WRITTEN QUESTION E-0409/96 by Gianni Tamino (V) and Carlo Ripa di Meana (V) to the Commission (29 February 1996)

Subject: Checks on 'spadare' in Italy

In Italy, 'spadare' (boats used to catch swordfish) are continuing to fish with drift nets five times the length permitted by Regulation (EEC) No 345/92. ((OJ L 42, 18.2.1992, p. 15. )) The resulting danger to fishery resources and the environment (whales, turtles, and the like are also caught) is so serious that small-scale fishermen from the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antiseo staged protests against the 'spadare' in summer 1995.

In addition, small-scale fishermen and environmentalist organizations in Italy are complaining that few checks are carried out on the length of drift nets and there is no reliable information on the number of Italian 'spadare', which have apparently increased from 648 to 677 in the last six months, even though a freeze on the issue of licences has been imposed for years.

1. What steps has the Commission taken to enforce Regulation (EEC) No 345/92 in all the Member States, especially Italy?

2. If a plan is launched to do away with 'spadare', how will it be possible to guarantee that the funds allocated to Italy are put to proper use when there is no accurate record of the number of Italian vessels of this type?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (3 April 1996)

Article 1(8)(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 345/92 of 27 January 1992, which lays down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources, does indeed ban the use of drift nets over 2500 m in length.

As regards European fleets, Regulation (EEC) No 345/92 applies extensively to the French, English and Irish fleets that fish for bonito in the north-east Atlantic (the Bay of Biscay) and the Italian fleet, which concentrates on fishing for swordfish in different areas of the Mediterranean.

1. In 1995, the Commission embarked upon a monitoring operation using a specially-chartered vessel which had on board Commission inspectors and inspectors from each Member State concerned. This inspection vessel carried out checks and inspections in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean which brought to light the following:

- The use of inspection vessels by the Member States concerned in the fishing areas of the respective fleets is a large-scale operation, supported and strengthened in this instance by the presence of the Commission's chartered vessel;

- The harbour inspection of licensed fishing gear has proved an excellent instrument in preliminary checks, allowing inspectors to gain familiarity with the fleets.

In order to make the checks on fishing gear effective, it is necessary for each Member State to adopt legislation enabling the fishing gear to be checked and verified in the harbours.

Given the excellent results obtained last season using the monitoring and inspection vessel, the Commission plans further such operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean this year.

2. The Commission has a detailed and exhaustive list of vessels that have a licence to fish for swordfish and it has verified the data using the Community fleet card-index file. It therefore has up-to-date information on the number, tonnage, and regional distribution of vessels. This information will ensure the correct use of Community funds, if a plan is launched to do away with vessels used to catch swordfish boats.