Brussels, 31/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's fisheries committee reached a compromise on Tuesday 31 March on improvements to be made to the proposal for a multiannual cod, herring and sprat plan in the Baltic Sea.
The report by Jaroslaw Walesa (EPP, Poland) was adopted by a wide majority in committee (20 votes to one, with two abstentions). It will be put to the vote in plenary session at the end of April.
According to the compromise amendments approved, the management plan will seek to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the common fisheries policy: restoring and maintaining the stocks of cod, herring and sprat above biomass levels that can produce maximum sustainable yields (MSY) and contributing to the conservation of the stocks of plaice, brill, flounder and turbot through management of by-catches. The plan also seeks to contribute to the elimination of discards, taking into account the best available scientific advice and by avoiding and reducing unwanted catches.
The target fishing mortality within this plan must be at or below FMSY within one year of the entry into force of the regulation where possible and by 2020 at the latest (target fishing mortality will be reviewed in 2015 in the light of new scientific advice). An amendment stipulates that a temporary cessation of fishing activities may be put in place (accompanied by financial aid for fishermen). The plan sets conservation reference points: full reproductive capacity of the stock, for example 36,400 tonnes (t) in 2015 and successive years for cod in the eastern Baltic, 88,200t for cod in the western Baltic and 600,000t for herring in the central Baltic.
When the spawning biomass of any of the stocks is below the minimum spawning biomass level set appropriate remedial measures will be put in place to ensure that the stock concerned returns as quickly as possible to a level above that capable of producing MSY. The remedial measures cited are a reduction in total allowable catches and, potentially, emergency measures (cessation of fishing, for example) adopted by the European Commission.
Technical measures. An Article sets out technical conservation measures for plaice, brill, turbot and flounder. When scientific opinion indicates that remedial measures are necessary to save these stocks, the Commission will be empowered to take certain measures: - adapting fishing capacity and fishing effort; - characteristics of fishing gear (mesh size, twine thickness and size of gear); - use of the fishing gear (immersion time and depth of gear deployment); - prohibiting or limiting fishing in specific areas, or at specific periods; - minimum conservation reference size. The Commission will have to carry out an annual analysis of the impact of the delegated acts in this area (and the states concerned will be able to make recommendations if the measures are felt to be inadequate). An amendment states that the Commission will have the power to adopt delegated acts after receiving joint recommendations from the member states and after consulting the Parliament and the regional consultative committees.
Notification requirement. For vessels targeting cod, the prior notification obligation (before arrival in port) will apply to skippers of EU vessels of eight metres overall length or more with at least 300 kg of cod on board. For vessels targeting herring or sprat, the notification obligation will apply to skippers of EU vessels of eight metres overall length or more with at least two tonnes of pelagic stocks on board.
A derogation (10% tolerance margin in terms of weight on catches recorded in the fishing log) has been allowed to avoid penalties for provisions that are impossible to observe.
Good environmental status. Provisions have been put in place to ensure consistency with EU environmental legislation (ecosystemic approach of fisheries management, marine strategy framework directive target of reaching a good environmental status by 2020).
Review of the plan. The Commission will evaluate the impact of the multiannual management plan three years after the regulation comes into force and every five years thereafter. The Commission will adapt the plan if required (following debate within the Council and the Parliament on the findings of the evaluation). (Lionel Changeur)