Brussels, 26/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU is pleased with the measures taken by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) on 23 September aiming to ensure the conservation and recovery of straddling and international fish stocks, including cod, Greenland halibut and shrimp, within its region. Action has been taken to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in the North-West Atlantic.
NAFO set total allowable catches (TACs) for cod and redfish of 9,280 tonnes and 6,000 tonnes respectively in the Flemish Cap. The EU notes that agreement could not be found on re-opening the northern shrimp fishery in the Flemish Cap. This fishery has been closed since last year but the state of the stock still gives cause for concern.
The TAC for northern shrimp in zone 3LNO (Grand Banks) was reduced to 12,000 tonnes in 2012 and 9,350 tonnes in 2013 (compared with 19,200 tonnes in 2011).
The Greenland halibut TAC was set at 16,382 tonnes for 2012.
NAFO officially adopted provisional conservation strategies and rebuilding plans for cod stocks in zone 3NO (Grand Banks) and for American plaice in zone 3LNO.
Vulnerable marine ecosystems. The ban on bottom fisheries in zone 5 (Flemish Cap Northeast Prong) has been extended to protect coral and sponge communities. In addition to confirming the closure of six underwater mounts, NAFO also confirmed that the 12 closures of coral and sponge areas adopted in 2010 would remain in place at least until 2014. The organisation's scientific council was also charged with drafting a work plan that will allow evaluation of the effect of the activities managed by NAFO on vulnerable and potentially vulnerable ecosystems to be carried out as soon as possible. Re-assessments are to be conducted every five years from 2016.
In addition, the threshold for sponge indicator species which trigger reporting obligations and a move-away rule was reduced from 800 kilograms to 600kg in existing fishing areas and from 800kg to 400kg in new fishing areas.
Conservation measures and application of NAFO rules were also tightened. Altering evidence or giving false information to inspections will now be seen as serious infringements. (LC/transl.rt)