Brussels, 15/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The last Fisheries Council of the year 2000 ended on Friday at 3h00 to the great satisfaction of its president, French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany and Commissioner Franz Fischler, who stressed that ministers showed their awareness of the need to preserve stocks. Mr Fischler was pleased with the substantial reductions it the fishing effort which were adopted for the stocks most at risk. He also stressed that the ministers have accepted TAC (total allowable catches) reductions and quotas for "associated stocks", which entail by-catches of other species particularly at risk. "I am conscious that these are tough measures which are likely to cause hardship for fishermen, but a drastic situation calls for drastic solutions and I am convinced that these measures were inevitable to ensure that these stocks are brought back within safe biological limits", said the Commissioner.
Two compromises were needed to reach this result and many changes were made to meet the various concerns expressed by Member States without, however, moving too far from the initial Commission proposals (see EUROPE of 6 December, p.10). Only Finland, Austria and Luxembourg were willing to agree on a first compromise that still comprised a reduction of 20% for "associated stocks" such as Nephrops, saithe, plaice and sole, and TACs and quotas for benthic species It was therefore necessary to reduce to 10% (British proposal supported by several other delegations) the reduction in catches of "associated stocks" and to defer until next year the introduction of quotas for demersal species (which was only accepted by France). Spain, in particular, obtained additional fishing possibilities for whiting, without however reaching the volume it had requested (it had hoped to make the TAC reduction 30% instead of 74%). Other Member States obtained limited quota increases concerning; for example: - sole (Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sweden); - haddock (Ireland, Sweden); - plaice (United Kingdom).
The complete results of this Council meeting are:
TAC and quotas for 2001. The Council adopted by qualified majority vote (with Greece voting against and Italy abstaining) the regulation fixing fishing possibilities for 2001. It approved the result of negotiations with Norway, which provides for a reduction of nearly 50% for catches of cod (see also EUROPE of 9 December, p.16). Cod TACs in the zone North West of Ireland and Scotland is 3,700 tonnes (instead of 3,300 tonnes in the Commission proposal), that is, a 50.5% reduction compared to the year 2000 (the Commission had proposed - 56%). As far as whiting is concerned, the reductions in fishing effort vary between 41 and 55% according to the area whereas the Commission had recommended - 74% everywhere. For haddock in the North West Scotland and Ireland zones, the reduction will be 27% (instead of 39%), with TACs of 13,900 tonnes (instead of 11,500 tonnes). The Council generally followed the Commission's proposals for the pelagic species such as herring, mackerel, sandeel, blue whiting and sprat. As far as the benthic species are concerned, given that TACs were not introduced, the Member States pledged not to increase their catches and the Council decided that catches made in 2000 and 2001 should not be taken into account in the later establishment of TACs in order not to encourage a rush to fish these stocks. The Council also gave its agreement for the setting in place, as soon as possible, of plans for restoring stocks that are the most at risk. After consultation with producer organisations, scientific experts and national administrations, the Commission will adopt emergency measures lasting six months. A five-year plan will be presented to the Council and the Parliament before the month of June. It will include protection measures for juveniles, rules concerning the mesh size of nets and limits for access to certain fishing zones, as well as inspection measures.
Precautionary approach and multi-annual mechanisms for fixing TACs. The Council heard the presentation by Commissioner Fischler of the Commission's communication on this subject (see EUROPE of 13 December, p.12). The Commission was invited to put forward proposals as soon as possible in order to implement the multi-annual approach in the management of TACs and quotas.
EU financial participation in monitoring activity. Pending the opinion of the European Parliament, the Council reached (with German opposition) a common guideline on the proposal relating to the Community's financial participation in certain spending by Member States for the implementation of control, inspection and surveillance regimes. This amounts to cofunding of 50% on the basis of an annual financial allocation of EUR 35 million for a three year period (2001-2003). The spending eligible comprises: - information technology ; - experimenting and use of new technologies; - the training of inspectors; - and the acquisition of or modernisation of equipment.
Conservation measures for tuna and swordfish. The Council reached a common guideline on the regulation that aims to group into a single normative text all the technical conservation measures applicable to highly migratory fish species.
Agreement with Denmark and Greenland. The Council approved, with abstention by Portugal, the agreement relating to provisional application of the fourth protocol fixing conditions and fishing possibilities in Greenland's waters for the period from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2006.
Future relations with Morocco. The Council discussed over dinner the state of progress in negotiations with Morocco with a view to concluding a new fisheries partnership. In the conclusions adopted after this discussion with Commissioner Fischler,; the Council:
recalls that it is determined to support the Commission with a view to concluding, before the end of this year, a new fisheries agreement that will be satisfactory for both parties;
notes that, in conformity with the decision of the European Council (Ed.: in Nice), if this were not possible, the Commission would propose a specific action programme for the restructuring of the Community fleet which has carried out fishing activities within the framework of the former agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco. The programme should be presented in time for the Council to examine it at its session in March 2001.
invites the Commission to propose extension of the current system of aid to the Community fleet affected, pending the decision concerning the specific action programme.
Changes to TAC 2000. The Council adopted without debate several regulations that modify the TAC for the year 2000 following agreements with third countries. They will relate to: - an additional quantity of cod allocated to the Community in the context of the fisheries agreement with Estonia; - possibilities for capelin fishing in the waters of Greenland; - limits to catches of bigeye tunny, linked to the recommendations of fisheries organisations; - transfers of quotas (herring, sprat, cod) in the Baltic.
Guide prices for 2001. The Council adopted, with slight modifications, the regulation fixing guide prices for the forthcoming harvest year in fishing.