Brussels, 19/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 19 November, the European Commission adopted its proposal on fishing opportunities for 2013 for stocks of fish which are jointly managed with third parties, such as Norway or the regional fisheries management organisations (RFMO) from around the world. International negotiations are still underway for a good many of the stocks in question. The proposal therefore contains relatively few figures at this stage. It will be completed once the negotiations with third parties and organisations have been concluded. The proposal, and the one dated 23 October 2012 on stocks in the Atlantic and North Sea, will be the subject of discussions at the meeting of the Fisheries Council of December in Brussels.
At the end of every year, the stocks of fish which are shared with third countries are the subject of negotiations between the European Commission and the countries in question (Norway, Faroe Isles, Greenland, Iceland and Russia) to determine the quantities of fish to be caught the following year, on the basis of scientific opinion. As regards stocks in international waters and of highly migratory species, such as tuna, the Commission negotiates fishing opportunities in the framework of the regional fisheries management organisations. The decisions adopted will then be transposed into EU law. (LC/transl.fl)