Brussels, 18/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - The last Fisheries Council of the year ended on Tuesday afternoon with a qualified majority agreement (only Greece abstained) on the regulation setting TACs for 2002. The Fisheries Ministers also reached political agreement on the sensitive dossier (negotiated separately) of extending the MAGP (Multiannual Guidance Programme).
According to Commissioner Franz Fischler (who had had to fight a tough battle with six countries - France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Ireland - which had set up a "Friends of Fishing" group) the agreement on the TACs was "acceptable". The Friends of Fishing group's strategy was summed up by the French Agriculture Minister, Jean Glavany, as we can only accept the TACs and quotas if we get an acceptable agreement on MAGP.
The Ministers decided on significant cuts in catches of the following species: nephrops in the Bay of Biscay, -20% to -35% rather than -45 to 50%; Kattegat cod, -58% as suggested by the Commission. Mr Glavany said the package of TACs and quotas under the agreement kept the essential parts for French fishing. He obtained a little less than he had hoped for nephrops (3,200 tonnes, -20%, rather than 2,400 tonnes as proposed by the Commission for the Bay of Biscay and Brittany); a good outcome for sole (4,000 tonnes rather than 2700 in the Bay of Biscay and Brittany); and total satisfaction for the whiting TAC (31,700 tonnes) . The Spanish Minister, Miguel Arias Canete, was pleased to have won a 42% rise on 2001 in the TAC for hake in the Bay of Biscay, arguing that rebuilding hake stocks in this zone could take longer (6 or 7 years) than the 3 years recommended by the Commission.
He pointed out that the Commission had pledged to commission further scientific studies into Northern hake and Spain sees this as proof that Mr Fischler recognises that there are differences in the data on hake stocks. The Germany Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture Minister, Martin Wille, said the compromise was "acceptable" because the Commission found it acceptable.
During yet another exchange of views on Tuesday morning on the Presidency's second compromise solution, the following country-specific comments were made: Ireland and the United Kingdom asked for authorisation to make full use of The Hague preferences (taking into account their traditional rights to the benefit of coastal areas dependent on fishing); Germany asked for a three month transition period for introducing new nets for cod fishing; and Denmark protected at the hefty cut in its cod quota in the Baltic Sea. The Council also endorsed the TACs and quotas that were agreed in the negotiations with Norway (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.11). Other notable TACs include:
Anchovy. In the Bay of Biscay and South Brittany, 33000 tonnes (no change), off the coast of Portugal, 8000 tonnes (-20%, compared with Commission's proposal of -50%);
Cod. Kattegat (2600 tonnes, -58%); West Scotland, North Azores and Greenland (4600 tonnes, +24% as proposed by the Commission);
Megrim. Irish Sea and the Channel, 13 350 tonnes (the Commission wanted 11700 tonnes, ie a 22% cut); Faroes, West Scotland, Channel and Greenland, 4360 tonnes (as opposed to 25% cut to 3270 tonnes) but pressure from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Spain led to no change); Bay of Biscay (1550t, a little less than recommended by the Commission);
Monkfish. North Sea, 10500 tonnes (the Commission wanted a 40% cut to 8500 tonnes) ; Channel, 18600 tonnes (the Commission recommended 15500 tonnes) ; Bay of Biscay, 5160 tonnes as opposed to a 25% cut to 4400 tonnes. Spain, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands wanted to extend the 2001 TAC of 5900 tonnes) ; the coast of Portugal and the Azores (4750 tonnes rather than proposed 42% reduction to 3500 tonnes) ;
Haddock. West Scotland, North Azores and Greenland, 14100 tonnes (the Commission proposed 700 tonnes); Irish Sea, Channel, Bay of Biscay, 9300 tonnes (rather than 25% cut to 9000 tonnes);
Whiting. North Sea (41,000 tonnes, +38%), Bay of Biscay (4,500 tonnes, -20%);
Hake. West Ireland, Channel, Sole Zone, 31,700 tonnes (the Commission wanted a 20,000 tonne TAC); Faroes, West Scotland, Channel, North Azores and Greenland, 15118 tonnes;
Plaice. Irish Sea, 2400 tonnes (the Commission proposed a 25% cut to 1500 tonnes); Skagerrak (5 600 tonnes, -40%), Kattegat (1400 tonnes, -40%);
Saithe. 14,000 tonnes for West Ireland, North Azores and Greenland.
The Ministers reached political agreement on extending for six months (until the end of June 2002) the programmes to cut back on fishing through a limited tightening up of the criteria governing eligibility for public aid. In order to receive aid to cover the full cost of modernising ships, for example, ship owners will now have to pledge to cut their fishing capacity by 135% (measured in terms of tonnage and engine power). In a declaration, the Commission and the Council pledged (as part of the process of debate on reforming the Common Fisheries Policy) to find a better solution for striking a balance between fish stocks and fishing capacity.