Commission compliance with EU electric fishing regulations

27.2.2019

Question for written answer P-001040-19
to the Commission
Rule 130
Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL)

Under Article 31a of Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms, electric pulse current fishing is permitted for no more than 5% of the beam trawler fleet of each Member State employing this technique, and the voltage used may not exceed 15 V.

Dutch fleets are apparently contravening these rules.

There are 84 Dutch vessels equipped with electrified nets, whereas the number allowed is just 14. Furthermore, these trawls apparently employ voltages ranging between 40 V and 60 V.

The vessels operating unlawfully have received EUR 5.7 million in public aid since 1 August 2015, including EUR 3.8 million from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

When will the Commission, which is aware of these facts, call upon the Netherlands to obey the rules and refund the undue payments?

Has it taken all the steps necessary to ensure that fleets illegally using electric pulse nets will no longer be able to fish?