91998E3946

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3946/98

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Sustainable fishing

Has the Commission undertaken any evaluation of its funding policies for fishing with a view to rewarding environmentally sensitive fishing, for example, to offer incentives for environmental resource management and nature conservation activities, and to penalise commercial over-exploitation of dwindling fish stocks?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(7 April 1999)

Under Structural Fund programmes, the Member States and the Commission share responsibility for evaluating the impact of Community financing, the rules on which are adopted by the Council, on the sectors and regions in question, including the fisheries sector. The Commission has also part-financed a number of scientific research projects covering the impact of aid on catch capacity and hence on resources. The projects in question are listed in the FAIR project catalogue(1) and include notably Nos 1454, 3541 and 3936.

The Commission can confirm that aid for modernisation must not run counter to resource conservation targets. Use of more selective gear and fishing methods is one of the essential eligibility criteria for Community aid.

Regulation of resource exploitation by means of TACs and catch quotas or restrictions on individual fishing grounds limits the overexploitation of stocks while favouring responsible fishing. Each Member State remains free moreover to set internal allocation rules and can gear them to maximum respect for resources and the environment.

Any infringement of these provisions of Community law is liable to result in penalisation under Article 169 of the Treaty. The Commission has moreover recently adopted a proposal(2) for a Council Regulation listing types of behaviour, including overfishing, that seriously infringe CFP rules. While this Regulation may not lead to Community-wide harmonisation of penalties imposed, it will result in greater transparency as regards enforcement of CFP rules.

(1) Project synopses. Volume VI: Fisheries & aquaculture (FAIR: 1994-1998).

(2) COM(99) 70 final.