Brussels, 15/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Coreper, the committee of member states' permanent representatives to the EU, last week agreed to a Latvian Presidency compromise text on arrangements on fishing for sea bass, an endangered species.
The text, which amends the regulation on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2015, slightly increases monthly catch limits (against the initial proposal) and relaxes some reporting conditions.
The Commission had proposed strict limits on sea bass catches for professional fishermen: 1 tonne per month for line vessels, 1.5 tonnes for pelagic vessels and 3 tonnes for seine netters. Under the compromise, line vessels will be able to catch 1.3 tonnes and pelagic vessels 1.8 tonnes but, for seiners, the 3-tonne limit remains. Reporting measures have also been eased (reporting per gear instead of per vessel and after 20 days from the end of reporting period, instead of 14).
In addition, the text includes provisions on redfish in Norwegian waters (to allow the European Commission to continue negotiating with Norway in 2015 in order to finalise an agreement on arrangements for fishing this species).
The text amending the regulation on quotas for 2015 is expected to be formally adopted by the Council on 19 June. (Lionel Changeur)