WRITTEN QUESTION No. 506/98 by Dominique SOUCHET to the Council. Prohibition on the use of driftnets
Date: 1998-02-27
Institutions: European Parliament, SOUCHET
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean, EU aid, EU control, France, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, fishing net, fishing regulations, fishing rights

21. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 323/43

As far as telecommunications interceptions are concerned, the Council is currently examining a draft convention
on  mutual  legal  assistance  in  criminal  matters,  drawn  up  on  the  basis  of  Title  VI  of  the  Treaty  on
European Union, which will, inter alia, set rules on the lawful interception of telecommunications in cross-border
situations in the framework of criminal investigations.

(98/C 323/55)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0502/98

by Dominique Souchet (I-EDN) to the Council

(27 February 1998)

Subject: Prohibition on the use of driftnets

The  United  Nations  Resolution  of  22  December  1989  clearly  lays  down  the  principle  that,  as  a  precaution,
(cid:145)large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing(cid:146) should be prohibited whatever the region or fishery.

The Community has already settled the question of the definition of large driftnet by fixing its upper limit as
2.5 km in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean by the Regulation of 27 January 1992 issued in application of that
resolution.

Why does the Council wish to prohibit the use of driftnets in the Atlantic although they are already restricted to
2.5 km and it is allowing fishing with 21 km driftnets to continue in the Baltic Sea?

Does the Council believe that this measure is fair, non-discriminatory and just?

(98/C 323/56)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0504/98

by Dominique Souchet (I-EDN) to the Council

(27 February 1998)

Subject: Prohibition on the use of driftnets

According to the Commission(cid:146)s latest proposals, the use of driftnets would be prohibited on the high seas in the
Atlantic and still be authorised in coastal waters.

In these circumstances, driftnets would be prohibited for French fishermen fishing for deep-sea albacove tuna
(Azorean area) and solely authorised for Spanish fishermen, since one of the migration routes of this species
passes along the Spanish Cantabrian coast (Iberian area).

In  other  words,  driftnets  would  be  regarded  as  (cid:145)good(cid:146)  fishing  gear  (in  other  words  selective  not  harmful  to
shipping or the natural migration routes of tuna, etc.) within the twelve-mile limit and (cid:145)bad(cid:146) fishing gear beyond
that limit in the international zones situated more than 500 km offshore.

Can the Commission explain the scientific, ecological or technical arguments justifying these different rules so
that French fishermen are not under the impression that the latter favour Spain and Portugal to their detriment?

(98/C 323/57)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0506/98

by Dominique Souchet (I-EDN) to the Council

(27 February 1998)

Subject: Prohibition on the use of driftnets

According to the statements made by Mr Morley before the Committee on Fisheries on 3 February 1998, it would
seem that  the Council(cid:146)s  intention is to  use Community  funds  to stop French, British and  Irish  albacove tuna
netters from fishing in the Atlantic.

Mr Morley referred to the diversification policy in Italy as an example to follow. Before even thinking about
applying this principle in the Atlantic, should not the Council first ascertain the outcome of the Italian plan? Does
the Council have irrefutable evidence that fishing with driftnets of an illegal length has actually stopped in the
Mediterranean, that boats which have received aid have not changed their Flag State and that the owners and
crews concerned have in fact stopped their previous activities?