WRITTEN QUESTION P-1902/02 by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Fishing of non-quota species in the North Sea.
Date: 2002-06-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: North Sea, by-catch, catch quota, environmental impact, fishery management, fishing controls, sea fish

C 28 E/154

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

(2003/C 28 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1902/02

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 June 2002)

Subject: Fishing of non-quota species in the North Sea

Can the Commission:

(cid:1) provide a list of non-quota fish species in the North Sea, together with an analysis of their commercial

value;

(cid:1) outline the potential risk of quota species being caught as by-catch during non-quota species fishing in

the North Sea; and

(cid:1) confirm that it has assessed the impact on the ecosystem in the North Sea of increased fishing
activities by Member States pursuing non-quota species from 2003 and that additional financial and
human resources are available for control and monitoring to meet the challenges posed by free access?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2002)

Many species of fish exist in the North Sea which are not subject to total allowable catch (TAC’s) and
quotas. Very little is known about the abundance and status of these fish species. These include some
species of flatfish (predominantly long rough dabs, solenettes, topknots) and roundfish (such as gurnards,
catfish, weevers). Some invertebrates such as squids also occur in the North Sea.

However, it is debatable whether targeted exploitation of these species would be possible or economically
viable. Squids could, in principle, be caught without incurring by-catch of species subject to quotas. Many
of the other non-quota species live on or near the sea bed and exploitation of these species would almost
certainly incur by-catches of species subject to quotas of which many are fully utilised or even overfished
and some are in need of recovery measures.

The Commission has insufficient information to comprehensively establish the commercial value of non-
quota species for each or all Member States. For similar reasons, there is no scientific assessment of the
effect of the probable impact on the ecosystem of increased fishing activities by Member States pursuing
non-quota species.

As regards control and monitoring the Commission would like to point out
this lies in the
responsibility of the Member States. The Commission indicates in Section 3.4 of its recently-published
Communication on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (‘Roadmap’) that it will propose to setting
up a Community joint inspection structure to coordinate national and Community inspection policies and
activities.

that

(2003/C 28 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1910/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Sustainable water use and golf courses

(2 July 2002)

In its reply H-0444/02 (1) of 11 June 2002, the Commission stated that, with specific reference to the
Spanish National Hydrological Plan, diverted water not intended for irrigation goes to meet urban and
economic demand, and some might be used to irrigate existing golf courses among other concurrent
activities. In the same reply, the Commission also stated that Community legislation does not forbid the
irrigation of golf courses as long as all the relevant Community legislation is observed.