15/11/2016 (Agence Europe) – At the Fisheries Council on Monday 14 November, the United Kingdom, on behalf of the North West Waters Regional Group, informed ministers of the work carried out to find solutions to the potential challenge posed by so-called “choke species” (i.e. the prevention of full use of a quota for one species, due to the risk of catching another species whose quota has been exhausted), with a view to ensuring the smooth implementation of the landing obligation (the ending the discarding of fish at sea). Portugal, Germany, Ireland, France, Denmark, Belgium and Spain backed the quest for solutions to this problem and underlined that early closure of some fisheries because of this problem was something that had to be avoided. The European Commission is exploring options: rapid adoption of multiannual plans, quota swaps, flexibilities between species and other technical measures. (LC)