WRITTEN QUESTION E-2507/99 by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Fishing.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/57 (2000/C 280 E/057) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2507/99 by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 December 1999) Subject: Fishing On 7 November 1999, French vessels prevented over 50 Spanish fishing boats from leaving the port of Lorient, thus stopping the fishermen concerned from fishing for anchovy in waters in which (unlike their French colleagues) they are fully entitled to do so. This is not, unfortunately, an isolated incident, since French fishermen are widely known to have behaved in such a way on previous occasions. Could the Commission say what action is to be taken in order to guarantee the safety of Spanish fishermen? What penalties is the Commission to impose by way of punishment for such behaviour? What compensation is to be made available to the fishermen who suffered as a result of the incident? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) The Commission is aware of the closure of the port of Lorient by French fishermen and notes the rapid resolution of the conflict pursuant to a meeting between all interested parties. All fleets exploiting resources in Community fishing waters do so in the pursuance of Community legislation and, when operating in the same area, resolve any conflicts arising from their fishing activities by common agreement between all fleets concerned. The security of fishermen in the port of Lorient is the responsibility of the authorities in that port. These authorities are also responsible for citing any infringements which are committed and the subsequent prosecution of these infringements. Compensation for any damage, as a consequence of the above closure of the port, must be claimed in accordance with the applicable rules in France. (2000/C 280 E/058) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2509/99 by Carmen Fraga EstØvez (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Actual number of fishing vessels using driftnets in 1997 (22 December 1999) In its combined reply of 8 October 1999 to questions P-1537/99 and E-1561/99 (1) concerning compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1239/98, the Commission gives the following figures for fishing vessels using driftnets in the North East Atlantic in 1997 (the most recent reference year for the gradual phasing-out of such nets): ü France: 43 vessels ü Ireland: 30 vessels ü United Kingdom: 5 vessels. Leaving aside the case of Ireland, where the vagueness of the figure quoted makes it difficult to believe any statement to the effect that the country is complying with the phasing-out plan, the Commission itself, in its Report on enforcement of Community legislation concerning the use of driftnets in 1997 in the North East Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea (SEC(98) 477), provides other figures: ü France: 68 authorised and 35 in actual operation ü Ireland: 11 ü United Kingdom: 5