10 April 1997       Doc. 7794

ADOC7794

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

on fisheries in Europe's semi-land-locked seas

presented by Mrs JOHANSSON, Mr GONZALEZ LAXE

and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       Europe has three major semi-land-locked seas: the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.

2.       Fish stocks and, in general, all marine animals and plants in these seas are affected by over-exploitation and pollution, to the extent that many species are listed as threatened, endangered or vulnerable in the Council of Europe Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern Convention). Because of pollution, pregnant women and children have occasionally even been advised not to eat fish from these seas. Several studies also confirm an alarming deterioration, or in some cases even destruction, of breeding areas of certain species.

3.       Fisheries in all these three seas have a long tradition and still play a significant role in many coastal communities.

4.       Aquaculture developments are also taking place and are becoming increasingly important.

5.       The fishing industry therefore contributes to employment and to the economy of many coastal regions, although the number of jobs in this sector has dropped considerably over the years due to restructuring and modernisation of fishing fleets.

6.       The use of efficient harvesting equipment has contributed to the depletion of some marine species.

7.       The degradation of fisheries and other hunts has in part been caused by a lack of international agreements to impose a sustainable multiple-species management regime for the exploitation of the living marine resources in the three seas. Control and enforcement measures are important aspects of such agreements.

8.       Consequently, the Assembly recommends to governments of countries exploiting the living marine resources of these seas and the European Union:

i.       to halt exploitation of endangered species;

ii.       to draw up, sign and implement binding agreements for the sustainable use of the living marine resources;

iii.       to establish a permanent system for continuous stock assessment, by national and international research centres, for the monitoring of fishing efforts in relation to stock reproduction;

iv.       to ban unselective fishing methods that are harmful to non-targeted species;

v.       to take steps for the long-term development of a sound fishing industry with an harmonious relationship between coastal fisheries, deep-sea fisheries and aquaculture;

vi.       to stop harmful pollution of these seas and set up control systems as well as enforcement procedures that will help the ecosystems recover to a healthy state;

vii.       to take steps to protect breeding grounds;

viii.       to set up a mechanism that enables the management of each sea to profit from the experiences made in any of the other seas.

Signed: 1

I.B. Johansson, Sweden, SOC

Gonzalez Laxe, Spain, SOC

Alexander, United Kingdom, EDG

Behrendt, Germany, SOC

Čiupaila, Lithuania, LDR

Collavini, Italy, EPP

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Gnaga, Italy, LDR

Hornung, Germany, EPP

Kiratlioğlu, Turkey, EPP

Mackie of Benshie, United Kingdom, LDR

Michels, Germany, EPP

Szakál, Hungary, EDG

1 ¹       SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People's Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: Not registered