WRITTEN QUESTION E-0205/01

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 2001)

Subject: Sustainability of fisheries

Considering that there has been little development of indicators to date and that they are necessary to measure long-term sustainability, what indicators is the Commission developing to monitor (a) the state of fisheries and marine ecosystems, (b) policies (response) and (c) fishing activities (pressures)?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0180/01 and E-0205/01 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1543/2000 of 29 June 2000(1) establishes a Community framework for the collection and management of the data needed to conduct the Common Fisheries Policy.

This Regulation intends to develop a harmonised system of data with the involvement of the scientific community Scientific technical and economic committee for fisheries (STECF), the Member State administrations and the profession Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA). The data collected cover the whole sector and are of a biological and economic nature. The Regulation completes the previous regulations in this area, which include provisions for the collection and management of data relating to fishing vessels, for their activities and catches and for price monitoring.

With the same aim, the Commission and the Member States are participating in a sustainability study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Committee for Fisheries on socio-economic indicators for fisheries, which will be finalised in 2002. In addition, the Commission is launching a study on socio-economic indicators in the fisheries sector with the purpose of acquiring as complete an understanding as possible of the various data connected with the socio-economic aspects of the fisheries sector and of evaluating the comparability of these data within the EU.

A work programme for the establishment of environmental indicators relevant for the integration of environmental protection requirements into the Common Fisheries Policy will be the subject of a forthcoming Commission Communication.

(1) OJ L 176, 15.7.2000.