92001E0181

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0181/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Recovery plans for fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic

Considering that two-thirds of fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic are below safe biological limits, is the Commission planning to develop recovery plans for all of these stocks?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0181/01 and E-0204/01 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

The Commission is aware that many fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic are outside safe biological limits.

However, the Commission uses the terminology recovery plan for stocks which are in immediate danger of collapse. The stocks in question at present are cod in the North Sea, Irish Sea and to the west of Scotland and the northern hake stock. Recovery plans are either in place (Irish Sea) or are in the process of being put in place for the others.

For stocks outside safe biological limits but not immediately in danger of collapse, and indeed all other relevant stocks, the Commission has initiated a process whereby a precautionary approach to management will be applied. This is already the case for cod, haddock, plaice, saithe and herring in the North Sea where agreement has been reached with Norway, the joint managers of these stocks with the Community, to adopt such an approach. Also with Norway, agreement has been reached on application of a precautionary approach to the North-East Atlantic mackerel stock. In the Baltic and via the International Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission agreement has been reached to apply a precautionary approach to management of cod, sprat and salmon.