WRITTEN QUESTION E-4137/00

by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Sea fishing with longlines

I am informed by those concerned about the danger to seabirds by the practice of fishing with longlines that the following solutions could help to prevent deaths of tens of thousands of seabirds annually:

- putting bird-scaring plastic streamers on the longlines;

- weighting the lines so that they sink faster, thus reducing the risk of catching seabirds;

- setting the line through a tube underwater so that birds on the surface cannot reach it;

- prohibiting offal discharge by vessels, a practice which attracts seabirds to longlines;

- setting longlines at night, when large albatrosses will not be foraging.

Is the European Commission considering adopting any, or all, of these measures or indeed any other measures to reduce the danger posed to seabirds by the practice of fishing with longlines?

Is the European Commission able to take any practical steps to deal with the threats to seabirds from pirate fishing?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2001)

To tackle the problem of incidental catches of sea birds in longline fisheries, the Community has already incorporated the following mitigation measures into Community legislation(1)(2), using bird-scaring line with plastic streamers attached; weighting the lines so that they sink faster and pose less risk; prohibiting the discharge of offal at sea, which attracts seabirds to the lines; setting the longlines at night, when albatrosses and other seabirds are less likely to be foraging; using only thawed bait.

These measures, which are compulsory for Community fishing companies, have been drawn up by the Council for the Conservation of Antarctic Maríne Living Resources (CCAMLR), which deals with Antarctic waters, and of which the Community is a contracting party.

The setting of lines through tubes underwater is the only measure not foreseen in Community law, as the same effect is obtained by weighting the lines and using thawed bait.

By their very nature, little can be done against pirate fishing vessels. Several Regional Fisheries Organisations as well as the Commission, which is a contracting party, are aware of the problem

and are attempting to combat such illegal activities. In particular, the Commission is aware of the issue of flags of convenience in sustaining pirate fishing and is calling upon Member States to ratify urgently the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas. This agreement has already been ratified by the Community in 1996. Furthermore, within Community legislation there are provisions dealing with control, fleet and market policy which could be effective in tackling the problem of illegal fishing when and if carried out by Community or third country vessels allowed to operate in our waters. It is the legal responsibility of the Member States to implement these rules and to ensure compliance with them.

In addition, the Commission is actively participating in the development of an international plan of action, within the context of the Food and Agricultural organisation (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. On this point, the Commission is particularly concerned not only by flags of convenience vessels but also by ports of convenience.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 66/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2113/96 (OJ L 6, 10.1.1998).

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2479/98 of 12 November 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 66/98 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic (OJ L 309, 19.11.1998).