On Monday 30 March, the EU Council adopted a regulation without debate providing for a 48% reduction in the total allowable catch (TAC) for mackerel in 2026 in the North-East Atlantic.
Last December, the EU Member States followed the scientific advice, which recommended a 70% reduction in catches by 2026 (see EUROPE 13821/36).
In the absence of an agreement with third countries on a more drastic reduction in fishing effort, the Member States have aligned themselves on this alternative scenario, corresponding to a 48% reduction in catches. This represents a reduction of around 299,000 tonnes, almost double the level recommended by scientists.
The French Fisheries Minister, Catherine Chabaud, has called on the European Union to resume talks to reach a multilateral agreement with neighbouring countries on mackerel in order to prevent overfishing.
At the Council meeting, France and the Netherlands, supported by Germany and Portugal in particular, called for an “urgent” resumption of negotiations for a global agreement between coastal states on the sustainable management of mackerel stocks. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)