WRITTEN QUESTION E-2381/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) and Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 July 2000)

Subject: Mucilage in the Adriatic sea

What initiatives does the Commission intend to take to deal with the mucilage emergency in the Adriatic sea, a phenomenon which is damaging the operations of fishermen and tourist and business operators in the region?

How does it intend to protect the fishing world, which has already been hit by numerous problems such as expensive fuel, excessive penalties for violations of administrative rules and the fact that there has been no rationalisation of the fisheries sector legislation, resulting in a single text?

Does the Commission intend to implement emergency measures?

In addition, is the Commission aware of problems connected with the biological rest period, which should be implemented at various periods relating to the times of birth and growth of various types of fish in the Adriatic and no longer, as is currently the case, at inconsistent and random periods laid down by decree?

Finally, what part will the Commission play in the setting of criteria for the distribution of assistance for fishery products traders, in connection with the 1999 stoppage caused by the war?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

The increased frequency and importance of mucilaginous algae blooms, during the last decades, in the Adriatic Sea, is the result of excessive input of nitrogen and phosphorus from intensive agriculture (fertilisers) and from large urban populations, Milan in particular. Under certain conditions, the nitrogen and phosphorus act as nutrients and stimulate the occurrence of vast quantities of marine plankton (diatoms) which manifest themselves as this mucilage. The Commission has stimulated scientific research into problems of this nature occurring in both the Adriatic and other areas to provide a basis for establishing codes of good practice to reduce nutrient inputs to the sea.

Under Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment(1) all urban areas of more than 10 000 inhabitants should be equipped with means by which nitrogen and phosphorus are removed from their wastewater emissions. Under Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources(2) all areas of intensive agriculture should be subject to efficient action programmes to reduce inputs of nitrogen. The Commission is maintaining legal pressure on national authorities to ensure the correct implementation of these measures.

The sanctions imposed on fishermen for violation of the conditions of fisheries protection regulations do not lie within the competence of the Community but emanate from the Italian legal system rather than from Community legislation. Council Regulation (EC) No 1626/4 of 27 June 1994 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean(3) and subsequent amendments specifies the conditions under which certain fishing activities should take place. Little can be done at Community level with regard to the price of oil.

The conditions for biological closures are established under national legislation of which the Commission is aware. If the Honourable Members consider that details of this legislation are inappropriate, they might approach the Italian authorities to redraft the legislation and submit the redraft by accepted channels to the Commission for perusal.

Under the current rules (Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector(4)), Member States can grant compensation for temporary suspensions of fishing due to unforeseen events on the terms set out in Article 16 of that Regulation. However, budget resources for this type of intervention are strictly limited and a Member State would have to assess the scale of the problem and judge what priority such compensation should have. Finally, if it decides to grant compensation it must send the Commission the relevant scientific justification beforehand.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.

(2) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991.

(3) OJ L 171, 6.7.1994.

(4) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.