WRITTEN QUESTION E-4137/00 by Jeffrey Titford (EDD) to the Commission. Sea fishing with longlines.
Date: 2001-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, bird, fishing industry, fishing net, protection of animals

C 350 E/8

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

These measures, which are compulsory for Community fishing companies, have been drawn up by the
Council for the Conservation of Antarctic Mar(cid:237)ne Living Resources (CCAMLR), which deals with Antarctic
waters, and of which the Community is a contracting party.

(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).

(2001/C 350 E/008)

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:

(cid:129) putting bird-scaring plastic streamers on the longlines;

(cid:129) weighting the lines so that they sink faster, thus reducing the risk of catching seabirds;

(cid:129) setting the line through a tube underwater so that birds on the surface cannot reach it;

(cid:129) prohibiting offal discharge by vessels, a practice which attracts seabirds to longlines;

(cid:129) 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
(cid:145)pirate(cid:146) 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 Mar(cid:237)ne 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,
fishing vessels. Several Regional Fisheries
Organisations as well as the Commission, which is a contracting party, are aware of the problem and are

little can be done against

(cid:145)pirate(cid:146)

11.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/9

attempting to combat such illegal activities. In particular, the Commission is aware of the issue of flags of
convenience in sustaining (cid:145)pirate(cid:146)
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 (cid:145)illegal fishing(cid:146) 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).

(2001/C 350 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0067/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 January 2001)

Subject: Talks between the Commissioner Frank Fischler and the Moroccan Prime Minister and other
members of the Government concerning the fisheries agreement between the European Union and
Morocco

In the talks between the Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries and the Prime Minister and other
members of the Moroccan Government held on 3 and 4 January this year, as in those held with other
responsible authorities over the last few months, it would seem that the Commission(cid:146)s policy position
consisted in aiming for an agreement which, whilst starting the first year under what are considered
acceptable conditions, although much less favourable than in the agreement for the years 1995-1999,
opens the way to a rapid and total elimination, in the space of a few years, of the Spanish fleets from
Galicia, Andalucia and the Canaries, as well as the Portuguese fleet, which used to fish off the Moroccan
and Saharan coasts. Anybody interested in this serious problem might gain the impression that the
the countries concerned and against ship-owners and
Commission, possibly with the collusion of
is negotiating with a view to total withdrawal from Moroccan waters, without using the
fishermen,
European Union(cid:146)s full negotiating capacity in the talks with Morocco and hence not
fulfilling the
responsibilities for Community fisheries conferred on it.

1.

Is this, as it seems to be, the Commission(cid:146)s negotiating position? If not, what actually is its position?

Does the Commission not believe that the ship-owners and fishermen affected, as well as all the

2.
Members of the European Parliament, should know what the Commission is doing?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2001)

The Commission has maintained a constant position throughout its contacts with Morocco and that
position reflects the mandate approved by the Council in October 1999.

A new phase has to be opened in relations with Morocco and this is best exemplified by the Commission(cid:146)s
concrete proposals to assist the growth and development of the Moroccan fisheries sector, as well as to
defend the legitimate European interests.