Brussels, 26/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Ministers is expected, on Friday 27 July, to adopt, by written procedure, the regulation reducing the total allowable catch (TAC) for anchovy in the Bay of Biscay by 30%, to 20,700 tonnes. This amount, for the period from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013, is shared between France, which receives 10% or 2,070 tonnes, and Spain, 90% or 18,630 tonnes. After exchanges of quotas between the two countries, France will get 20% of the TAC (4,140 tonnes). The European Commission has the power to alter the level of the TAC during the course of the year in the light of fresh scientific data. According to the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), which issued an opinion in July 2012, the spawning-stock biomass stands at around 68,180 tonnes, well above safe biological limits. However, the size of the stock has fallen compared with previous years. The anchovy fishery was closed between 2005 and 2009, then re-opened in 2010 with a very low TAC of 7,000 tonnes. In 2011-2012, the anchovy TAC was 29,700 tonnes. (LC/transl.rt)