WRITTEN QUESTION P-2494/99

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Protection of wild salmon stocks in the Tornionjoki (Torneälv) river

In 1996 the Finnish government issued an important fishing regulation on the protection of wild salmon stocks in the Baltic, which sought to protect the access of the salmon to their spawning grounds. The natural increase of salmon improved significantly for a time in the Tornionjoki (Torneälv) and Simojoki rivers. In 1998 restrictions on open sea fishing were relaxed and salmon catches in the Tornionjoki collapsed to half the previous year's level.

The protection and reproduction of salmon stocks were affected not only by the relaxation of protection measures regarding sea fishing but also by the fact that exceptional licences needed to be obtained to catch whitefish in the sea area round the Tornionjoki estuary granted during the period of the ban on salmon fishing. A particularly large number of salmon heading upstream are caught in the nets intended for whitefish. Other major problems are the years of overfishing for salmon in sea areas, the problems of monitoring fisheries, and the differing points of view of the Finnish and Swedish fisheries authorities as regards fishing and protection measures.

The wild salmon in the Baltic Sea area is on the EU list of endangered species and the genetic diversity of wild salmon stocks has been reduced as a result of long-term overfishing. What concrete measures does the Commission propose to take to save the threatened wild salmon stocks in the Baltic? Is the Commission prepared to intervene to prevent illegal sea fishing if the Finnish Government does not do so?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 2000)

The Commission has taken note of the positive signs for the Baltic salmon. In February 1997 the International Baltic Sea fisheries commission (IBSFC) adopted a salmon action plan (SAP). The objectives in this action plan are to achieve a natural production of at least 50 % of the potential capacity of all wild salmon rivers, to undertake habitat improvement and to re-establish salmon in potential salmon rivers. The plan has been complemented with national measures such as closed areas and time restrictions of fishing.

The International council for the exploration of sea (ICES) has confirmed that the management actions taken have resulted in a considerable increase in the numbers of wild salmon returning to home rivers. The higher numbers of wild salmon spawning in the rivers have resulted in increased production of wild smolt (juvenile salmon).

The same improvement has not been observed in all salmon rivers. However in the case of the Torneå river the increase has been very large and ICES reports that salmon occur in parts of the river for the first time since the Second World War. According to ICES and to national sources the production in river Torneå has not collapsed; on the contrary, in 1998 the production was among the highest observed since the early 1970's. Although a reduction in production was observed in 1999,

production is still very good and almost 5 times higher than that observed in the period 1976-1987. Furthermore a reduction in the 1999 production was expected as the returning salmon were from less numerous year classes, affected by the M 74 syndrome, and hence fewer salmon would have participated in the spawning. Reduced run and catches in 1999 might not therefore be the result of the whitefish fisheries.

Provided the by-catches of salmon in whitefish fisheries is properly accounted for within the available Finnish quota or released alive when caught in this fishery, these catches will not undermine management in accordance with the salmon action plan.

The Commission is convinced of the need to continue with a responsible management strategy as laid down in the salmon action plan in order to achieve the objective of rebuilding of the wild salmon stocks in these rivers.