92002E1902

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.