On Monday 16 September, the European Commission adopted its proposals on fishing opportunities for 2025 in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
This proposal “promotes the sustainable management of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and delivers on the political commitments made in the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declaration”, explains the Commission.
However, most of the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas will be proposed at a later date, based on the results of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean annual session (GFCM) (4-8 November 2024) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) advice for demersal stocks covered by the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Management Plan (MAP) (expected around mid-November).
The Western Mediterranean MAP for demersal stocks will enter its permanent phase as of 1 January 2025, following the conclusion of the five-year transitional period (see EUROPE 13463/1). The Commission proposes the continued implementation of all sustainable fishing measures derived from the MAP. These measures include limits on fishing effort for trawlers and longliners, catch limits for deep-water shrimp and a compensation mechanism for trawlers.
In the Mediterranean Sea, the proposal includes the measures decided by the GFCM in 2023, such as the MAP for common dolphinfish and the extension of the GFCM plans for blackspot seabream and deep-water shrimps, with a gradual reduction in catches.
The proposal for red coral and European eel will be updated after the GFCM annual session in November 2024, as the current GFCM transitional measures expire at the end of 2024.
For the Adriatic Sea, the proposal includes the implementation of the GFCM MAPs for demersal and small pelagic stocks. The Commission suggests continuing to implement measures to limit fishing effort on demersal stocks with the goal of reaching sustainable fishing levels by 2026. For small pelagic the proposal includes the implementation of the permanent phase of the MAP from 2025 onwards, after a three-year transitional period. The GFCM is expected to adopt decisions on the further implementation of both Adriatic MAPs at the 2024 GFCM annual session.
In the Black Sea, the Commission is proposing to maintain the 2024 catch limits for sprat. For turbot, the TAC and quota levels (for Romania and Bulgaria) will be set at the GFCM annual session.
The Council of European Fisheries Ministers is expected to reach agreement on these fishing opportunities (in the Mediterranean) at its meeting on 9 and 10 December in Brussels. The regulation will apply from 1 January 2025.
Link to the proposals: https://aeur.eu/f/dfw (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)