Multiannual guidance programmes MAGP for fishing fleets at the end of 1997 (regul. 3699/93/EEC). Annual report

PURPOSE : presentation of the annual report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the results of the multi-annual guidance programmes (MAGP IV) for the fishing fleets at the end of 1997. CONTENT : as well as describing the evolution of fleet capacity and fishing effort during the first year of the MAGP IV, the report describes the way in which the objectives of the MAGP IV were derived from those of MAGP III. The measurement of vessel capacity and fishing effort is also described. During 1997, the Community fleet was reduced by 48366 GT and 174688 kW, or by approximately 2% in tonnage and 3% in power. At 01/01/1998, the Community fleet was already approximately 16% below the final MAGP IV objectives in terms of tonnage and 7% below the MAGP IV objectives in terms of power. The degree to which the programmes have been respected varies enormously from Member State to Member State. However, only two countries had failed to meet the objectives of the MAGP III by the end of 1997, namely France and the Netherlands (the results for Italy could not be included in the report). The results presented in the report are based on the assumption that the various parameters used to caculate the MAGP IV objectives have been measured correctly. They also assume that the various fishing effort regimes are being implemented and will continue to be implemented throughout the period of the programme. From the results of the series of missions undertaken during 1998 to verify these assumptions, it is already clear that the programmes of some Member States will need to be revised during the first quarter of 1999.�