The European Commission adopted a “discard plan” for the Mediterranean on Thursday 20 October, providing exemptions to the rule that all catches must be landed in ports.
From 1 January 2017, the landing obligation will come into force for demersal species subject to minimum conservation reference size (hake, red mullet, common sole and deep water rose shrimp).
Three countries – Italy, France and Spain – called for exemptions from the landing requirement for sole in the Adriatic Sea and, in the Western Mediterranean, for scallops, clams and hard-shell clams, arguing that the survival rate of these species when returned to the water is high.
The Commission has agreed to these exemptions but for one year only (in 2017). The countries will have to bring forward data that will allow scientists to assess the validity of their argument. In addition, the discard plan provides for three-year derogations (de minimis exemptions, in the form of a percentage of catches that can be discarded at sea) for hake, red mullet and deep water rose shrimp. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)