Brussels, 16/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU fisheries ministers are expected to reach a political agreement on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the waters of the Baltic Sea for 2014 when they meet in Luxembourg on Thursday 17 October (see EUROPE 10905 for the Commission proposals). The Council will also discuss bilateral negotiations with Norway and the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, on 18-25 November.
Ministers should not have much difficulty in reaching agreement on the TACs and quotas for the Baltic Sea for next year. The Commission has proposed a 23% reduction in Western herring catches, to 19,754 tonnes. Poland opposes such a drastic cut. The other herring stocks do not pose any problems as quota increases are proposed. A cut of 15% in the TAC for West Baltic cod, to 17.037 tonnes, has been proposed by the Commission. Germany, Denmark and Sweden support the proposal, unlike Poland which is suggesting a lower reduction of 10%. The Commission has proposed a 7% increase in the TAC for Eastern Baltic cod, to 65,934 tonnes. Only Poland is calling for a higher increase, seeking a 15% rise. For plaice, the Commission has proposed a 12% reduction in catches. Germany, Poland and Denmark note that, for the second consecutive year, scientific opinion is positive and feel, therefore, that a “roll-over” should be possible. These countries also suggest that too great a reduction in quotas could lead to an increase in discards. Finland has reservations on proposed salmon TACs. In the main Baltic basin, the Commission is proposing to keep the same TAC as that set for 2013. However, it feels a 53% reduction is needed in the TAC for the Gulf of Finland. Estonia opposes a reduction on this scale, Finland has entered a reservation, and the United Kingdom believes that failure to use up the entire quota (the reason for which the Commission is proposing a reduction) should not be an argument to cut catches. The Commission is proposing an 11% cut in the sprat TAC, down to 222,102 tonnes. Poland is asking for a lesser cut of 5%. Estonia, Finland and Latvia are calling for a phased reduction (Sweden, too, backs this idea of gradual reduction). Denmark supports the Commission proposal.
Norway. The Council will hold an exchange of views on the annual EU-Norway consultations which form part of their bilateral agreement. The first round of talks will take place in Clonakilty, Ireland from 18 to 22 November and the second in Bergen, Norway, from 2 to 6 December. Up for discussion will be: - arrangements for managing the seven jointly managed stocks in the North Sea (cod, haddock, plaice, whiting, herring, mackerel and saithe) and Skagerrak (cod, haddock, whiting, plaice, shrimp, herring and sprat); - possible adjustments to long-term management plans (cod, whiting and herring); - the exchange of reciprocal fishing opportunities (including cod in Norwegian waters).
ICCAT. Ministers will hold an exchange of views on the annual ICCAT meeting, this year to be held in Cape Town in November.
Finally, Ireland has asked the Commission to summarise the current issues with Iceland and the Faroe islands over management of the North-East Atlantic mackerel stocks and the Atlanto-Scandian herring. The Commission triggered trade sanctions against the Faroe Islands over the herring issue (see EUROPE 10910). It is prepared to take trade measures over the mackerel stock but is still open to the possibility of negotiating a solution with Iceland and the Faroe Islands (see EUROPE 10889). (LC/transl.fl)