EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/59

(2004/C 84 E/0066)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3359/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 November 2003)

Subject: Bycatch associated with shrimp fisheries

Following extensive research, the Environmental Justice Foundation has concluded that the high levels of bycatch associated with shrimp fisheries are causing ecological degradation on a global scale. According to the FAO, shrimp fisheries alone are responsible for one third of the world's discarded catch, despite producing less than 2 % of seafood. Although shrimp fisheries are particularly non-selective, the issue of bycatch is not limited to these fisheries. Millions of tonnes of bycatch are caught by a variety of fishing methods every year, with trawlers, gillnets and longlines being responsible for a leading share. Left unmanaged, these fisheries will unquestionably lead to a decline in marine biodiversity and productivity, along with increased unemployment and poverty in coastal areas. In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly stated that ‘the issue of bycatch and discards in fishing operations warrants serious attention by the international community,’ yet insufficient action has been taken to resolve this over-exploitation. In order to address the issue of bycatch on a global level, EJF recommends the adoption of an ‘International Plan of Action on Bycatch Reduction’ under the auspices of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. EJF would like the EU to take the lead in calling for this IPOA at the next viable opportunity. Given that the EU has recently reformed the CFP to prioritise conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources, such a proposal would be in line with current European concerns. An IPOA would not only assist the EU in addressing its own bycatch levels (including those associated with long-distance fleets), but would also push forward international policy in terms of reducing wastage from fisheries.

1. What EU initiatives currently address bycatch reduction (rather than solely reduction in discards) in European waters, and bycatch reduction in long-distance fleets in third-country waters?

2. How does the EU monitor bycatch levels and the impacts of bycatch on marine ecosystems?

3. Is the EU prepared to take a lead in calling for a UN FAO ‘International Plan of Action on Bycatch Reduction’?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of the serious problem caused by high levels of by-catch in certain fisheries and the associated decline in marine biodiversity and productivity. The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern and agrees on the urgent need to address the problem at a global level.

As pointed out by the Honourable Member, the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) gives priority to conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. Chapter II of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (1) in the reformed CFP envisages ‘specific measures to reduce the impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems and non-target species’, as well as ‘establishing incentives, including those of an economic nature, to promote more selective or low impact fishing’.

The common fisheries policy includes a number of initiatives designed to reduce by-catches by its own fishing fleet.

These include:

— the Action Plan on discards (2). This Action Plan deals with the problem of discarding of fish by the Community's fishing fleets in all its areas of operation. Its purpose is to provide a general overview of the magnitude of discarding, to indicate the biological and economic consequences of discarding as well as the possibilities for reducing quantities discarded by reducing fishing effort and developing more selective fishing gears;

— the promotion of selective fishing techniques, through financial incentives for the use of selective fishing gear offered by 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 (3) and the funding of studies on by-catch and possible mitigation measures.

As an example of the latter, a specific three-year research project, starting in 2003, is being finalised under the sixth Framework Programme to develop low-impact, species-selective fishing gears, and to formulate alternative fishing tactics in order to reduce impact on non-target species. The potential Community contribution is between EUR 3 and EUR 4 million.

1. the introduction of fishing effort control measures in order to reduce by-catches of severely depleted fish stocks in mixed fisheries (such as, for instance, cod in the North Sea and West of Scotland). In connection with long distance fleets in third-country waters, in some cases the Fisheries Agreements contain measures to reduce discards, for example the setting of by-catch quotas.

2. As far as monitoring is concerned, in the Data Collection Regulation (4) there is an obligation to monitor discards for specific stocks; other stocks of secondary importance are to be covered by pilot surveys. There are also monitoring obligations for the bycatch of some protected species in the Habitats Directive (5).

3. As for the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) suggestion to call for a United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) ‘International Plan of Action on Bycatch Reduction’, the Commission thinks it is a very valuable idea and is ready to support it. However, given the large workload associated with the preparation of the Commission's own Action Plan on Discards referred to in point 1, on which a number of specific initiatives will be taken next year, the Commission is not in a position to allocate resources to take the lead in preparing other initiatives at the international level.

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2) COM(2002) 656 final.

(3) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 1543/2000 of 29 June 2000 establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy, OJ L 176, 15.7.2000.

(5) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 43/92 of 9 January 1992 establishing a deadline for the presentation by the Member States of regionalization plans, OJ L 5, 10.1.1992.