91998E2978

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2978/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Wild Atlantic salmon

Is the Commission aware of growing public concern at the declining stock of wild Atlantic salmon, particularly the decline in numbers entering Irish and Scottish rivers, and has any action been proposed by the Commission to arrest this decline.

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1998)

The Commission is aware of the public concern at the situation of Atlantic salmon and is itself seriously worried by the state of the wild salmon stocks in the North Atlantic.

In the light of this situation, the North Atlantic salmon conservation organisation (NASCO), of which the Community is the largest contracting party, at its annual meeting in June 1998 agreed to develop an action plan for the application of a precautionary approach to salmon management. This action plan, which is specifically designed for the North Atlantic, foresees a number of measures which will be undertaken by the contracting parties to NASCO in the coming years in order to restore the North Atlantic wild salmon stocks. The action plan will comprehensively address the management of fisheries, socio-economic issues, unreported catches, stock rebuilding programmes, habitat issues and aquaculture. This action plan was drawn up with the full support and involvement of the Community at all stages.

The Commission considers that this action will generate effective measures to halt the decline in the wild salmon stocks in the North Atlantic.