Brussels, 23/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 24 October, the European Commission proposed fishing opportunities for 2013 for certain fish stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea. This proposal sets levels of total allowable catch (TAC) and fishing effort for stocks managed exclusively by the EU. In line with scientific advice, the Commission proposes to increase or maintain the TACs for 16 stocks (including certain stocks of cod, Norway lobster, and sole), and reduce them for 47 stocks.
Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, pointed out thanks to long-term management a number of stocks in the Atlantic waters are already fished at Maximum Sustainable Yields (MSY) levels. But at the same time 47% of stocks are still overfished and that, “these facts support the Commission's vision for the CFP reform”.
When it is possible, scientists assess the way in which stocks can be brought up to MSY levels. This year, this proved possible for 20 stocks as opposed to 12 stocks last year. The European Commission was therefore pleased that there has been an improvement in the quality of scientific data.
According to scientific recommendations, the following cells correspond to MSY levels and the Commission has therefore proposed an increase in quotas or for levels to remain the same: lobster in West Scotland (+1% to 16,650 tonnes), plaice in the Eastern Channel (+6% to 5,342 tonnes), cod (+1% to10,200 tonnes) and sole in the Celtic Sea (+4% to 1,100 tonnes) and Western Channel (+15% to 894 tonnes).
At the same time, cod stocks in the Irish Sea and the Kattegat continue to be in a poor state, and the poor data hampers the management of these stocks. Sole in the Irish Sea is at extremely low levels and the Commission proposes to stop the direct fisheries and minimise the by-catches.
MSY advice for haddock in the Celtic Sea and sole in the Bay of Biscay demands considerable TACs cuts, so that the stocks can be brought to MSY levels. The European Commission is proposing a 55% cut (to 7,500 tonnes) in the TAC for haddock in the Celtic Sea and in the Bay of Biscay, as well an 18% reduction (to 3,200 tonnes) in the catches of lobster in the Bay of Biscay.
Cod and whiting in the West of Scotland, subject to extremely high rates of discarding, continue to be in a very poor state and well below safe levels. The Commission is proposing to maintain the ban on cod fishing in the West of Scotland and reduce catches of whiting there by 20%.
For more than 30 stocks where data is limited, the Commission has followed the direction recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and proposed cutting the TAC by 20%.
The proposals: a cut of 32% in the a TAC for Northern hake, to 37,200 tonnes; a 20% reduction in the TAC for monkfish in the Channel, Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay; 21% quota reduction for North Sea lobster; a 20% reduction for catches of pollock; 20% reductions (Channel and Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay) to 40% (West Scotland) for megrim and all stocks of saith and maintaining TAC for anchovies in Spanish and Portuguese waters. The Commission is awaiting scientific recommendations for skate. (LC/trans/fl)