The Spanish Fisheries Minister, Luis Planas, whose country will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU for six months in July, wants to put the idea of multiannual fishing quotas back on the table, according to an interview he gave in Sweden on Sunday 11 June. He expects results in December 2023.
In a statement made alongside the informal meeting of EU ministers (see other news), Mr Planas declared that multiannual catch limits should be introduced for certain species for which scientific information is already available over several years. “We are currently working with the European Commission on this issue”. Most total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas are set for one year.
Last December, Spain, France and Portugal already proposed that certain TACs be set over three years for non-shared stocks that are not experiencing major exploitation difficulties (see EUROPE 13081/10).
The fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco is due to expire on 17 July, and with the EU Court of Justice still to hand down rulings on the subject, “it is very difficult to conclude the negotiations”, added Mr Planas.
At an informal meeting of fisheries ministers in Vigo in mid-July, the Spanish minister will propose a debate on decarbonising the fishing industry and aid for the fleet. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)