WRITTEN QUESTION E-0614/02 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Training for fishermen.
Date: 2002-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common fisheries policy, crew, fisherman, maritime safety, maritime shipping, occupational health, occupational safety, vocational training

C 205 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

sector in response to a request to take account of additional fishing opportunities in Mauritanian and
adjacent waters. The Commission is obliged to consider any such request in the light of scientific advice.
This was given by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries. The Commission
approved the exact volume requested, which is in fact less than the estimated fishing opportunities
following the reduction of fishing effort in the area by Eastern countries in recent decades.

Whether or not a Member State meets MAGP targets is a separate issue. Ireland is currently outside its
required MAGP capacity targets for the pelagic segment ’ this is illegal and an infringement procedure is
under way against Ireland. The situation must be rectified by the Irish authorities as soon as possible.

Registration of the ‘Atlantic Dawn’ is also a separate issue. The Commission does not register vessels ’
that is an obligation of Member States. The ‘Atlantic Dawn’ has not at any stage been entered on the Irish
fishing vessel register and thus on the Community fishing vessel register but is flying a Member State’s flag
’ this is illegal and an infringement procedure is under way against Ireland.

The international action plan for fishing capacity management adopted by the United Nations Organisation
for Food and Agriculture (FAO) says that ‘States should take measures to prevent or eliminate excess
fishing capacity and should ensure that levels of fishing effort are commensurate with sustainable use of
fishery resources’. Access to resources outside Community waters depends not only on the biological
condition of the stocks but on the fishing rights that can be obtained by the Community by negotiation
with the relevant coastal states. No contradiction is involved in adjusting the Community’s fishing capacity
to the catch possibilities it can obtain in third country waters.

The Atlantic Dawn has never operated under the Community/Mauritania fisheries agreement, which limits
access to Mauritanian waters to Community vessels of less than 9500 gross tons (GT). The agreement
contains provisions, such as specification of fishing zones and technical measures, designed to protect local
small-scale fisheries. In addition some of the specific actions funded by the Community under it are
designed to support and develop the small-scale sector and local marketing networks.

In particular, the latter should benefit from a provision in the agreement that Community fishing vessels
are to make a certain number of landings at Mauritanian ports.

(1) OJ L 38, 8.2.2002.

(2002/C 205 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0614/02

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(6 March 2002)

Subject: Training for fishermen

On 4 April 2001 the Commission submitted a communication to the Council and the European
Parliament on the training and recruitment of seafarers (1). That communication aimed to provide a
comprehensive study into the current situation as regards maritime education and training, describe the
legislative and other measures already taken by the Commission and encourage the adoption of further
measures to improve the situation both by the social partners in maritime transport and providers of
maritime education and training.

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/173

Despite its title, this communication refers exclusively to people working in maritime transport and
excludes the entire European fishing industry, despite the high number of workers it employs, the difficult
conditions in which they work and their high accident rate.

Why has the Commission excluded the fishing industry from its proposals?

Will the Commission submit a further initiative rounding off that already presented and containing
proposals for the training and recruitment of workers in the fishing industry?

(1) COM(2001) 188 final.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2002)

The communication to which the Honourable Member refers relates specifically to transport by sea of
persons and goods. This sector suffers from a severe labour shortage, particularly of officers. The aim
behind the communication is to boost recruitment through a two-pronged approach of making life on
board more attractive from the standpoint of safety and living conditions and of providing high quality
maritime training both on land and at sea.

Although some of the areas covered in the communication may also be relevant to fishermen it is not
intended to cover this category of seafarer.

The Commission is aware that training is a source of equal if not greater concern in the case of fishermen
than in the case of sea transport. Fishing is a dangerous and arduous occupation often practised by persons
who have not received adequate training. In the Commission’s view questions of training, safety and
environmental protection in the fisheries sector merit their own particular approach.

The Commission draws the Honourable Member’s attention to the provisions of Council Directive
89/391/EC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and
health of workers at work (1) and to those of Council Directive 93/103/EC of 23 November 1993
concerning minimum safety and health requirements for work on board fishing vessels (2), which set
detailed rules on worker information and training.

In particular Article 9(2) of Directive 93/103/EC states that training must cover fire fighting, use of
lifesaving and survival equipment, use of fishing gear and hauling equipment and use of the various types
of sign, including hand signals.

In addition Article 10 states that persons likely to command a vessel must be given detailed training on:

(a) prevention of occupational illnesses and accidents on board and the steps to be taken in the event of

an accident;

(b)

stability and maintenance of the vessel under all foreseeable fishing operation conditions;

(c) navigation and radio communication, including procedures.

Further, Article 5 of Council Directive 92/29/EEC of 31 March 1992 on minimum safety and health
requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels (3) sets detailed information and training
rules relating to action to be taken in the event of accident or serious medical emergency.

The recruitment problem is not the same for fishing as it is for sea transport. There is no real shortage of
fishermen but a difficulty in attracting young people. The important thing is to take action that will
improve the profession’s image.

C 205 E/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

A Green Paper on the future of the common fisheries policy (4) was published in 2001 and on the basis of
the ensuing discussions with all interested parties, including Parliament, the Commission is now finalising a
communication on reform of the CFP that includes training and safety. Both the communication and
number of regulatory proposals for the new CFP after 2002 will be sent to Parliament before the summer.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2) OJ L 307, 13.12.1993.
(3) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992.
(4) COM(2001) 135 final.

(2002/C 205 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0617/02

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Regional programmes of innovative schemes

(6 March 2002)

The Inforegio/News bulletin of January 2002 reports that the Commission has completed negotiations on
58 regional programmes of innovative schemes.

Can the Commission say how many programmes of innovative schemes were rejected in Spain and why
they were rejected?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

Of the 18 Spanish proposals for regional programmes of innovative actions presented to the Commission
by 31 May 2001, 17 of them,
funding of over EUR 80 million and a Community
contribution of more than EUR 45 million, have been or are in the process of being approved.

involving total

The one proposal rejected was judged to be of insufficient quality when set against the ten criteria
published in the Commission Communication (1) because the priority given to communications
infrastructure measures corresponded more to a traditional operational programme than to a programme
of truly innovative actions.

(1) The regions and the new economy ’ Guidelines for innovative actions under the European Regional Development

Fund (ERDF) in 2000-2006 ’ COM(2001) 60 final.

(2002/C 205 E/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0618/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Corrubedo wetlands, Couso (La Coruña ’ Spain)

(6 March 2002)

Even though the Corrubedo wetlands (Complejo Húmedo de Corrubedo) was included by the Galician
Government in the list of areas making up the Natura 2000 network, permits and authorisations are still
being granted for the construction of ships and siting of industrial units in this protected area.

Can the Commission say what stage has been reached in processing the complaint submitted to the
Commission on this subject (2001/4904, SG (2001) A/8849/2)?

Can the Commission say what response it has received to date from the Spanish authorities?