Brussels, 12/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission's proposal for fishing quotas for 2011 in the North Sea and the Atlantic, unveiled on Thursday 11 November, is unusually severe, particularly for cod (see EUROPE 10254 for details). The Commission is suggesting rises in the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for only six stocks of cod, reductions in the TACs and quotas for 64 stocks and unchanged TACs and quotas for 23 stocks. In total, this would amount to an 89,400 tonne reduction in quotas, a fall of 10%.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki commented: “Clearly, science-based decisions are the only way to help rebuild fish stocks to levels that will sustain a healthy and profitable EU fishing industry. I regret to say there will be disappointing news on some quota levels, but past experience has shown that those who think they can negotiate with nature will not have a long future in fishing.”
Yet again, scientists have highlighted the worrying state of fish resources in EU waters. The Commission explains: “For some 72% of assessed stocks, overfishing is so serious that more fish would be caught if there was less fishing. Only some 40% of our assessed stocks are known to be fished sustainably. On the plus side there have been some improvements since last year, when these figures were 86% and 31% respectively; and there are clear improvements in some important stocks, such as hake and sole.”
The Commission adds that “multi-annual management plans cover 30% of the total catches for 2011. If we add the various stocks jointly managed with Norway for which multi-annual management arrangements are also in place, over 80% - by weight - of the fish taken by EU fishermen is subject to multi-annual management. Stocks managed in this way tend to fare better than those subject to short-term decision-making. However, management plans need to be implemented properly, and special safeguards must apply if the results observed on the ground are not as expected. Against this background, the Commission is still very concerned about the conservation of cod, for which a management plan has been in force since 2004. Cod stocks in the Kattegat, the Irish Sea and the west of Scotland are showing no signs of recovery. The Commission is therefore proposing 50% reductions in these TACs and has asked member states to collaborate in an in-depth review of cod management. This review will focus on the reasons why the measures agreed under the multi-annual management plan have not delivered the expected improvements. The situation for North Sea cod took a turn for the worse in 2008, when a greater proportion of the stock was caught than in any year since 1999. Real-time closures and cod-avoidance schemes have not been enough to protect the stock and have had little effect on fishing patterns. Management of North Sea cod is shared with Norway, and discussions will have to be held on redressing this situation.”
EU fisheries ministers will meet in Brussels on 13 and 14 December to set quotas and TACs for 2011. Maria Damanaki seems less amenable than her predecessor, Joe Borg, to letting EU member states water down the initial proposals and the talks may well be turbulent. (L.C./transl.fl)