91997E2987

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2987/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (1 October 1997)

Subject: Ecological disaster in the Mediterranean caused by mutated seaweed

In recent years there has been rampant growth in the Mediterranean of a species of mutated tropical seaweed, 'Caulerpa Taxifolia', which was brought to Europe to decorate the aquarium of a zoo in Germany. The seaweed underwent a mutation, resulting in the creation of a new species which is spreading very rapidly and resisting all attempts to destroy it.

Wherever the weed appears, coral, sponges, crabs and any other forms of marine flora and fauna are no longer to be found, and even fish are now disappearing. This new species of seaweed is spreading at a rapid rate, and a massive ecological disaster is in the making in the sensitive region of the Mediterranean basin.

What action does the Commission intend to take and what measures are needed to avert the disaster which is inevitably facing the Mediterranean?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (30 October 1997)

By using the LIFE financial instrument the Commission jointly financed an international project between 1992 and 1995 that was intended to study the problem caused by the expansion of caulerpa taxifolia seaweed in the Mediterranean and to anticipate the subsequent developments in that area. The project was carried out by French, Spanish and Italian teams.

In view of the outcome of that project and the uninterrupted expansion of the seaweed the Commission decided in 1995 to grant a second instalment of LIFE funding to a project intended to involve experiments on seaweed eradication techniques and to draw up a strategy for controlling its expansion. The project is being coordinated by the Posidonie Scientific Interest Grouping (SIG) in Marseilles, from whom the Honourable Member will be able to obtain more detailed information.

More particularly the Posidonie SIG held an international symposium on 19-20 September 1997 on controlling the expansion of caulerpa taxifolia, the documentation on which is due to appear shortly.

It should be noted that although the Commission is involved in identifying this problem and in the experimental resolution stages via the LIFE financial instrument, any structural action to be taken is the responsibility of the Member States concerned.