WRITTEN QUESTION E-2723/99 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Regeneration of fishing grounds.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/113 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (22 February 2000) The Spanish wolf population in the North of the Duero River is included on the Annex V of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, as species whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subject to management measures. The Spanish authorities have adopted exceptional management measures for these populations in the North of the Duero River, such as the possibility to be hunted under specific circumstances. These measures are carried out to avoid too much damage to livestock. Article 14 of Directive 92/43/EEC seems to have been respected. According to information held by the Commission, the Spanish wolf population in the North of the Duero River is increasing. Spain is the Member State with the biggest wolf population. Action plans including compensation for damage, radio-tracking studies and infrastructure impact studies about the populations are ongoing. Furthermore, agri-environmental measures specifically tailored to wolf conservation are being implemented in Castilla y León areas such as Sierra de la Culebra. (2000/C 280 E/119) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2723/99 by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Regeneration of fishing grounds The European Community seeks to conserve the different species present in fishing grounds through the balanced management of resources. However, in spite of this, some traditional Community fishing grounds are experiencing a decline in the fish population. Could the Commission order a scientific study into the possibility of regenerating traditional fishing grounds? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (4 February 2000) Rebuilding of fish populations can essentially be achieved through restocking by artificial means or by allowing enough adult fish to spawn in natural conditions following conservation measures. Restocking by artificial means in the open sea has been generally proved an inefficient method; in a few cases, such as for Baltic salmon, it has induced a risk of extinction for the wild populations. Studies on the rebuilding of fish populations by conservation measures are common in fisheries science, and are carried out mostly under the request of the Commission. These studies include work carried out by the International council for the exploration of the sea (ICES) and its working groups, study groups, committees, and other subsidiary bodies; work carried out by the scientific, technical and economic committee for fisheries (STECF) and its subsidiary bodies; studies in support of the common fisheries policy carried out under budgetary line B2-1810, and studies made following ad hoc requests on the basis of a special need of scientific information. The results of all these studies are available to the Members of the Parliament upon request