EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/172

(2004/C 78 E/0177)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2811/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(18 September 2003)

Subject: Situation of the Mauritanian fishing ground

In its communication on an integrated framework for fisheries partnership agreements with third countries (1) and in the Green Paper on reform of the CFP, the Commission emphasises the development cooperation component which these international fisheries agreements must contain.

Development cooperation should not mean that fishing agreements become unbalanced, with financial compensation far exceeding the value of catch possibilities, but that the Community and European firms should transfer technology and know-how to developing countries so that those countries' fishery resources increase in value. This means that third countries must properly regulate the exploitation of fishery resources so that their fleets also practise sustainable fishing.

At present, however, genuine fisheries development cooperation is not taking place, particularly in relation to the main agreement with Mauritania, and the Commission is not exerting pressure on the other party, i.e. the Mauritanian Government, to guarantee the proper sustainable management of fishery resources. The result is that the Community fleet cannot catch the quotas granted under the agreement and the agreement is therefore not profitable for Community firms, which have to pay a large fee and subsequently find that, owing to Mauritania's failure to ensure the sustainable management of resources, there are not sufficient resources available.

Large numbers of launches, canoes and other vessels fish for octopus with traps in breeding grounds close to the beaches. Numerous Chinese vessels fish under the Mauritanian flag or in fictitious joint ventures without respecting the most basic principles of responsible fishing. Fifteen Dutch supertrawlers authorised to catch pelagic species use enormous nets reaching from the surface to the sea bed and scoop up everything in their path … The small-scale artisanal fleet wreaks havoc in the breeding grounds and destroys stocks, while the industrial fleet complies with the requirements of sustainable fishing.

Is the Commission aware of these facts? Has it expressed its concern at the deterioration in the fishing ground to the Mauritanian Government? What steps will the Commission take to cooperate with the Mauritanian authorities on the responsible management of fishery resources?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2003)

In its Communication on an integrated framework for fisheries partnership agreements with third countries (2) the Commission recalled the need to ensure coherence between the international aspects of the CFP and those of other Community policies. In the same document it points out that the primary objective of the external side of the CFP is to protect the legitimate interests of European fishermen and seek new alliances and partnerships (through partnership agreements) with developing countries. Such agreements must in future be considered as a contribution by the Community at international level, through political dialogue with the country or countries concerned, to achievement of sustainable and responsible fishing.

As the Honourable Member quite rightly points out, the Community's financial contribution under these agreements will therefore have to be based on an assessment of what needs to be done, in concert with the country, to achieve responsible and sustainable fishing in the waters under its jurisdiction that also provides genuine opportunities for Community fishermen.

The agreement with Mauritania to which the Honourable Member refers was signed in 1998 and last renewed in 2001, hence predates the abovementioned Communication and reform of the CFP. It does however incorporate a contribution to responsible fishing by including Community financing for directly identified action on management, conservation and surveillance of fishing activities and to develop local small-scale fishing, though strictly speaking this cannot be classed as a real political dialogue as intended by the Communication on partnership agreements, since the present agreement makes no provision for the necessary consultative and decision-taking mechanism.

In the last few months the question of pressure on resources in the waters under Mauritanian jurisdiction has been raised several times, notably at meetings of scientific experts in Mauritania in June. In October the experts confirmed that at the moment cephalopod stocks are in decline but stated that the other stocks are in good condition. The Commission has recently been informed of repeated infringements by Community vessels exporting octopus stocks that are endangering renewal of this resource.

It is incorrect however to speak of ‘quotas’, since the agreement only provides for access rights and the Mauritanian Government as sovereign power offers no exclusive access to European vessels.

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's awareness of the importance of sustainable management of the resources in the waters under Mauritanian jurisdiction. It has already put its concerns on the agenda for the next meeting in December of the EC-Mauritania Joint Committee so that more attention can be paid to them in future.

(1) COM(2002) 637 final.

(2) COM(2002) 637 final.