WRITTEN QUESTION E-2797/01 by Carmen Fraga Estevez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Use of the ferrettara.
Date: 2001-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law - national law, Italy, conservation of fish stocks, fishing net, fishing regulations, protected species, sustainable development

C 93 E/196

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Currently, an infringement procedure is already open against Italy, in respect of the use of large-scale
driftnets.

(1) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998.

(2002/C 93 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2797/01

by Carmen Fraga Estevez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Use of the ‘ferrettara’

The Commission report on the application of Community legislation on the use of drift nets in 2002
indicates that part of the Italian ‘spadare’ fleet has been converted to use the ‘ferrettara’. According to the
Commission’s report, the latter has an even smaller mesh size than the ‘spadare’ (180 mm as opposed to
350 mm). Moreover, pursuant to Italian legislation, mesh size will be further reduced to 100 mm as of
1 January 2002. Thus, according to the report, as of 2002 an unspecified number of vessels shall operate
with drift nets of up to 2 km in length and a mesh size of 100 mm in the 3 mile coastal zone.

Can the Commission say to what extent
the abovementioned Italian legislation is compatible with
Community law? Can the Commission provide any information on the impact on resources of such a fleet
operating with drift nets of up to 2 km in length and a mesh size of 100 mm in coastal areas and on its
compatibility with sustainable development?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2001)

The authorisation of ‘ferrettara’ can be considered in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 894/97
of 29 April 1997 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources (1) as
modified by Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98 of 8 June 1998 (2) until 31 December 2001. In fact,
Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98 does not provide for a complete ban, from 1 January 2002, of all
type of driftnets but only of those targeting some species, among which tunas, tuna-like fishes, swordfish,
all cephalopods and some pelagic sharks.

The ‘Ferrettara’ net is in principle intended for the capture of small pelagic and semi-pelagic species living
in coastal areas. However, its technical characteristics and the fishing practice cannot guarantee that it will
not catch other species of Annex VIII of Regulation (EC) No 894/97, in particular small tuna-like species
such as Sarda sarda, Euthynnus spp., Auxis spp., Coryphaena spp. and juveniles of Thunnus thynnus. But
these catches are considered as incidental.

The Commission is not in a position to evaluate the effect of ‘ferrettara’ on the target species since there is
not any regular stock assessment for most of them, with the exception of anchovy whose capture with
driftnet is, however, very limited and fisheries are very scarce.

With regard to the compatibility of this fishing gear with sustainable development, it is not yet clear
whether this gear has an impact on protected species; however, the Commission intends to set up a
specific control programme of all driftnets, whose use is still authorised in 2002, as a matter of priority
and this will allow a better evaluation of the effects of this gear.

(1) OJ L 132, 23.5.1997.
(2) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998.