Brussels, 08/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 October, the European Commission is expected to adopt a draft proposal setting out the 2013 and 2014 catches for EU vessels fishing for certain stocks of deepwater fish. The Commission is expected to propose a rise in the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for certain stocks of black swordfish and roundnose grenadier. It is also expected to propose reducing certain TACs.
Deep-water stocks of fish are caught outside the main fishing areas on the continental plateau. They are distributed along the continental shelf and live around underwater mountains. On 19 July, the Commission adopted a proposal not to ban the fishing of deepwater fish but to gradually ban deep-water trawlers because they are damaging to the most vulnerable marine ecosystems and responsible for the accidental catches of deepwater fish. (LC/trans/fl)