Electric pulse fishing as an alternative to beam trawling

9.6.2016

Question for written answer E-004746-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Sander Loones (ECR)

Under current EU legislation (Regulation (EU) No 227/2013 of 13 March 2013) beam trawling using electrical pulse current is permitted. This is on condition that no more than 5% of the beam trawler fleet per Member State use the electric pulse trawl.

Furthermore, the new common fisheries policy (CFP) offers Member States the opportunity, in the context of their landing obligation, to ‘conduct pilot projects… with the aim of fully exploring all practicable methods for the avoidance, minimisation and elimination of unwanted catches in a fishery’ (Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 — Article 14).

1. Can the Commission provide a tabular overview showing how many Member States have beam trawling vessels equipped with electric pulse technology, and what percentage of the beam trawler fleet these represent?

2. In what way does the Commission support the Member States in setting up pilot projects for the avoidance, minimisation and elimination of unwanted catches? How are the results of these projects monitored, and how can the Member States involved learn from each other's best practices?