WRITTEN QUESTION E-0760/02 by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Use of by-catches.
Date: 2002-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: by-catch, common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, discarded fish, fishing industry, fishing regulations, quantity of fish landed

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/53

According to international agreements, all events that might have a potential impact on the safety of
nuclear power plants are classified according to the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES). Annual
statistics of such events are usually published by the national regulatory authority, to which they must be
reported. The INES scale’s seven levels allow for a distinction between events (typically anomalies or
incidents) that do not leak radiation to the outside, and more serious events (typically accidents) that do.
Such incidents and accidents must be analysed with regard to their root causes, including material and
operational factors, as well as the functioning of safety systems.

There are a vast number of scientific studies on the effects of various radiation sources on human health.
These studies do of course vary considerably as to the approach and scientific methodology used. As there
are a number of natural radiation sources in the environment, and as human health is subject to manifold
other factors, it is notoriously difficult to establish an incontestable link between any given factor and a
particular disease.

Since 1975, the Commission has made sustained contributions towards a harmonisation of nuclear safety
criteria and requirements. Much has been achieved already. Harmonisation efforts are also being
undertaken by other organisations and associations (International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA), Western
industrial groups). The exercise obviously is a
European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA),
complex one, as it needs to bridge diverse technological, legal and regulatory traditions of the countries
operating nuclear power plants. Among other aspects, best existing practices to achieve a high level of
nuclear safety are at
the design,
construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants currently remains incumbent on the
operator and the national regulatory authority of the state having jurisdiction over the plant.

the basis of any such effort. The responsibility for the safety of

However,
the Commission is prepared to actively contribute to the establishment of a Community
dimension of nuclear safety, that would take into account the need for common safety standards for NPPs,
in line with the conclusions of the Laeken European Council.

(2002/C 301 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0760/02

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 March 2002)

Subject: Use of by-catches

It is clearly standard practice in some fishing nations that by-catches must be landed with the rest of the
catch instead of being thrown back into the sea.

In which countries does the above procedure apply, and what experience has been gained with this

1.
method?

2.
Does the Commission see any possibility of discontinuing the current practice of throwing by-catches
(undersized fish, unwanted catches) back into the sea and landing and marketing them with the rest of the
catch instead, counting them against the relevant quota and thereby easing pressure on stocks to some
extent?

How is the Commission proposing to resolve the long-standing problem of by-catches and discards

3.
as part of the reform of European fisheries policy?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2002)

is not particularly helpful

The term ‘by-catch’
in this context. Many fisheries simultaneously exploit
numerous species by each operation of the fishing gear. Usually, a relatively small number of species
predominates the catches with a larger number of species being less predominant. However, the less
predominant species are often of high value per unit weight and are therefore a welcome addition to the

C 301 E/54

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

income of fishermen. In addition, quantities of fish are also caught which fishermen do not wish to land,
usually because they are of little or no commercial value, or which are prohibited by legislation to land.

1.
In Norway, the principle applies that individuals of the major commercially exploited species which
are caught shall not be discarded but shall be returned to port and counted against an appropriate quota.
Despite a number of inquiries, the Commission has not succeeded in obtaining a full description of this
system or of its success.

The Commission would wish to see the capture of small fish discontinued or much reduced. This is
2.
the basic intention of the Community’s Technical Measures Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No
850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the
protection of juveniles of marine organisms (1). The suggestion to land undersized fish and market them
implies dispensing with minimum landing sizes; in the Commission’s view such a move would jeopardise
rather than contribute to stock recovery. Unwanted catches may be landed provided that they are in
compliance with legislative requirements but they are discarded into the sea precisely because they are
unwanted by the fisherman who has caught them.

The basic attack on discarding will be by improvement of technical measures intended to prevent or
3.
reduce capture of small fish. The Commission is committed to producing an action plan for discards which
should emerge by June 2002 and which may contain additional elements.

(1) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.

(2002/C 301 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0796/02

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2002)

Subject: Community funding of plans projects implementing the Natura 2000 network and EAGGF

contribution to environmental protection in Greece

The prime objective of the sustainable management of natural and environmental resources (cid:1) one of the
priorities in drawing up EU policy with a view to the European Council meeting in Barcelona (cid:1) is to
promote specific aspects of environmental policy such as in relation to water, land and soil. Directive
92/43/EEC (1) provides for special measures to protect and conserve natural habitats (biotopes, wild
biotopes, grassland), wild fauna and flora throughout the EU, and to create a coherent European ecological
network of special areas named Natura 2000. With this network as a basis, Member States draw up
national lists of special conservation areas with the Commission subsequently compiling a list of areas of
Community interest. These areas are defined in the legislation as special areas of conservation for which
special management plans are drawn up defining the activities permitted and the method of managing and
enhancing the natural resources etc.

1. What financial support, per plan and project and in total, has Greece received in respect of
implementing the Natura 2000 network, under the 2nd Community Support Framework (CSF), from the
Cohesion Fund and the Life programme since 1996 to date? Will the Commission provide a detailed
breakdown for each plan and project separately and indicate the amounts allocated from each source of
funds separately, per year and in total?

2. What amount of financial aid has Greece received since 1993 for the implementation of Community
environment policy? What is the amount of appropriations entered in the 2nd CSF for the operational
programme on the environment and what is the take-up rate in respect of those appropriations?

3. What amount of financial support has been received from the European Agricultural Guidance and
Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), with particular reference to soil and water resources for the protection and
rational management of coastal areas, waterways which flow into them, and wetlands. Will
the
Commission provide a detailed breakdown for each plan and project separately and indicate the amounts
allocated from each source of funds separately, per year and in total?