementation of Community legislation ((Council Regulation (EC) No. 2847/93 of 12.10.1993, OJ L 261, 20.10.1993. )) with respect to fishing activities conducted in its territory or in the waters under its jurisdiction and beyond by Community fishing vessels flying its flag. It is, therefore, up to the Member States concerned to ensure that their vessels engaged in drift-net fishing are complying with current Community legislation and particularly the requirement that drift-nets used by each vessel do not exceed 2.5 kilometers.

It is the task of the Commission to verify whether Member States fulfill their control obligations. To this end, the Commission chartered a vessel to operate as an inspection platform for national and Community inspectors, which patrolled the Mediterranean for a period of about six weeks in May and June 1996. As far as compliance is concerned, it is understood that the Italian government is taking measures with a view to ensuring proper enforcement and thus avoiding a repetition of the cases observed.

As in previous years, the Commission will draw up a report in which it will present its findings in detail.

A number of meetings have been organized between the Commission and the Italian authorities during which the question of a conversion programme for those boats fishing with driftnets has been discussed, and at which some suggestions as to the means of achieving the conversion of this fishing activity have been put forward. Now it is for the Italian government to formulate and present a conversion programme.