RESOLUTION B3-0355 and 0398/93

Resolution on the oyster-farming crisis in the Marennes-Oléron basin, France

The European Parliament,

A.whereas shellfish, and oysters in particular, have been officially declared contaminated by toxins as a result of samples taken by a specialist institute (IFREMER), leading to a ban on sales,

B.whereas, however, additional research had to be carried out, in the form of more detailed analyses of the actual toxicity of the substances concerned, the final results proving negative,

C.whereas the losses suffered by shellfish farmers so far total FF 400 m,

1.Draws attention to the sense of responsibility shown by oyster farmers faced with a situation whose economic consequences are particularly serious because the end of the oyster season has been ruined;

2.Stresses, further, the efforts already made by shellfish farmers to comply with the relevant European health standards;

3.Notes with satisfaction the speed with which the local authorities decided to ban sales of oysters, thereby preventing any risk of contamination;

4.Urges the Community to take part in the measures which will be taken to promote oyster farming in order to make good the damage suffered by the fish trade in general;

5.Calls on the Commission, accordingly, to grant emergency aid to oyster farmers, so that they receive compensation for the losses resulting from the sales ban on and poor sales of oysters;

6.Calls for research into the causes of the proliferation of phytoplankton, which led to the contamination of the shellfish, to be stepped up;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and to the local and regional authorities in Poitou-Charentes.