On Thursday 31 October, the European Commission published its proposal for total allowable catches (TACs) in 2025 for ten stocks in the Atlantic Ocean, Kattegat and Skagerrak. The catch limits concern ten stocks managed by the EU. Twelve stocks managed by the EU are still awaiting scientific advice and will therefore be the subject of proposals once the advice is available. The number of TACs proposed for 2025 is lower than last year, due to the introduction of multi-annual TACs in 2024 (see EUROPE 13279/15).
The Commission is proposing to increase the TACs for five stocks: - monkfish, megrims and horse mackerel in the Iberian waters of the Atlantic; - langoustine for the southern Bay of Biscay; - sole for the Bay of Biscay.
The limits remain unchanged for hake in the Iberian waters of the Atlantic and for plaice in the Kattegat.
For sole in Skagerrak-Kattegat and the western Baltic Sea, on the other hand, the Commission is proposing to suspend targeted fishing and to set a by-catch TAC for fisheries targeting Norway lobster, which will be based on the level of recent catches.
Two other species are subject to even more precautions: the Commission is proposing to set a low multiannual by-catch TAC for 2025 and 2026 for roundnose grenadier. The TAC will apply to fisheries targeting northern shrimp and will be based on recent landings.
As for the eel, whose population is in a critical state, the Commission is proposing to maintain the existing measures to protect the stock, which include a compulsory closure to fishing for six months and a ban on all recreational fishing for eel in the marine and brackish waters of the EU and the North-East Atlantic.
This proposal will be updated following the conclusion of ongoing consultations with Norway and the United Kingdom and to take account of decisions to be taken shortly by the various regional fisheries management organisations.
The EU Council will examine the Commission’s proposal on 9and 10 December and set fishing opportunities for 2025 and, in some cases, 2026. The regulation should then apply from 1 January 2025.
See the proposal: https://aeur.eu/f/e3z (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)