On Wednesday 3 November, the European Commission published its proposal for the catches of fish stocks for 2022 in the Atlantic Ocean, Kattegat and Skagerrak. This proposal concerns 23 total allowable catches (TACs) for fish stocks managed solely by the EU in Community waters.
Based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Commission proposes a reduction of more than 20% for four stocks: sole in the Bay of Biscay (-36% compared to 2021) and sole in the west of Ireland (-44%), Norway lobster in Skagerrak and Kattegat (-31%) and cod in Kattegat (-21%) It also proposes to maintain the ban on cod fishing in Kattegat and to continue to allow by-catches in the Norway lobster fishery.
Conversely, increases are proposed for five stocks: plaice in Kattegat, sole in Kattegat and Skagerrak, megrims in Iberian waters, anglerfish in the Cantabrian Sea and Norway lobster in parts of the southern Bay of Biscay.
The proposal will be updated after the conclusion of consultations with the UK and Norway and once the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations have made their decisions.
Based on the Commission’s proposal, the EU Fisheries Ministers will adopt the final fishing opportunities at the Council on 13 and 14 December 2021.
See the Commission proposal: https://bit.ly/3nUBhhB (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)