WRITTEN QUESTION No. 511/98 by Dominique SOUCHET to the Commission. Prohibition on the use of driftnets
C 386/22 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 12. 98 (98/C 386/027) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0507/98 by Dominique Souchet (I-EDN) to the Commission (2 March 1998) Subject: Prohibition on the use of driftnets According to the statements made by Mr Morley before the Committee on Fisheries on 3 February 1998, it would seem that the Councilís intention is to use Community funds to stop French, British and Irish albacove tuna netters from fishing in the Atlantic. Mr Morley referred to the diversification policy in Italy as an example to follow. Before even thinking about applying this principle in the Atlantic, should not the Council first ascertain the outcome of the Italian plan? Does the Council have irrefutable evidence that fishing with driftnets of an illegal length has actually stopped in the Mediterranean, that boats which have received aid have not changed their Fag State and that the owners and crews concerned have in fact stopped their previous activities? (98/C 386/028) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0509/98 by Dominique Souchet (I-EDN) to the Commission (2 March 1998) Subject: Prohibition on the use of driftnets The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, a Commission expert body, has acknowledged both the aptness of the methods chosen and the quality of the results of the study carried out in 1993 by Ifremer (Institut Français de Recherche pour líExploitation de la Mer › French Oceanographic Institute) on the environmental impact of driftnets in the Atlantic. In its conclusions, it merely notes that driftnet fishing requires áclose monitoringí. Since 1993 net length has been limited to 2. 5 km, the number of boats using this fishing gear has been reduced and net technology has improved, so that it is certain that the mortality rate has greatly diminished. In view of these developments, does the Council believe that it is reasonable to accept the Commissionís proposal to abolish the use of driftnets in the Atlantic (outside coastal waters)? (98/C 386/029) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0511/98 by Dominique Souchet (I-EDN) to the Commission (2 March 1998) Subject: Prohibition on the use of driftnets It is certain that other species are accidentally caught in driftnets in the Baltic Sea. Information gathered by the ICES shows that these include several species of birds (guillemot and razorbill) and marine mammals (seals and porpoises). The populations of some of these species in these areas have been considerably reduced (porpoises and common seal). In addition, the wild salmon stock in the Baltic Sea is threatened. In light of this information, does the Council believe that it is logical to prohibit the use of 2. 5 km driftnets in the Atlantic (outside coastal waters) and to authorize 21 km driftnets (not counting the reserve net) in the Baltic Sea?