On Wednesday 10 February, the European Commission adopted a proposal concerning the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the consultations with the United Kingdom to agree on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2021 and for certain deep-sea stocks for 2021 and 2022 (see EUROPE 12647/7).
In its annexes, the proposal contains guidelines on the targets for each of the shared stocks, and takes into account scientific advice about the resource’s status (https://bit.ly/2MYmOTf ).
The guidelines are based on the Commission’s non-paper for the fisheries talks with the United Kingdom and discussions with EU fisheries ministers.
For TACs for western Channel herring, plaice and sole west of Scotland and saithe in western waters, “the Union should seek a roll-over of the TAC for 2020, as no risk of overexploitation was identified”, states the text.
Celtic Sea cod. Scientific advice recommends a TAC of zero for this stock. The Union will seek to create a ‘by-catch’ system for this species, “while respecting the need for further protection of this vulnerable stock”.
The Commission hopes to conclude negotiations with the United Kingdom before the end of March. Provisional TACs have been fixed for the period January-March 2021. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)