EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/226

(2004/C 78 E/0230)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3130/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(23 October 2003)

Subject: Fisheries — OASIS — Oceanic Seamounts

The June 2003 third newsletter of ‘OASIS — Oceanic Seamounts: an Integrated Study’ (http://www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/OASIS) — a study supported by the Commission — the proposal to open up the 200 mile Economic Exclusion Zone around the Azores, Madeira and Canary archipelagos to Community fishing fleets has already led to letters being sent to the Commission from environmental organisations like Greenpeace, Seas at Risk and the World Wildlife Fund, expressing their concern at the possible adoption of such a measure.

OASIS itself says that opening up this zone would pose an immediate threat to the oceanic seamounts (underwater mountains), and directly impact on its scientific work.

The Commission:

— can it confirm receipt of the letters referred to;

— what information does it have as to the consequences foreseen by OASIS and the environmental organisations for the area in question, and specifically the foreseeable destruction of habitats, including the seamounts, the decline of stocks of deepwater fish and the destruction of small-scale local fisheries, affecting the lives of the fishermen and their families;

— does it agree that the marine ecosystems of the three archipelagos are extremely vulnerable, and require protection?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2003)

In July 2003 the Commission received a joint letter from Greenpeace, Seas at Risk and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) expressing their concern about the proposed modification of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (1) (Western Waters) to reduce the 200 nautical mile (nm) exclusion zone around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.

According to recent scientific reports and, in particular, the reports of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), trawling-induced damage to deep-water coral reefs has been proved in several areas. The impact of trawled gear kills the polyps and breaks up the reef structure. Recovery may not be possible or could be seriously impaired. Damage may range from a decrease in the reef size and a consequent decrease in abundance and diversity of associated fauna to a complete disintegration of the reef and its replacement with a low-diversity community.

As for deep-sea fish, ICES has warned that several deep-sea stocks are now heavily exploited and in some cases severely depleted. The Commission knows that these species are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because of their slow ability to reproduce.

Members of Parliament as well as Portuguese local and national authorities have contacted the Commission to express their concerns about the future of local fishing communities. The damage to these habitats are a threat to their survival.

The Commission confirms the extreme vulnerability of seamount ecosystems in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands and the need to provide the necessary protection to these important marine habitats. To this end, the Commission is preparing a draft proposal for a Council Regulation to prohibit the use of bottom trawls in certain areas of the Atlantic Ocean, including the three areas the Honourable Member refers to.

(1) OJ L 261, 20.10.1993.