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WRITTEN QUESTION E-1662/02
by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission
(11 June 2002)
Subject: Protection of marine life
1. Does the Commission believe that the use of pelagic trawls has reduced the number of unintended killings of cetaceans?
2. Does the Commission have any intention of commissioning an independent assessment of the damage being done by pelagic trawls, including the number of dolphins, porpoises and smaller whales being caught in these nets?
3. Does the Commission have any plans to demand compulsory monitoring of cetacean bycatch in all European waters?
4. Does the Commission have any plans to ban all large-scale netting, as well as drift netting?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission
(4th July 2002)
1. The Commission is aware of possible by-catches of cetaceans by using pelagic trawls, but has no information on the trends over time of such by-catches.
2. With regard to the assessment of cetaceans by-catches in different fisheries, including in pelagic trawl fisheries, and to the possible monitoring and mitigation measures to be taken in a co-ordinate manner at Community level, the Commission invites the Honourable Member to refer to its previous replies to written questions E-500/02 by Mr Martin(1) or E-967/02 by Mr Wyn(2) in particular.
3. In any case, the Commission is aware of the need to improve the monitoring of the status of conservation of cetacean species and of the possible impact that by-catch may have on it. To this end, the Commission would like to stress the obligation for Member States to fully comply with relevant provisions of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(3).
4. The Commission would also remind that the Community has already put in place a general ban on the use of drift nets, Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98 of 8 June 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 894/97 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources(4). This prohibition entered into force on 1 January 2002 and is applicable within all Community waters except the Baltic Sea and to all Community fishing boats outside Community waters.
Links to Europarliametary Questions & Answers
(1) OJ C 229 E, 26.9.2002, p. 93.
(2) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(4) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998.
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