WRITTEN QUESTION E-3546/01 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Monitoring of the use of double nets to reduce effective mesh sizes and increase catches of fish.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: catch of fish, common fisheries policy, fishing controls, fishing net, fishing regulations

C 172 E/78

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2002)

As part of
its systematic assessment of the agriculture measures the Commission has launched an
assessment study of the common market organisation for raw tobacco that will review the impact of the
Community rules. Its conclusions are expected by the end of 2002.

On that basis the Commission will present a reform proposal for the tobacco CMO in the first quarter of
2003.

(2002/C 172 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3538/01

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Complementarity between EU and Member States’ development policies

It would appear that a meeting called by the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Development,
at which the Directorate-General for External Relations, the Cooperation Office and their counterparts in
the Member States were present, was held on 1 June 2001 to discuss complementarity and related issues.

Will the Commission say what decisions were taken during that meeting?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

In the interests of coordination and building mutual trust between it and the Member States,
the
Commission organises meetings of the directors general for development to bring together directors
general from the Member States and the DGs for Development, External Relations and the EuropeAid
Cooperation Office.

The meetings are strictly informal 5 there is no agenda and no decisions are taken. They provide a forum
for the exchange of information.

The main topics covered in the last two meetings (September 2001 and January 2002) were the situation
in Afghanistan, the Monterrey Conference on development financing and the Maastricht Treaty principles
of coordination, complementarity and coherence, with particular regard to the ‘Country Strategy Paper’
(CSP), the new programming instrument which is prepared with the participation of Member States,
thereby ensuring that complementarity and coordination are significantly enhanced.

(2002/C 172 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3546/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Monitoring of the use of double nets to reduce effective mesh sizes and increase catches of fish

1.
Is the Commission aware that some fishermen reduce the mesh size of their trawls to less than
80 mm by attaching a second trawl, the ‘inner trawl’, inside the bottom of the first in such a way that the
meshes of the two nets cross each other, considerably reducing the effective mesh size, so that smaller fish
are also caught and the sea can be cleared of the last remnants of its fish stocks?

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/79

Is it true that, so far, inner trawls have only been detected by means of inspection vessels visiting
2.
fishing boats while they are operating at sea with the aim of catching fishermen using such trawls red-
handed, and not by means of preventive action before fishing boats leave port?

3. What is there to prevent checks for inner trawls being carried out before fishing boats leave port? Is
it prevented by European legislation or by differing rules imposed by Member States?

4. What will the Commission do to ensure that inspections are not confined to the use of inner trawls
at sea but begin at the preparatory stage in port to combat the use of inner trawls?

Source: ‘Rotterdams Dagblad’, 30 November 2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(13 February 2002)

The Commission is aware of the use of mesh size obstructing devices. Such as blinders (Dutch translation
‘binnenkuil’) occurring notably in certain fisheries such as the sole fishery. This problem is mentioned in
the report on the monitoring of the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (1).

However mesh size obstructing devices such as blinders have not only been detected at sea. The competent
authorities in the Netherlands have operated over the past an inspection programme where vessels
suspected for using blinders were searched in ports. After initial inspection results, the persons responsible
for the operation of those vessels adapted to this inspection practice. Indeed, blinders were no longer
detectable when suspected vessels were searched in ports. Inspectors observed that masters used other
methods to restrict the legal mesh size. Codends were notably bound together with ropes snapping when
the gear is hauled. Such practices can only be checked when inspecting at sea.

In accordance with Community rules, the responsibility of controlling the application of Community
legislation lies with Member States.

In accordance with Community legislation the use of any devices restricting mesh size other than those
defined in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3440/84 of 6 December 1984 on the attachment of devices
to trawls, Danish seines and similar nets (2), are prohibited.

In accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system
applicable to the common fisheries policy (3), inspection applies to all activities in the fisheries sector at sea
as well as on land. Member States shall take the appropriate measures including the allocation of budget
and means of inspection,
in order to ensure that the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, and in
particular the legal mesh size and minimum fish sizes, are complied with. Furthermore, in accordance with
the said regulation, the level of sanctions adopted as follow-up of infringement must effectively deter non
compliance with applicable measures. The protection of juvenile fish is essential for the reproduction of
fish stocks. Irresponsible fishing conduct such as the use of blinders to restrict legal mesh is, therefore,
condemned by the main stakeholders. Against this background, the Commission urges Member States to
combat the above practices including by inspections both at sea and on land.

(1) COM(2001) 526 final.
(2) OJ L 318, 7.12.1984.
(3) OJ L 261, 20.10.1993.