B4-0242, 0243 and 0252/95

Resolution on allocation of the TAC of black halibut for 1995 in NAFO waters

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its resolution of 18 November 1994 on the agreements on NAFO fisheries quotas for 1995,

-having regard to the decisions taken at the NAFO meeting held in Brussels from 30 January to 1 February 1995,

A.whereas the purpose of that meeting was to allocate the 27 000 tonnes TAC of black halibut established at the annual meeting of NAFO in Halifax (Canada) in September 1994,

B.whereas the proposal for the allocation of the TAC submitted by Canada was based on certain criteria under which that contracting party was to obtain, as a coastal state, 50% of the volume involved and 13% on the basis of a reference period of ten years excluding the last three years,

C.having regard to the efforts that the European Union has made both at the technical and economic level to complete experimental programmes which resulted in the discovery of this type of deep water fishing from 1989,

D.having regard to the final proposal adopted at the special meeting of NAFO, providing for a breakdown of 60.37% for Canada, 12.59% for the EU, 9.63% for Japan and 5.56% for the other countries, whereas in 1993 the percentages of the total catch were 9.56% for Canada, 82.85% for the EU, 0% for Russia, 5.44% for Japan and 2.15% for the other countries,

E.whereas, if this agreement is ratified, on the basis of the new breakdown, the Community fleet will be allowed to catch only 3400 tonnes of black halibut in 1995 compared with 44 448 tonnes in 1993, with the detrimental social and economic repercussions which this reduction might have for the production and processing sectors,

F.bearing in mind the need to develop, within the framework of such international agreements, models which permit the rational management of fisheries stocks, the protection of the environment and the safeguarding of the more sensitive zones within such areas,

G.reaffirming the need for all countries to comply in full with the agreements and the will to prosecute and punish abuses found to exist,

1.Regrets deeply the final outcome of the special meeting as regards the allocation of the TAC of black halibut, which in its view is an unfair, unbalanced and unjustified result and regrets the position adopted by the Canadian negotiators and points out that that country has still not ratified the 1992 bilateral agreement;

2.Recognizes the part played by the Commission in defending Community interests in accordance with the instructions it had laid down;

3.Calls on the Commission to argue before the Council of Fisheries Ministers that objections should be raised to the above-mentioned agreement and, consequently, not to ratify it;

4.Calls on the Council to oppose the agreement and hence not to ratify it;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.