Outcome of the European Cormorant Management Plan in the Member States

11.3.2015

Question for written answer E-003878-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Mireille D'Ornano (NI) , Edouard Ferrand (NI) , Dominique Bilde (NI) , Sylvie Goddyn (NI) , Joëlle Mélin (NI) , Sophie Montel (NI) , Dominique Martin (NI) , Jean-François Jalkh (NI) , Philippe Loiseau (NI)

The proliferation of cormorants (an increase of nearly 15% per year in France) is severely hampering fishing activities in watercourses and ponds by reducing aquatic stocks.

In 2008, Parliament adopted a resolution for a European Cormorant Management Plan to minimise the increasing impact of cormorants on fish stocks, fishing and aquaculture. This law provided that scientific investigations would be carried out in the Member States in order to evaluate the impact of cormorant conservation on fish stocks.

The response provided by the Commission in 2009 assured that a group of experts would be set up in order to develop new solutions.

1. Could the Commission provide an activity report for this group of experts that was announced in 2009?

2. What is the outcome of the cormorant conservation and the Birds directive of 2009 as far as fish stocks in the Member States are concerned?