On Tuesday 9 October, the European Parliament's fisheries committee found a position that amends the European Commission's initial proposal on the management plan for fish stocks in western waters (see EUROPE 12085).
But the flexibility requested and obtained by the rapporteur, Alain Cadec (EPP, France), on achieving maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in some cases, divides parliamentarians and provokes outrage among some NGOs.
The Parliament's objective is to negotiate an agreement with the EU Council in March 2019 on this management plan for fish stocks in western waters. Cadec's draft report was approved in the European Parliament's committee with 15 votes in favour, 6 against and 1 abstention.
The amendments for a compromise adopted in committee aim in particular to: - avoid creating a monopoly of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) on scientific advice; - allow, for certain species and in certain cases, the MSY to be reached in three years (after entry into force of the regulation in 2019), i.e. after the 2020 deadline; - add sea bass as a target species, without however providing for a total allowable catch for this species; - preserve the Parliament's role as co-legislator in multiannual fisheries management (right to monitor ranges of fishing mortality).
However, given the differences within the Chamber on the flexibility required to achieve MSY, Cadec was unable to obtain a mandate to negotiate with the Council. A plenary vote is scheduled for November to confirm the Parliament's position on this 'Western Waters' management plan.
Non-compliance with the CFP. The NGO Oceana lamented the outcome of the vote, which would delay the attainment of MSY until 2023. This violates the rules of the common fisheries policy and discriminates against fishermen who comply with the law, according to the NGO. It criticises the rules that allow the management plan to expire after several years and the derogations that allow vessels to catch fish in areas that are closed to fishing. In this area, 41% of the stocks assessed are overexploited, WWF notes. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)