Brussels, 27/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a new plan for the reconstitution of cod stocks presented as the only possible solution if a total ban on cod fishing as well as on the fishing of other associated species (haddock, whiting, sole, plaice) is to be avoided. The new proposals were presented directly to the Member States in the context of in camera consultation of the Council on reform of Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and on measures to rebuild cod stocks.
As indicated previously (see EUROPE of 20 November, p.12), the Commission foresees a considerable reduction in the levels of mortality per catch for stocks of cod and associated species. On the basis of estimations of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (CSTEP), the Commission foresees reducing mortality per catch by 80% for cod and haddock, 75% for whiting, 40% for plaice and 30% for sole in all EU fishing grounds. Lesser reductions would be applied for Norway lobster (-5%) and industrial fishing (-10%). These measures would be accompanied by substantial reductions (though not necessarily of the same magnitude) of TACs concerned for 2003. Proposals are expected for 5 December. The Commission will propose reduced TACs until scientists announce that the number of adult fish has again reached an acceptable level. For the species caught with cod, other than those mainly targeted (haddock, plaice, sole and whiting), a 10% reduction of TACs would be proposed, except for nephrops and saithe.
In order to comply with TACs, it is, the Commission believes, essential to have immediate implementation of a simplified system for limiting the fishing activity for stocks whose mortality due to fishing must be reduced. It therefore recommends a decrease of: (1) 80% in the effort of the fishing fleet segment for cod, haddock and whiting; (2) 40% in the effort of the segment for flat fish (sole and plaice); (3) 10% in the industrial fishing segment; (4) and 5% in the nephrops fishing fleet segment. The Commission proposes to retain the date for the period 1999-2001 in order to calculate how the fishing effort should be distributed, and specifies that the Member States will have the responsibility of selecting the vessels to which this effort should be attributed. The rates would be expressed as the number of days that vessels put out to sea for the year 2003. In order to control the number of outgoing days, the Commission gives preference to two solutions: - direct observation of vessels present in ports by inspectors; - implementation of a system on movements (outgoing and incoming) of vessels informing the port authorities. The Commission also suggests there should be reflection on technical measures mainly in order to improve the selectivity of nets.
Commissioner Franz Fischler told ministers that the EU had the moral obligation not to allow (cod) stocks to disappear as they did off the eastern coast of Canada, and to protect the coastal areas that are most dependent on fishing. "This is why the Commission, on the basis of scientific opinions, plans to implement a far more rigorous plan for rebuilding cod stocks than that proposed one year ago, which could be an alternative to a moratorium", he explained.