Brussels, 06/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 July, the European Commission adopted a regulation that will allow the total allowable catch (TAC) for sandeel fished in the North Sea and Skagerrak to be increased in the course of the year, depending on scientific data. In December 2009, when TACs and quotas for 2010 were set, the Council agreed a provisional TAC of 200,000 tonnes (with 115,375 tonnes for EU countries).
Experimental fisheries have shown that the TAC could be raised to a maximum of 400,000 tonnes. In the North Sea, the EU and Norway share the sandeel stock, with the EU claiming 90% of the TAC (360,000 tonnes). In line with the bilateral agreement with Norway, the share of the EU TAC transferred to Norway in exchange for fishing possibilities for other species in Norwegian waters will be increased from 20,000 tonnes to 27,500 tonnes.
The new TAC adopted by the Commission is for 376,920 tonnes, allocated as follows: 346,920 tonnes for the EU (327,250t for Denmark, 7,153t for the United Kingdom, 500t for Germany and 12,017t for Sweden), 27,500t for Norway and the Faroe Islands. The EU will also have the right to catch 16,920t of sandeel in the waters of Skagerrak. (L.C./transl.rt)