The European Commission welcomed on Friday 15 November the 2020 stock conservation measures endorsed at the 38th Annual Meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), held in London from 12 to 14 November.
But the EU’s attempt to cap mackerel catches in international waters, in response to Iceland’s unilateral quota increase, has not received sufficient support within this regional fisheries organisation (see EUROPE 12367/21).
The conservation and management measures for 2020 that have been accepted concern several stocks that have already been agreed between coastal States (blue whiting, Atlanto-Scandian herring, and mackerel - see EUROPE 12358/13).
The EU proposal to set a cap on mackerel catches in international waters was not accepted, sources confirmed.
In addition, the parties extended the current targeted fishing bans on basking sharks, porbeagle, deep-sea sharks and rays and chimaeras until 2023. Delegations also agreed on a number of control and enforcement measures.
Link to the NEAFC press release: http://bit.ly/2NNvGc6 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)