WRITTEN QUESTION E-3972/98

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: EU action to alleviate the grave crisis affecting fishing for swordfish

Written Question E-0906/98(1) of March 1998, addressed to the Commission, condemned the fact that fishing for swordfish by vessels flying flags of convenience was giving rise to a grave crisis in the form of a depletion of stocks, unfair competition, distortions on the markets, and so forth. In its answer, the Commission stated that it was "fully aware of the problem", and in response to the call for trade sanctions to be adopted at ICCAT, it declared that "at the appropriate time, and on the basis of the information that will be presented at the next annual meeting (...), the Commission will be in a position to discuss this matter".

Given that, as matters stand at present, the indecisive results of the recent annual meeting will neither lead to a recovery in stocks nor bring the market out of crisis, thereby seriously jeopardising the viability of the Community sector and in particular of the Spanish longliner fleet.

Given the information already available:

1. Does the Commission not believe that putting an end to the illegal and irresponsible activity of fleets flying flags of convenience continues to present the only valid and effective way out of the crisis currently besetting the swordfish market?

2. Does it not regard the ICCAT recommendation on a possible ban on landings by vessels from non-contracting states, where infringements of ICCAT rules can be proved, as entirely inadequate and ineffective in practice, since most of the fish entering the market have been caught by merchant vessels which can sidestep any potential ban on landings merely by stating that they have been fishing outside the ICCAT regulatory area?

3. What new measures does it therefore intend to adopt to alleviate the grave crisis affecting the sector?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 1999)

At the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) held at Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from 16 to 23 November 1998 the Commission proposed the adoption of measures to prohibit imports of swordfish from countries which grant flags of convenience. Unfortunately, this proposal was opposed by other members of ICCAT and could not be adopted.

The measure to prohibit landings by non-contracting party vessels identified as having committed an infringement, which was adopted by ICCAT at the Community's instigation, can be very effective in the case of direct landings, which make up a large proportion of imports.

There remains the more difficult problem of swordfish imports by other means. The Commission has taken an active part, within the regional fisheries management organisations, in the adoption of measures in respect of vessels flying flags of convenience. It will continue its efforts, in particular within ICCAT, to find a satisfactory solution to this problem.

The Commission has also suggested that the Spanish authorities apply Council Regulation (EC) 1093/94 of 6 May 1994 setting the terms under which fishing vessels of a third country may land directly and market their catches at Community ports(2), which makes it possible to prevent third country vessels from landing swordfish directly and marketing it in the Community at less than the reference price.

(1) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998, p. 38.

(2) OJ L 121, 12.5.1994.