On Wednesday 25 October, the European Commission adopted a partial proposal on total allowable catches (TACs) for 2024 in EU waters in the Atlantic Ocean, the Kattegat and the Skagerrak.
At this stage, the proposal concerns only 18 stocks. For the first time, the Commission is proposing to set 9 TACs for periods of 2 to 3 years, known as ‘multiannual TACs’. TACs are generally re-evaluated every year, except those for deep-sea species (2-year TACs). The stocks concerned are: plaice (west of Ireland), plaice (Iberian waters), whiting and pollack (Bay of Biscay), Norway lobster (Bay of Biscay), sole (Irish waters) and sole (Iberian waters).
The advantage of these multiannual TACs is providing greater predictability while guaranteeing the sustainability of supply and the regeneration of stocks.
The proposal also sets 12 TACs at maximum sustainable yield (MSY), i.e. the maximum quantity of fish that can be caught without compromising the future productivity of the stock. 80% of the TACs in 2022 were set at MSY level, compared with just 14% in 2009.
For plaice in the Kattegat, the Commission is proposing a 19% increase in catches. For hake in the southern Bay of Biscay and Iberian waters, a 10% increase in TACs is planned, in line with the ‘western waters’ multiannual plan. For megrims and anglerfish in Iberian waters, the Commission is proposing an increase of +11% and +7% respectively.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries, welcomed “the increase in the number of stocks that can be fished at maximum levels to ensure their sustainability, thus testifying to the good recovery of stocks”. The EU Council will set the 2024 TACs at its meeting on 11 and 12 December.
The proposal will be updated following the conclusion of consultations with Norway and the United Kingdom on jointly managed stocks.
Link to the proposal: https://aeur.eu/f/98o (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)