Brussels, 28/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 28 October, the European Commission adopted its, very tough, proposals on fishing opportunities for 2015 in the Atlantic and the North Sea. For the first time, the proposals are based on the new common fisheries policy (CFP) rules.
One of the key pillars of the new CFP is to have all stocks fished at sustainable levels, the so-called maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Whenever possible, scientists advise how to bring the stocks to MSY levels. For fish stocks in European waters, ie not agreed with international partners, the Commission proposes to increase or maintain the catch limits for 29 stocks (only four stocks have proposed increases), and reduce them for 40 stocks, in line with scientific advice.
For many of the stocks shared with international partners, negotiations are still ongoing. The proposal therefore only includes figures for about half of the stocks at this stage. It will be completed once negotiations with third countries and within regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) have taken place.
The proposals will be discussed by EU ministers at the Fisheries Council on 15-16 December.
For some EU stocks at MSY, such as anglerfish and horse mackerel in Iberian waters, sole in the Western Channel and nephrops in the North Sea the Commission proposes to increase TACs. “These stocks are success stories for both the fishing industry and the member states concerned who have shown that managing stocks responsibly and taking decisions to achieve MSY delivers sustainable fish stocks and pays off financially for those employed in the industry”, the Commission says. The Commission is therefore proposing a 13.6% increase for monkfish in Spanish and Portuguese waters, a 14.2% increase for nephrops in the North Sea, a 2.3% rise for sole in the Western Channel and a 70% increase for horse mackerel in Iberian waters.
At the same time, for some stocks which are in a poor state, the Commission has reduced total allowable catches. Cod stocks in the Irish Sea and the Kattegat continue to be in a dire state, and poor data are hampering management of these stocks. Sole in the Eastern Channel is at extremely low levels (the Commission is proposing a 60% reduction to 1,931 tonnes).
Advice for haddock (the Commission proposal is for a 41% reduction to 5,605 tonnes) and cod (the Commission is proposing a 64% cut to 2,471 tonnes!) in the Celtic Sea demands also “considerable TAC cuts, so that these stocks can be brought to MSY levels”, the Commission argues. Cod in the West of Scotland is a real problem with extremely high rates of discarding and is still at a risk of collapse.
For many of these stocks, the Commission states that more selective fishing techniques are urgently needed, so that young fish are not caught before they can reproduce and replenish the fish stocks. This is particularly urgent for fisheries in the Celtic Sea and the Western waters, where a big effort is needed to implement the selectivity measures advised by scientists, the Commission underlines. “This will also help our fishing sector comply with the obligation to land all catches as of next year and to become more profitable in the medium term”, the Commission adds.
For stocks where data are not good enough to properly estimate their size, the Commission proposal reflects the advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to adapt the TAC up or down by a maximum of 20%. Following a Council decision last year on precautionary reductions, TACs are proposed at the same level as in 2014 for 26 of these stocks.
For fish stocks shared with third countries (Norway, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Russia), the European Commission, on behalf of the EU, negotiates with these countries towards the end of each year on the quantities of fish to be caught the following year, based on scientific advice.
For the stocks in international waters and for highly migratory species, such as tuna, the European Commission, representing the EU, negotiates fishing opportunities in the framework of RFMOs. These must subsequently be transposed into EU law.
Other proposals include: -58.2% for boarfish (Caproidae); - 30% for Celtic Sea herring (15,652 tonnes); - 55% for megrim in Iberian waters; - 12% for monkfish in the Bay of Biscay and in the Celtic Sea; - 20% for whiting; - 15% for North Sea hake (13,826 tonnes); - 17.6% for Bay of Biscay nephrops; - between -9% and -20% for plaice; -20% for Pollack; - 20% for ray; - 10% for Bay of Biscay sole; - 25% for horse mackerel. (LC)