(Rule 52)

A3-0272/94

Resolution on fisheries research

The European Parliament,

-having regard to Title II of the Treaty on European Union,

-having regard to the communication from the Commission entitled 'European fisheries research - current position and prospects' (COM(93)0095),

-having regard to the report from the Commission entitled 'Maintenance, extension and creation of databases appropriate to the implementation of the common fisheries policy' (COM(93)0501),

-having regard to the reports of the annual meeting of directors of the fisheries research organizations of the European Community for the years 1992 and 1993,

-having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture,

-having regard to the conclusions of the Fisheries Councils of 24/25.6.1993 and 20.10.1993,

-having regard to its resolution of 10 December 1991 on the common fisheries policies and the adjustments to be made,

-having delegated the power of decision to the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology, pursuant to Rule 52 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology (A3-0272/94)

A.whereas the conservation of fish stocks and biodiversity in Community waters and in the waters of third countries fished by Community vessels is essential for the social and economic well-being of regions of the Community where fishing is an important activity and for the maintenance of supply of fresh fish and fish products to the consumer,

B.whereas the common fisheries policy, as established by Regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92 aims to conserve fish stocks by means of a variety of instruments,

C.whereas the effective operation of the common fisheries policy, in particular with respect to those instruments regulating the impact of fishing activity on fish stocks and the marine environment, is dependent upon the collection, analysis and availability of data on a range of parameters,

D.whereas the ongoing management of fisheries requires collection of data regarding stocks, catches, landings, fleet size and activities, and the economics of fishing activities; whereas other fisheries research activities are more long-term and innovative in nature, and have a complementary function,

E.whereas storage of research data, and access to data for analytical and management purposes is facilitated by the development and maintenance of databases; whereas international cooperation is essential for the effective operation of databases,

F.whereas the bulk of fisheries research is the responsibility of the public authorities of the Member States, and is dependent on national funding; whereas the Community supports and coordinates research through the Community framework programmes in research and technological development (FAR, AIR), and through specific budgetary measures,

G.whereas the level of funding allocated to fisheries research in Member States is increasingly insufficient to meet the steadily increasing demand for information required by authorities for the management of fisheries; whereas contracting budgets reduce the ability of research bodies to perform effectively,

H.whereas support should be given to university courses in marine biology and other marine sciences as well as vocational training at primary and secondary level,

1.Notes with growing concern the poor state of many commercially fished stocks in Community waters, despite the existence of a common fisheries policy;

2.Is concerned that further depletion of important fish stocks and the consequential reduction in yields will result in further economic decline in the regions of the Community where fishing is an important activity;

3.Reaffirms the importance of fisheries research to the development of the fishing industry in the Community;

4.Calls on the Council to invite the relevant authorities in the Member States responsible for fisheries research to make an immediate assessment of needs in terms of activities, facilities and manpower, and to ensure that the required level of funding is provided;

5.Wishes to see improved cooperation between Member States in terms of overall coordination of research work, sharing of facilities, formulation of research strategies for fisheries of mutual interest, and the development of databases appropriate to fisheries research, with the aim of improving efficiency in the use of financial resources available;

6.Welcomes the Council's recognition of the need to distinguish between routine work, such as stock assessment, and fundamental innovative research;

7.Proposes to the Commission that special, economically viable fish farms be set up, in conjunction with marine aquaculture centres and companies, to produce young fish for the most depleted areas;

8.Concurs with the view expressed by both the Council and the Commission regarding the need to maintain, and where necessary extend or create, appropriate databases covering biological, technical and socio-economic aspects, and regarding the importance of such databases to the effective implementation of the common fisheries policy;

9.Considers that Community support for fisheries research can be made more effective through the creation of a separate budgetary provision aimed at supporting routine data collection and the maintenance and development of appropriate databases, in cooperation with the relevant Member State authorities;

10.Notes the concern expressed in the report of the directors of fisheries research organizations (1992) regarding certain features of the operation of Community research programmes relating to fisheries;

11.Calls on the Commission, taking into account the assessment of the FAR programme (1988-1992), to clarify all funding directed at fisheries research through existing Community financial instruments, as a way of countering the present lack of transparency;

12.Calls on the Commission to clarify the operation of the budgetary provisions for fisheries research outside the framework research programmes;

13.Requests the Commission to prepare an evaluation of the scientific and research activities carried out under the fishery agreements with third countries and invites the Commission to present a report on the state of fisheries research in the waters of third countries in which Community vessels operate;

14.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.