WRITTEN QUESTION E-3660/00 by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission. Enforcement of fishing rules.
Date: 2000-11-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: West Africa, application of EU law, fishery resources, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing controls, fishing regulations, fishing rights, flag of convenience, industrial fishing

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/11

(2001/C 235 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3660/00

by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 November 2000)

Subject: Enforcement of fishing rules

Recent reports have shown that European fishing vessels have been fishing off the west African coast
inside national waters. This is bringing about a fall in fish stocks available for the local population and
posing a danger to local fishermen, who have been hit by large fishing vessels.

Is the Commission aware of this situation? What action is the Commission taking with countries in the
region to prevent illegal fishing inside national waters? What measures can be taken to bring legal action
against illegal fishing by European vessels in third country waters?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2001)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for his question and informs him that, although the
surveillance of the territorial waters and of those of the exclusive economic zone is the responsibility of
the national authorities of the control States concerned, the Commission does whatever it can to assist
them in combating these illegal practices.

To this end, Fisheries Agreements concluded with African countries, which constitute the legal framework
for Community fishermen operating in the area, clearly define conditions for licences, authorised fishing
gear, catch reporting, closed areas, and so on.

Moreover, the financial compensation paid to third countries in exchange for fishing possibilities often
includes an element which aims at developing the third country(cid:146)s own fisheries research and control
capabilities.

The Commission is also doing its utmost
to encourage the countries with which it has Fisheries
Agreements to make (cid:145)State-to-State agreements(cid:146) and reduce the number of (cid:145)private licences(cid:146) given to single
vessels/ship owners. In fact,
(cid:145)private licences(cid:146) often adversely affect the utilisation of fishing possibilities
allocated in the framework of the Fisheries Agreements and therefore their sound financial management.
Furthermore, the absence of control of this type of fishery or its very limited scope is detrimental to fish
stocks.

It should be noted that illegal fishing activities are mainly carried out by either pirate vessels or by vessels
flying flags of convenience, not by Community vessels.

The Commission is committed to the development of the Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO)
international plan of action to curb illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. In this plan, the main
objectives of the Community are to implement the existing international legal instrument, such as the
Compliance Agreement, and to fill the loopholes in international law, in particular concerning access to
ports. This plan should be presented to the FAO committee of fisheries (COFI) in February 2001.

(2001/C 235 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3668/00

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Development of railway network in Greece

(27 November 2000)

The development of a modern railway network is an important priority in development programmes
throughout the European Union and particularly in those concerning Greece, and there are obvious