92002E0846

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0846/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Paired trawling and dolphin deaths

Is the Commission aware of the large number of dead dolphins washed up on the coasts of south-west England and France in recent months?

It has been suggested that the reason for this phenomenon is the increasingly common practice of paired trawling, where two trawlers drag a net at high speed between them.

Does the Commission accept that analysis? If so, what steps does it intend to take to help protect the dolphin community?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2002)

The Commission has received information on the issue mentioned by the Honourable Member.

Although all cetacean species are strictly protected by the Habitats Directive, Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(1), which imposes Member States specific obligations in this regard, the Commission is increasingly aware that a Community action may be necessary to increase the effectiveness of the protection of small cetaceans from undesired effects of fishing activities. These measures could include, where appropriate, an overall downsizing of the fishing effort, and also more targeted measures aimed to avoid significant impacts on some sensitive species, such as cetaceans.

In this respect, the Commission is gathering all scientific and technical information available and has requested the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, (STECF), and also the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, (ICES), to provide the scientific and technical support that may allow the Commission to propose regulatory measures, in consultation with all interested parties. The possible impact of paired trawling has been included in this analysis.

As soon as the advice of STECF and ICES will become available, the Commission will design the appropriate measures in the field of fishing activities, following consultation with interested parties. This is expected to take place before the end of 2002. The measures shall be adopted by the Council in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 43 of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.