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WRITTEN QUESTION P-1902/02
by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission
(24 June 2002)
Subject: Fishing of non-quota species in the North Sea
Can the Commission:
- provide a list of non-quota fish species in the North Sea, together with
an analysis of their commercial value;
- outline the potential risk of quota species being caught as by-catch
during non-quota species fishing in the North Sea; and
- confirm that it has assessed the impact on the ecosystem in the North
Sea of increased fishing activities by Member States pursuing non-quota
species from 2003 and that additional financial and human resources are
available for control and monitoring to meet the challenges posed by free
access?
Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission
(15 July 2002)
Many species of fish exist in the North Sea which are not subject to total
allowable catch (TAC's) and quotas. Very little is known about the
abundance and status of these fish species. These include some species of
flatfish (predominantly long rough dabs, solenettes, topknots) and
roundfish (such as gurnards, catfish, weevers). Some invertebrates such as
squids also occur in the North Sea.
However, it is debatable whether
targeted exploitation of these species would be possible or economically
viable. Squids could, in principle, be caught without incurring by-catch
of species subject to quotas. Many of the other non-quota species live on
or near the sea bed and exploitation of these species would almost
certainly incur by-catches of species subject to quotas of which many are
fully utilised or even overfished and some are in need of recovery
measures.
The Commission has insufficient
information to comprehensively establish the commercial value of non-quota
species for each or all Member States. For similar reasons, there is no
scientific assessment of the effect of the probable impact on the
ecosystem of increased fishing activities by Member States pursuing
non-quota species.
As regards control and monitoring the
Commission would like to point out that this lies in the responsibility of
the Member States. The Commission indicates in Section 3.4 of its
recently-published Communication on the reform of the Common Fisheries
Policy ("Roadmap") that it will propose to setting up a Community joint
inspection structure to coordinate national and Community inspection
policies and activities. |
