Brussels, 04/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Union intends to keep the ban on fishing for deep-sea sharks in place for at least two years, Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki announced on Thursday of last week, following the EU fisheries ministers' Council meeting.
Ministers were meeting to discuss the fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for a number of deep-sea fish stocks in 2013 and 2014. The political decision reached will be formally adopted at the next Council, after legal and linguistic finalisation, so that it can come into force on 1 January 2013.
The agreement, then, brings no change to the situation for deep-sea sharks, that is, a total ban on fishing these species. The “zero” proposal on deep-sea shark has been kept, so that there will be no fishing for these species by any vessel in EU waters or by EU vessels in international waters, Damanaki said. “This is something we have to do because sharks are under threat”, she added.
Higher TACs for black scabbardfish and roundnose grenadier. Of the other deep-sea stocks - black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo), roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris), Alfonsinos (Beryx spp) and forkbeards (Phycis blennoides) - the member states decided to increase the total allowable catches (TACs) for two: black scabbardfish and roundnose grenadier. The TAC for black scabbardfish in the EU and international waters of zones V,VI, VII, and XII was set at 3,051 tonnes in 2013 (40% higher than the 2012 TAC) and to 3,966 tonnes in 2014 (a rise of 30% on 2013). In the EU and international waters of zones VIII, IX and X, the TAC for black scabbardfish was put at 3,700 tonnes for 2013 (11% more than in 2012); the TAC will remain at 3,700 tonnes in 2014. The TAC for roundnose grenadier in the EU and international waters of zones Vb, VI and VII was set at 4,297 tonnes in 2013 and 2014 (an increase of 69% on 2012). In the other zones where these species and others living in deep-sea waters may also be caught, the Fisheries Council kept TACs at current levels or reduced them (to see the details of the TACs agreed on Thursday go to pp11-12 of
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/eudocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/133915.pdf )
France, Spain and Portugal are the countries most affected by this agreement. French Fisheries Minister Frederic Cuvillier welcomed an agreement which will allow French and European vessels to continue fishing deep-sea stocks reasonably and sustainably.
In instances where “scientific advice has stipulated maximum sustainable yield (MSY) targets”, ministers agreed a gradual approach towards MSY by 2015 “where possible”. (OL/transl.fl)