Brussels, 08/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 July, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted, by written procedure, the regulation introducing a 17% reduction in the total allowable catch (TAC) of anchovies (17,100 tonnes) in the Bay of Biscay for the July 2013-June 2014 fishing season.
This TAC is 17% lower than for the 2012-2013 period and is divided in the following way: 15,390 tonnes for Spain and 1,710 for France. Spain transfers 10% to France under the terms of the arrangements between these countries. The biomass of fresh stock is estimated to stand at 56,055 tonnes, lower than it has been over previous years. This explains the proposed drop in fishing opportunities set out according to the method described in the proposal on the multiannual anchovy stock management plan. The Commission developed its proposal at the end of July 2009 but because the adoption of the multiannual management plans is deadlocked (due to problems relating to the legal basis), a decision was made to use the proposal to set the TAC for anchovies. (LC/transl.fl)