On Sunday 11 and Monday 12 December, EU fisheries ministers negotiated to reach a political agreement on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2023 in several EU waters (Atlantic, Channel, North Sea, Mediterranean).
The most contentious TACs and quotas concerned the modalities of eel fishing and the details of the management plan for fish stocks in the Western Mediterranean.
A first compromise package was presented on Monday morning by the Czech Presidency of the EU Council. It provided for the softening of some of the restrictive measures on trawling and shrimp catch limits in the Mediterranean.
The European Commission has reportedly shown some flexibility on its initial proposal to close eel fisheries for six consecutive months. However, the concessions regarding eel and trawling in the Mediterranean were considered insufficient by the Council delegations.
The Czech Presidency of the EU Council was expected to present a second compromise package on Monday evening. The negotiations could last until the morning of Tuesday 13 December.
The French Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville, said on Monday morning that the issue for France was “the continuation of an economic activity” of eel fishing. On certain shared stocks, such as sea bass, pollack and skate, he called for “fishing capacities that are in line with scientific advice”.
Luis Planas, the Spanish minister, was trying to obtain, among other things, quota increases for southern hake, pollack and sole. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)