Doc. 8228
6 October 1998

Preservation and management of fish stocks

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Gonzalez Laxe and others

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

1. Fish stocks are often overexploited, which creates biological, social, economic and food-linked risks and problems which have not yet been settled.

2. Global fishing is still on the increase, with catches rising from 98 million tonnes in 1990 to 113 million tonnes in 1995, endangering the renewal of stocks and the reproduction of certain species.

3. Where food is concerned, fishing meets a considerable proportion of the protein needs of many populations (up to 40%, even in some European countries), and we cannot afford to neglect the food safety aspects of such a resource in the light of the growing world population.

4. From the social point of view, the number of fishermen in Europe alone is estimated a 400 000, representing two million workers in the fishing sector and six million persons depending on this activity.

5. On the economic front, the fisheries sector is important for many European countries, whether in terms of the tonnage landed (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Spain), induced employment (France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain) or the size of the fishing fleet (Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain).

6. In order to preserve fish stocks, different countries use different fishery management systems depending on their specific geographical or economic features: TACs (Total Admissible Catches), individual quotas (transferable or not), restrictive measures (boats, licences, equipment), co-management, etc.

7. The efficiency, advantages and disadvantages of these various systems have not yet been pinpointed, which means that fish stocks will continue to be overexploited worldwide and their renewal to become increasingly difficult.

8. The Assembly will consider the current situation on the basis of the different management systems used by European countries in order to put forward useful proposals in the field of fishery management and fish stock preservation.

Signed : ¹

Gonzalez Laxe, Spain, SOC

Carvalho, Portugal, UEL

Eltz, Croatia, EDG

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Figel, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

Janowski, Poland, EPP/CD

I.B. Johansson, Sweden, SOC

Kitov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Newall, United Kingdom, EDG

Radic, Croatia, EPP/CD

Rugate, Latvia, EPP/CD

Telgmaa, Estonia, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: 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 in a group