Brussels, 14/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 16 December, EU fisheries ministers will try to reach agreement in the early evening on total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing quotas for 2012 in the main EU fishing areas.
On 27 September, the European Commission unveiled draft TACs for cod, angler fish, herring, haddock, hake, sole, megrim and Norway lobster, reducing the TACs for 53 fish stocks. For cod stocks to the west of Scotland, in the Irish Sea and Kattegat, the Commission is suggesting that fishing be halted entirely in 2012 due to the desperately low levels of cod in these areas. The restrictions proposed are relatively severe, thus negotiations among EU ministers are expected to be tough. A preliminary discussion on the proposals on the table is likely to take place on Thursday 15 December at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (with trilateral discussions between the Presidency, the Commission and national delegations taking up a large part of the day). A first compromise text will probably be brought forward on Friday morning, before things begin to get serious, to try to come to agreement on fisheries quotas for 2012.
The Commission presented two separate proposals - TACs managed exclusively by the EU and TACs negotiated in agreements with third countries - complicating the process. Most delegations have criticised this move and called for the two regulations to be brought together in one single text.
The Commission proposes three categories of stocks for setting catch levels (follow-up on management plans, where the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is known, and where the MSY is not known).
It suggests cutting quotas by 15% or 25% for stocks where no scientific opinion exists. Several delegations believe that any move should be based on trends. Member states, then, are against automatic reductions and are calling for TACs to be maintained or for reductions to be slight.
Where the MSY level is known, most countries back the principle of setting the TAC in line with MSY, by 2015 for most of the stocks where this is possible and by 2020 at the latest. For example, for sole in the Bay of Biscay, Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands want MSY to be reached between 2015 and 2020.
Some delegations, such as those of France and Portugal, are calling for the removal of undulate ray (Raja ondulata) and common skate from the list of species that are not to be caught. They are asking for the possibility of by-catches.
France is also calling for the current Norway lobster TAC in the Bay of Biscay not to be changed, whereas the Commission is proposing a significant cut. For the northern hake stock, Spain is calling for a rise in the TAC, though the Commission is proposing an 11% reduction. Spain is also seeking a 10% rise for some megrim stocks and a 5% increase for some monkfish stocks.
Cod plan. Tense discussion is expected on the cod management plan. New appraisal of the situation made by the Commission will virtually close the inshore fishery in Scotland and keep French and UK vessels in port in the West of Scotland and North Sea.
Black Sea fishing opportunities. The Council is due, too, to set the 2012 TACs for the Black Sea. Here, there are only two stocks, turbot and sprat, and only two countries affected, Romania and Bulgaria.
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The Council will discuss the regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). The proposal relates to aid to fisheries during the 2014-2020 period and seeks to implement the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP). (LC/transl.rt)