The EU Council of Ministers will adopt on 6 June the Regulation on the multiannual plan for the management of fish stocks in the Western Mediterranean (see EUROPE 12169/11).
The plan is based on a fisheries management regime to gradually (by 1 January 2025 at the latest) achieve stock management in accordance with maximum sustainable yield (MSY) objectives.
Recreational fishing will be regulated and restrictions will apply to trawls (prohibition within six nautical miles of the coast, except in areas deeper than the 100 metre isobath, for 3 months each year and, if applicable, consecutively). But derogations introduced are being criticised by some NGOs, which wanted a year-round ban on bottom trawls.
In a statement, the Commission will indicate that as part of the evaluation of the plan, 5 years after its entry into force, different scenarios could be considered for its revision, including the introduction of other criteria defining effort segmentation, such as depth intervals for the stocks concerned and a prohibition on increasing planned capacity. Such a revision will depend on the best available scientific advice.
The new rules will apply on the 20th day after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The EU Council will also adopt, on the same day, the multiannual recovery plan for the swordfish stock (see EUROPE 12229/36). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)