92002E2649

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2649/02

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(20 September 2002)

Subject: Recreational fishing

According to the 28 August edition of the newspaper Diário de Noticias, the ADAPI (association of industrial fishing-boat owners) estimates that there are more than 20 000 fishing boats operating in Portugal, ostensibly engaged in recreational fishing, but actually fishing for commercial purposes.

Although these figures cannot of course be confirmed, experience nevertheless shows that this is a substantial problem in Portugal, and is undoubtedly not confined to that country alone.

In view of the gradual exhaustion of fish stocks, does the Commission not consider it essential to make provision for monitoring the recreational fishing sector, in order to avoid even more adverse consequences for the sustainability of fisheries and the conditions of competition in European fisheries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2002)

The Commission does not possess at present and has no intention of instituting in the foreseeable future a monitoring scheme for the recreational sector of fisheries.

Member States are obliged under existing Community legislation to ensure that all landings of regulated fish stocks are accurately recorded and that these records are returned to appropriate authorities, including the Commission.