On 17 August the European Commission adopted its proposal on fishing opportunities in 2021 for certain fish stocks caught by the EU fleet in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (see EUROPE 12388/18).
Western Mediterranean. In accordance with the multi-annual plan for the management of demersal stocks in the Western Mediterranean, the proposal fixes the fishing opportunities, expressed in terms of total allowable catch (TAC), for the Member States concerned (Spain, France and Italy).
For the first year of implementation of the plan, the maximum total allowable catch has been reduced by 10% compared to the reference level, i.e. the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. For the period from the second year to the fifth year, the plan provides for a maximum reduction of 30%. The extent of the reduction for 2021 is not yet specified in the Commission proposal.
Protection of eels. The proposal also establishes fishing opportunities in accordance with the agreements concluded in the framework of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
These measures include the following: - a prohibition for EU vessels to fish for eel in the Mediterranean for a period of three consecutive months to be determined by each Member State; - fishing catch limitations for small pelagic and demersal stocks caught in the waters of the Adriatic Sea; - limitations on the number of fishing authorisations for red coral and dolphinfish in the Mediterranean.
Black Sea. For turbot, the proposal makes provision, as for 2020, for quotas of 75 tonnes for Bulgaria and Romania.
For sprat, the TAC for 2021 is 11 475 tonnes (8 032.5 tonnes for Bulgaria and 3 442.5 tonnes for Romania), as in 2020.
EU Fisheries Ministers will decide in November on TACs and quotas for 2021 in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
Link to the proposal: https://bit.ly/3gmPv55 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)