WRITTEN QUESTION E-0453/01 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Longline fishing.
Date: 2001-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: bird, by-catch, fishing regulations, protected species, protection of animal life, sea fishing

C 261 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

In accordance with the Community(cid:146)s international commitments, the protocol to each fisheries agreement
including as regards areas,
stipulates the conditions governing Community vessels(cid:146) fishing operations,
technical measures and monitoring fisheries activity (catch reporting,
landing requirements, observer
boarding, vessel monitoring system (VMS), etc.).

The Community is not empowered to monitor the implementation of conservation measures in third-
country waters. However, it is subject to a number of obligations with regard to monitoring the activities
of its vessels operating under the agreements as provided for in the agreements(cid:146) terms.

The Commission does not have an exhaustive list containing specific information on existing private
agreements between European shipowners and third countries in the fisheries sector. However, where
those private agreements have resulted in joint enterprises being established and receiving Community aid,
the Commission possesses information in accordance with the requirements stipulated by the correspond-
ing legal bases. But in order to maintain the confidentiality of personal data, the Commission is not
permitted to disclose that information.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it has carried out an (cid:145)Assessment of joint
enterprises in the context of structural operations in the fisheries sector(cid:146), a copy of the summary of which
will be sent to him direct and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 261 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0453/01

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2001)

Subject: Longline fishing

Given that longline fishing is carried out by European Fishing vessels in the North Atlantic, that this form
of fishing accounts for tens of thousands of seabird deaths and because of that, these longline fishing
techniques, species of seabirds such as the short-tailed albatross and fulmar are seriously endangered that,
in all, 26 species of seabirds are in danger of extinction, could the Commission outline what measures it
intends to introduce to improve the current situation with regard to longline fishing as part of its wider
fishing regulations to promote (cid:145)seabird-friendly(cid:146) longline fishing?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2001)

In respect of the dangers to seabirds from longline fishing, whilst no major problems are envisaged for the
fulmar in the North Atlantic, whose large global population (10-12 millions birds) does not place it at risk,
the main concerns regard albatrosses and other species, essentially in the Southern Oceans.

To tackle this problem, the Community has already incorporated the following mitigation measures into
Community legislation (1):

(cid:129) Using bird-scaring line with plastic streamers attached;

(cid:129) Weighting the lines so that they sink faster and pose less risk;

(cid:129) Prohibiting the discharge of offal at sea, which attracts seabirds to the lines;

(cid:129) Setting the longlines at night, when albatrosses and other seabirds are less likely to be foraging;

(cid:129) Using only thawed bait.

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/121

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.

In addition, the Commission and Member States have been involved in the preparation of the international
plan of action for reducing incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries. This international plan was
adopted at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in 1999. This
year during the COFI (26 February 2001-2 March 2001) the first step of the national plans of action will
be presented. The Community, based on the information sent by Member States, is proposing to start the
plan by carrying out an assessment and by collecting data in order to evaluate the extent and nature of the
incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries where it occurs.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 66/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain conservation and control measures
applicable to fishing activities in the Antarc repealing Regulation (EC) No 2113/96 (OJ L 6, 10.1.1998) and Council
Regulation (EC) No 2479/98 of 12 November 1998 amending Regulation No 66/98 laying down certain
conservation and control measures applicable to activities in the Antarctic (OJ L 309, 19.11.1998).

(2001/C 261 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0454/01

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 February 2001)

Subject: Angling in the European Union

Given that the European Anglers(cid:146) Alliance (EEA) is a pan-European organisation with a membership of
6 million anglers across 20 European countries and that the socio-economic value of angling is significant
in many rural communities throughout the EU, could the Commission outline why efforts by the EEA to
carry out a study of the (cid:145)socio-economic benefits of recreational angling in the European Union(cid:146) were not
deemed to be of sufficient interest by DG Fisheries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2001)

The Commission is fully aware that sport fishing concerns a large number of people and that it has a
major impact on the socio-economic situation of certain coastal areas within the Community.
It is
precisely because of the importance of the contribution of this activity to the development of certain
local economies that it decided to associate the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) more closely with the
work of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, when it discusses subjects of interest to its
members. By so doing, the Commission enables the EAA to set out the concerns of sport fishermen and
defend their legitimate interests at an appropriate level.

The Commission is not, however, able at present to agree to the request it received to finance the study
proposed by the EAA on the socio-economic benefits of angling. This is because the contribution sought
substantially exceeds the finance available to the Directorate-General for Fisheries for such socio-economic
analyses and because the Commission can make contracts only as a result of a call for tenders.