WRITTEN QUESTION P-0233/02

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(31 January 2002)

Subject: Commission proposal for a Community Plan of Action fore reducing incidental catch of seabirds on longline fisheries

Globally, thousands of petrels, albatrosses and other seabird species are threatened by the practice of longlining. In response to this threat, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has adopted an International Plan of Action on seabirds. The FAO agreement requires each Member State, including the European Community, to draw a National Plan of Action to reduce seabird by-catch.

Given that DG Environment is responsible for the integration of environmental aspects into other policies, including fisheries, how and when is the Commission proposing to ensure the implementation of the International FAO Action Plan for Seabirds and the mitigation and research measures it proposes in Community and third-country water?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2002)

The problem highlighted by the Honourable Member seems to affect mainly albatrosses and other species in the Southern Oceans. The main problems seem to be caused by non-Community vessels fishing either in international waters or in their own waters. The Community has no direct legal power to control the activities of non-Community vessels in these areas but will continue to work for application of necessary measures within Regional Fisheries Organisations.

The Community contributed actively to the preparation of the international plan of action for reducing incidental catches of seabirds in longline fisheries. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its contracting parties subsequently approved the international plan. This approval entails the voluntary elaboration of a plan of action at State level. Therefore, the Community is preparing a Community action plan to be presented at the next Committee for Fisheries (COFI, February 2003). At this stage, the Community has presented at the last COFI (February 2001) a preliminary plan of action in which the need for a better assessment of the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries is underlined.

Whenever Regional Fisheries Organisation to which the Community is a contracting party has agreed on measures to protect seabirds these measures have been implemented in Community legislation.

The following measures have been taken by the Council for the Conservation of Antarctic Maríne Living Resources, (CCAMLR to which the Community is party), in Antarctic waters, and been incorporated into Community Fishing 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.

Some or all of these measures might be considered for other areas as required. However, whatever measure is proposed, it should be adopted and implemented in the framework of the Common Fishery policy. As a general principle, Commission will propose measures aiming at avoiding the impact from longline fishing on seabirds when and where there is sound evidence on the existence of the problem and on the need of Community action to properly address it.

There is no clear evidence on the extent to which the problem occurs in Community waters or in relation to fishing activities by Community vessels outside the CCAMLAR convention area. Thus, answers from Member States to the Commission's request of information when preparing the Community Action Plan for reducing incidental catches of seabirds in longline fishing, did not indicate that Member States perceived this as a problem in their fisheries.

(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.