WRITTEN QUESTION E-3358/03 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Council. Bycatch associated with shrimp fisheries.
Date: 2003-11-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: biodiversity, by-catch, common fisheries policy, crustacean, ecosystem, exploitation of resources, fishing regulations, international affairs, waste

C 84 E/236

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0279)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3358/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Council

(14 November 2003)

Subject: Bycatch associated with shrimp fisheries

Following extensive research, the Environmental Justice Foundation has concluded that the high levels of
bycatch associated with shrimp fisheries are causing ecological degradation on a global scale. According to
the FAO, shrimp fisheries alone are responsible for one third of the world’s discarded catch, despite
producing less than 2 % of seafood. Although shrimp fisheries are particularly non-selective, the issue of
bycatch is not limited to these fisheries. Millions of tonnes of bycatch are caught by a variety of fishing
methods every year, with trawlers, gillnets and longlines being responsible for a leading share.
these fisheries will unquestionably lead to a decline in marine biodiversity and
Left unmanaged,
productivity, along with increased unemployment and poverty in coastal areas.
In 1994, the United
Nations General Assembly stated that ‘the issue of bycatch and discards in fishing operations warrants
serious attention by the international community,’ yet insufficient action has been taken to resolve this
over-exploitation. In order to address the issue of bycatch on a global level, EJF recommends the adoption
of an ‘International Plan of Action on Bycatch Reduction’ under the auspices of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organisation. EJF would like the EU to take the lead in calling for this IPOA at the next viable
opportunity. Given that the EU has recently reformed the CFP to prioritise conservation and sustainable
exploitation of fisheries resources, such a proposal would be in line with current European concerns.
An IPOA would not only assist the EU in addressing its own bycatch levels (including those associated
with long-distance fleets), but would also push forward international policy in terms of reducing wastage
from fisheries.

1. What EU initiatives currently address bycatch reduction (rather than solely reduction in discards) in
European waters, and bycatch reduction in long-distance fleets in third-country waters?

2.

How does the EU monitor bycatch levels and the impacts of bycatch on marine ecosystems?

Is the EU prepared to take a lead in calling for a UN FAO ‘International Plan of Action on Bycatch

3.
Reduction’?

Reply

(9 March 2004)

1.
In order to enhance the selectivity of shrimp fisheries, Council Regulation No 850/98 contains
provisions for the compulsory use of a separator trawl with a sorting grid for shrimp fisheries. These
measures are intended to reduce by-catches.

2.
There are no general rules on by-catch quotas. The technical conservation measures set out
minimum percentages of target species on board according to type of fishing gear and mesh size. These
rules are monitored at sea and in port by the competent control authorities.

The Council is presently undertaking an overhaul of the current regulation on technical conservation

3.
measures, including the rules on catch composition, by-catches and discards.

4.
On 8 April 2003, the Council adopted conclusions on the reduction of discards in fisheries on the
basis of a Commission action plan. In particular the Council invited the Commission to initiate pilot
projects in 2003 to assess the possibility of reducing discards through various measures, including novel

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/237

fishing gear, voluntary departure from fishing grounds, real-time area closures and also the measure
indicated by the Honourable Parliamentarian, i.e. the introduction of by-catch quotas.

5.
Such measures should be seen in the context of the on-going examination of multi-annual fisheries
management and the establishment of recovery plans for endangered stocks as provided for in the reform
of the Common Fisheries Policy.

6.

The Commission is currently preparing an assessment of fishery resources in third country waters.

The Community has taken the lead in the international action plan to eradicate illegal, unreported

7.
and unregulated fishing (IUU). There has been no specific call for an action plan on by-catches.

(2004/C 84 E/0280)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3414/03

by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(12 November 2003)

Subject: Estonia and directives on equal opportunities

It has come to my notice that Estonia has yet to transpose the EU directives on equal opportunities into
national legislation. This would seem remarkable, particularly since the Commission publicly criticised the
enlargement countries on 6 November for not meeting requirements ahead of EU accession. On that
occasion, however, there was no mention of Estonia and the absence of legislation on equal opportunities.

Can the Council confirm that Estonia has not implemented the directives on equal opportunities?

Can the Council explain why it was not made a requirement for accession to the EU?

What action will the Council take?

Reply

(9 March 2004)

Although Estonia has reached a high level of alignment with the acquis in most policy areas, the Council
can confirm that Estonia has not yet transposed legislation in the field of equal treatment of women and
men. In this context,
it should be noted that the Commission’s comprehensive monitoring report of
5 November 2003 on Estonia’s preparations for membership clearly identifies this issue as a matter of
serious concern, where Estonia must take immediate and decisive action if it is to be ready by the date of
accession. The Council shares the analysis of the Commission in this regard. It should also be noted that
alignment with the acquis in the field of equal opportunities is indeed a requirement for accession (as is
the EU acquis as a whole), and that Estonia will achieve this through the adoption of the Gender Equality
and Equal Treatment Act and the Employment Contract Act. Estonia is now required to address urgently
the substantial delays in the adoption of these two legal acts compared to the original legislative timetable.

In general terms, it should be recalled that the Council has underlined the importance of the process of
monitoring the state of preparedness for EU membership of the ten acceding States. This process is an
ongoing exercise, which will continue until the date of accession. In this regard, the Council, at its meeting
on 17 November 2003, noted that the Commission, taking full advantage of the expertise of the Member
States, will continue to follow the acceding States’ progress closely using all the means at its disposal to