Brussels, 26/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - Despite the reluctance of five Member States (Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy) fearing having to hand over to developing countries too great a share of their fishing rights, the Fisheries Council managed to decide on a Community stance, in Luxembourg on Wednesday, on the distribution of the total allowable catches (TACs) in 2002 within the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic and Mediterranean Tuna (ICCAT).
On the basis of a compromise put forward by the Swedish Presidency, backed by the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands, the Commission's new brief provides for more account being taken of the interests of developing countries. Thus, if one notes an improvement in the situation of fish stocks (which, however, is said to go counter to the estimates of scientists: Ed.), the fishing possibilities of developing countries could be upwardly revised. Should that not be the case, the Community TACs will be gradually opened to the developing countries over a 6-year period. Remains that those countries most hostile to this new key-distribution secured that the main criterion for the allocation of quotas in this organisation should always be the number of catches, according to traditional references.
Commissioner Franz Fischler welcomed the adoption of this Community stance, as, he said, the credibility of the ICCAT depends on it.
In fact, in virtue of the right to objection that the contracting parties may make use of, some LDC arrange themselves fishing right without respecting the conservation measures nevertheless taken within this regional fishing organisation. The EU fishes more than 50% of the volume governed by the ICCAT, and the local developing countries call for a part of these rights. Within the global TAC, certain species are submitted to national quotas, such as albacore tuna or blue fine tuna (as opposed to tropical tuna). This Community position will be presented during the meeting of the ICCAT working party next 21 to 23 May.
Furthermore, the Council adopted conclusions in which it welcomes the Communication on the precautionary principal and the setting of TAC in a multiannual manner. It also took note of the information provided by the European Commission concerning the plans to reconstitute stocks of hake and cod, and the Ministers called on the Commission to provide them with more detailed information during the next Fisheries Council in June. After having heard the call for order from Mr Fischler, the Member States concerned (Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Finland and Ireland) undertook to complete before the end of the year the internal procedures for the ratification of the international agreement on overlapping stocks and highly migratory fish. The Commission and the Member States must simultaneously ratify this convention for it to enter into force.