Brussels, 06/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday the European Commission is expected to adopt its proposals on Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and quotas for 2003, which may suggest to the Council that catches of cod are reduced by 79% (in relation to this year's catches) to the West of Scotland, by 66% in the North Sea and 63% in the Irish Sea. Significant reductions are also planned in catches of haddock and whiting. During a debate on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy on Wednesday evening at the European Parliament, Commissioner Franz Fischler declared that, "The EU total allowable catch for North Sea cod next year could be just 14 000 tonnes. But as much as 200 000 tonnes could be fished every year if we managed the stock sensibly. This shows how badly we have looked after our resources." Deciding against a moratorium they chose instead, "an improved long-term recovery plan for cod and hake in line with the latest scientific findings".
Commissioner Fischler announced that the following reductions in relation to 2002 would be as follows:
North Sea: - 66% of cod compared to 2002 (16,800 tonnes), 31,600 tonnes of haddock (-70%), 10,000 tonnes of whiting (-76%), 60,000 tonnes of plaice and 13,500 tonnes of sole (-17%).
West of Scotland: 972 tonnes of cod (-79%), 7,200 tonnes of haddock (-49%) and for
Irish Sea: 1,200 tonnes of cod (-63%), 7,500 tonnes of haddock (-20%) and 400 tonnes of whiting (-60%). Of course, these are just a few of the overall catch quantities.
The Commissioner also indicated that in the framework of the multiannual recovery plan for stocks, the Commission will be proposing a simplified system for limiting the fishing effort with fishing effort management taken care of by groups of boats rather than a single boat. Inspections would be enforced, he warned.
Therefore, Member States will have to provide a report to the Commission once a month on their fishing effort and boats will be obliged to informing the inspection authorities of their changes of fishing zones. Mr Fischler recognised that this plan would have some consequences that could prove difficult to some fishing sectors.
"I am fully aware that the plan will have serious consequences for the fishing sector in the short term and I know that the livelihood of many may be at stake". The Commissioner indicated some of the measures that Member States could use were: structural programmes as well and providing additional resources for the fishery sector and areas dependent on fishing; specific measures for more labour-intensive small-scale coastal fishing; fishing grounds could be reserved for small vessels, or Member States could target their programmes at small-scale fleets to save jobs, particularly in coastal areas; diversify the economic opportunities in coastal areas; possibility of compensatory payments to fishermen and ship owners for the temporary suspension of their activities.
EP requests compensation for repercussions on fishermen
On Thursday the European Parliament adopted a resolution by Struan Stevenson (EPP-ED, Britain), requesting adequate funding for compensating fishermen affected by reductions in white fish and lobster catches. The EP declared that the Commission absolutely had to propose other solutions than a total ban fishing for these species. The EP also has doubts about the validity of the scientific opinions, which it believes have not taken into account the impact of cod recovery measures since 2001.