WRITTEN QUESTION E-2191/02

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

(19 July 2002)

Subject: Scientific studies on the impact of industrial fishing on other fisheries

It is surprising that the Commission should have presented a proposal for CFP reform which does not give detailed consideration to the industrial fishing practised by certain Member States for the purpose of processing into meal for animal feed. The Commission proposals are not accompanied by scientific studies on the possible impact of such fishing on the food chain of other commercial species of fish destined for human consumption.

Can the Commission say whether it has any scientific reports regarding the possible impact of these industrial fisheries on the food chain of other species?

If so, can the Commission forward these reports to Parliament, and in particular to myself?

If not, why is this industrial fishing still permitted in the absence of any definite knowledge or studies on its actual repercussions on other species, when the Commission claims to be advocating a rigorous policy of conserving resources?

Does the Commission consider it responsible to embark on a drastic policy of reducing fishing effort on the grounds of conservation of resources of certain species, without previously having addressed the impact of industrial fishing on the very species which it is seeking to protect?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2002)

The ecosystem effects of fishing for industrial species such as sandeels was investigated, inter alia, by the Study Group on the Effects of Sandeel fishng (A Study Group of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)) in 1999. Advice on this topic was provided by the ICES Advisory Committee on the marine Environment in its 1999 report [ICES Cooperative Research Report No 239]. The results of this assessment were used by the Commission when a closed area for sandeel fishing was proposed and implemented off the East coast of the United Kingdom. A copy of the relevant section of this report will be sent directly to the Honourable Members and to the Parliament's Secretariat.

ICES has provided scientific advice in its annual report of the Advisory Committee for Fisheries Management that there are immediate threats to a number of commercial fish stocks which are directly due to fishing. The most threatened stocks include the northern hake, the cod in the North sea English channel and the Skagerrak, cod in the Kattegat, cod in the Eastern Baltic Sea, cod in the Irish sea, cod to the West of Scotland and herring in the Main Basin of the Baltic Sea. The blue whiting stock is also fished outside safe biological limits. These stocks are being fished with a fishing mortality which is too high and places these species at immediate risk of collapse. In contrast, scientific advice concerning Norway pout, sprat and sandeels does not indicate that there are immediate risks of collapse to those stocks due to fishing.

The Commission's conservation policy is intended to reduce biological risks while maintaining catches where possible. Therefore in cases where scientific advice indicates that a reduction in fishing mortality is needed, the Commission has made corresponding proposals. This includes initiatives to reduce fishing on blue whiting which is mostly used for production to fish meal. The Commission considers it a priority to address first of all the direct and harmful effects of overfishing, and not to delay such actions while possible indirect effects, such as those deriving from industrial fishing, are being evaluated.

As part of a continuous process of seeking more detailed and more complete scientific advice on fisheries, the Commission has requested additional information from ICES on the ecosystem effects of fishing for industrial species. Should such further analyses indicate that additional regulatory measures are needed, the Commission will make appropriate proposals.