WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2728/97 by Luciano VECCHI to the Commission. Social and environmental harm caused by prawn- farming in India
Date: 1997-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, VECCHI
Subjects: EU aid, European Commission, European undertaking, India, aquaculture, crustacean, crustacean farming, environmental impact, fishing regulations, increase in production

C 102/104

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2728/97

by Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission

(30 July 1997)

Subject: Social and environmental harm caused by prawn-farming in India

The farming of prawns, mainly for export purposes, has become widespread in recent years in some states of
India, in particular Tamil Nadhu. These activities are mostly controlled by foreign companies or multinationals.

As highlighted by widespread non-violent protest movements, and affirmed by the Indian Supreme Court itself,
such farming has caused severe environmental and social damage, and the use of sites for fish-farming has had
serious social repercussions.

Large-scale prawn-farming in India therefore clearly contravenes the principles of (cid:145)sustainable development(cid:146)
upheld by the European Union.

1.  Has  the  Commission  ever  provided  support,  directly  or  indirectly,  for  setting  up  or  doing  business  with

prawn-farms in India?

2.  Does the Commission consider that European Union-based companies operating in this sector in India are

behaving correctly or not?

3.  Does it intend to take economic, political and environmental measures to encourage the conversion of such

fish-farms?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 1997)

1.

The Commission has never provided support for setting up or doing business with prawn farms in India.

2.
The Commission is aware of the possible damage that can result from intensive prawn farming in coastal
areas.  It  therefore  recommends  the  responsible  development  of  aquaculture,  in  accordance  with  the  Code  of
Conduct for responsible fishing, to which the Community adheres. The Commission is not in a position to judge
the behaviour of the companies operating in this sector in India.

The Commission does not feel that it should take any economic, political or environmental measures to

3.
encourage the conversion of such farms.

(98/C 102/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2731/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Protection of dwellings near the mediaeval walls of Thessaloniki

With aid from the European Union, Thessaloniki municipal authorities are undertaking a series of town-planning
projects in the upper city of Thessaloniki: these include the demolition of refugee dwellings bordering on the
mediaeval  walls,  which,  according  to  UNESCO(cid:146)s  international  list  (No  456),  constitute  part  of  the  world
heritage.  These  buildings  which  are  linked  to  the  history  of  the  City  since  the  Byzantine  period  are  being
demolished to make way for roads running parallel to the walls and parking places.

The  Academic  Staff  of  the  University  of  Thessaloniki(cid:146)s  Faculty  of  Architecture  and  local  inhabitants  are
protesting  about  this,  and  the  Greek  section  of  ICOMOS  has  addressed  a  letter  to  Thessaloniki  municipal
authorities stressing that the Granada Convention and the Charter of Venice provide that (cid:145)alongside the protected
cultural heritage monument or artefact the natural and urban environment must also be protected(cid:146).