At their meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 16 April, most EU fisheries ministers backed the recent proposal to set in place a new multiannual plan for fisheries in the EU’s western waters (see EUROPE 11989).
Over 48,000 fisheries and 18,000 fishing vessels from eight EU countries fish in the western waters, said Karmenu Vella, Fisheries Commissioner.
The Irish minister said “our first assessment of the text is positive”. France supported the text proposed, notably insisting on the need to preserve a certain inter-annual stability for fishing possibilities. “It should be possible to maintain the rules of exploitation as they have proven their worth, like those on sole and nephrops in the Bay of Biscay”, the French minister said.
Spain also backed the proposal although it did note the existence of “major differences” between the northern and southern areas of western waters (the proposal covers both areas).
Portugal would have liked two separate proposals for the northern and southern areas. “We need a regionalised approach”, the Portuguese minister opined. Deep water species should not be included in the proposal, she added.
The Dutch minister hailed the proposal saying it was “in line with” the provisions of the plan for fish stock management in the North Sea. The Danish minister hailed the proposal. The United Kingdom gave its support for multiannual plans. Italy also supported the multiannual plan even if it does not concern fishermen of that country. Sweden gave its full backing to the proposal. Germany also hailed the proposal which it found consistent with the rules of the North Sea management plan. Several countries requested that account be taken of stocks with limiting quotas. The commissioner trusts agreement will be swiftly reached on this text. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)