WRITTEN QUESTION P-2907/97 by Heidi Hautala (V) to the Commission (3 September 1997)

Subject: Risk to Atlantic salmon from Norwegian fish-farms

The Tenojoki river, which forms part of the border between Finland and Norway, is the most important breeding ground in the world for Atlantic salmon which still remains largely in its natural state. In Finland, the Tenojoki is very important both to the local Saami population and to tourism in Lapland. It flows into the Tenovuono fjord, in Norway, where there are two salmon farms using cages, which represent a danger to wild salmon. The Norwegian authorities have just approved the farms' expansion, and are also considering permitting one to be set up in the fjord into which the Näätämöjoki river flows. Salmon which escape from the fish-farms swim up the Tenojoki, bringing with them new genetic material and fish diseases. Changes in the genome may, for example, influence the choice of area for migration, growth characteristics and resistance to diseases and parasites.

It is impossible to prevent fish from escaping. According to research, as many as 30% of salmon in the lower reaches of the Tenojoki in the autumn may be escapees. If for example the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris manages to spread into the river, it will completely kill off the wild salmon. The parasite does not always reach epidemic proportions on fish-farms but does so only in the wild, so that it may be impossible to prevent destruction of the fish stocks without closing down the fish-farms. The danger of fish diseases grows as the capacity of fish-farms does, as it is necessary to acquire fry for them from a variety of sources.

1. The principle of sustainable development and the precautionary principle are enshrined in the EU treaties. Will the Commission act under Article 130r to ensure that salmon farming is halted in the Tenovuono fjord and prevented in the Näätämövuono fjord?

2. At present the EU's common fisheries policy is confined to maritime areas. Will the Commission extend fisheries policy to rivers on the EU's borders, so that the Tenojoki river can be protected?

3. Within which international organizations will the Commission act to close down the fish-farms using cages in the Tenovuono fjord and to prevent such a farm being set up in the Näätämövuono fjord, and how will the Commission ensure that Norway does not contravene the Tenojoki fisheries agreement through its actions in the Tenovuono fjord?

4. What means will the Commission use to ensure that Norway abides by the agreements concluded within NASCO to reduce the risks of damage from salmon farms using cages?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (10 November 1997)

1. As the Honourable Member is aware, Article 130(r) of the EC Treaty states that environmental protection requirements are a component of the Community's other policies, including, inter alia, the common fisheries policy. However, Norway is not a Member State of the Community and therefore Community rules do not apply in this respect.

2. The common fisheries policy covers exploitation activities involving living marine aquatic resources including anadromous stocks and catadromous species.

3. and 4. Within the North Atlantic salmon conservation organization (NASCO), at its 1994 annual meeting held in Oslo, all contracting parties, including the Community and Norway, resolved to minimise the impacts from salmon aquaculture on wild salmon stocks. Furthermore the Parties resolved to take measures which, to the extent possible, would reduce to the very minimum escapes of farmed salmon as well as the straying of ranched salmon and would minimise the adverse genetic and other biological interactions from enhancement activities. The Parties set themselves the objective to implement fully this Resolution by the time of the 15th annual meeting in June 1998.

It is incumbent upon Norway to ensure that it fully implements with this Resolution. On the basis of information received from Norway, it is the understanding of the Commission that the current activities carried out by Norway on the Tenojoki river observe the terms and conditions set out in the Resolution. The Commission will, however, continue to monitor this situation very carefully and take appropriate action should the need arise.

On a more general level, with regard to disease protection, Council Directive 91/67/EEC concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products ((OJ L 46, 19.2.1991. )), as last amended by Directive 95/22/EC ((OJ L 243, 11.10.1995. )), offers the procedures necessary for the Member States to obtain additional health guarantees for certain diseases. In the context of ongoing discussions on the veterinary legislation within the European economic area (EEA), the Commission is endeavouring to ensure that the same procedures apply to Norway.