92002E1547

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1547/02

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: By-catches of marine mammals, in particular dolphins

Numerous press articles have reported that dead dolphins have been washed ashore along the coasts of Europe, above all along the French Atlantic coast. The marine mammals become caught in fishermen's nets and suffer serious injuries which result in their death. It is also reported that the fishermen frequently cut open the dolphins so that the carcasses sink to the sea-bed and nothing can be proven.

Does the Commission have any information on by-catches of dolphins? Does it have any information on the results of the fisheries surveillance carried out by the Member States as regards dolphins? What measures are taken by the inspection authorities in the Member States when the practices described above are discovered? Does the action taken by the inspection authorities vary between Member States?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to reduce overall by-catches of marine mammals?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2002)

The Commission has requested scientific, objectively validated information on the extent of cetacean by-catch and mortality induced by fishing. This information is summarised in the December 2001 report of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries' subgroup on fishery and the environment, available as Commission staff working paper(1).

The Commission is at present receiving reports from Member States on their implementation of Council Directive 92/43/EEC, of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(2) where Article 12 explicitly includes the obligation to monitor the incidental capture and killing of cetaceans. The first indications point to large differences in monitoring frequency and coverage, which makes it difficult to obtain a clear picture of the by-catch problem at Community level.

As a consequence, the Commission intends to draw up a proposal to cover both monitoring and mitigation of by-catch at the Community level in an efficient and proportionate manner. This proposal will be made on the basis of scientific details that will become available before this summer. The Parliament will be consulted on this proposal.

(1) SEC(2002) 376.

(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.