On Thursday 22 October, the European Commission adopted its proposal to further reduce total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for deep-sea species (roundnose grenadier, black scabbardfish, red sea bream, etc.) in 2021 and 2022. The Fisheries Council will have to set these quotas in November or December.
The proposal includes a general ban on fishing for deep-sea sharks, a further restriction compared to previous years where limited by-catches were allowed under specific conditions.
In line with the scientific advice of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and taking into account the obligation for fishermen to land all catches (end of discards), the European Commission proposes the following decreases in fisheries opportunities : - 20% for red sea bream in Iberian waters (at 118 tonnes), - 25% for black scabbardfish in the Bay of Biscay (at 2,113 tonnes) and -90% for roundnose grenadier in Skagerrak and Kattegat (TAC of only 5 tonnes).
Consultation with the United Kingdom. The remaining six TACs are indicated as ‘pro memoria’, pending consultations with the United Kingdom to determine catch levels. “The stocks for which the European Commission will have to consult the United Kingdom over shares of fishing opportunities for 2021 and 2022 are therefore presented for information, pending the outcome of the ongoing negotiations on cooperation with regard to these stocks and, in particular, fisheries opportunities, shares and access to United Kingdom waters”, states the proposal.
The Commission proposes to continue to delegate the management of black scabbardfish in the CECAF (Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries) area to Portugal. Portugal is the sole holder of the quota. Portugal therefore needs to ensure that the stock is managed in line with the principles and rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Link to the proposal: https://bit.ly/3m4Dwwi (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)