WRITTEN QUESTION E-1037/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 April 2002)

Subject: Svalbard prawn fishing

Prawn fishing in Svalbard by the Community fleet is in serious difficulties due to the obligation, unilaterally imposed by Norway, that no more than four units of the EU fishing fleet be present at any one time.

This practice was imposed some years ago, which means that there is a risk of its becoming established, to the prejudice of the Community fleet, which cannot take up the whole of the fishing effort annually assigned to it. It should be added that the limitation in question occurs precisely in the short space of time during which the region can be accessed, given the adverse weather conditions there throughout the rest of the year.

In recent years, the Commission has been holding consultations with the Norwegian authorities with a view to resolving the problem, without any positive outcome whatever.

Is the Commission aware of the problem indicated above, and of the harm it is doing to the Community fleet fishing for prawns in Svalbard?

Is the Commission continuing its consultations with the Norwegian authorities in this connection, and if so, with what result?

Has the Commission taken, or does it intend to take any other steps in this respect, which would enable a solution to the problem and the prejudice being suffered by the Community fleet affected to be resolved?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2002)

At the present time, the Community's relations with Norway concerning shrimp catches in the Svalbard area are governed by a so-called gentlemen's understanding.

This understanding, which is entirely informal in nature and is therefore not of a binding nature upon either of the Parties, allows the Community to fish for shrimp on up to 519 fishing days a year in the Svalbard area using a maximum of ten vessels, four of which can be in the area at any one time.

On a number of occasions, the Commission has consulted the Norwegians on this subject with a view to amending the current restrictions. The present position of Norway is that despite the clearly understood need to increase Community access to fishing in these waters, they are unwilling to change the fishing conditions.

The Commission is entirely aware of the difficulties that this situation presents to Member States. To this end, the Commission will continue to endeavour to engage the Norwegian authorities in a dialogue, which will lead to improved access conditions for the Community shrimp fleet.