Brussels, 27/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a long-term recovery plan for hake stocks in Kattegat and Skagerrak, the North Sea, the Channel, waters to the west of Scotland, around Ireland and the Bay of Biscay. The objective of this recovery plan is to ensure an increase in the quantities of adult hake, currently threatened with collapse, to a minimum safe level according to the precautionary approach. Scientists estimate this level at 143,000 tonnes. Three main sets of measures will be taken: reducing total allowable catches (TACs); limiting fishing effort or the days vessels spend out of port and ensuring the enforcement of these and other measures relating to the landing, transhipping and transportation of hake. . The estimated time frame for achieving the recovery objectives for northern hake is 5 to 10 years. The Commission will shortly propose additional recovery plans for southern hake and for some stocks of sole and Norway lobsters.
Setting total allowable catches
The Commission is proposing a 10% increase in the quantities of adult fish present in the sea during a year and restrictions to prevent large fluctuations in TACs, overshooting the recovery target, exceeding the precautionary fishing mortality.
Measures which may involve extremely low fishing possibilities will apply if scientific advice shows that the stock is below critical limits (103,000 tonnes).
The recovery plan will undoubtedly have consequences on the TAC set out for associated stocks and species (such as lobster).
Limiting fishing effort
The Commission proposes to use the same effort limitation system as for cod. These limitations will be calculated in kilowatt-days (measure of fishing effort calculated by multiplying the engine power of a vessel by the days spent out of port by that vessel).
The fishing effort of all the vessels catching northern hake over the three-year period 2000, 2001 and 2002 will be calculated. Then, the adjustment in fishing effort required to take the related TAC will be determined.
This reduction will be distributed among Member States and the kilowatt-days adopted will be proportional to the effect that the vessels of the Member State concerned have on the northern hake stocks. Member States will distribute their allocated kilowatt-days among their vessels within the geographical area to which they will apply.
The kilowatt-days will be fully transferable and usable within the relevant area at any time throughout the year.
Some parts of the area covered by the hake recovery plan coincide with areas concerned by the cod recovery plan. To simplify things and to avoid duplication, the Commission has proposed that the hake effort limitation scheme apply only to the areas where the majority of the northern hake stock is to be found: waters west of Ireland, the Celtic Sea, Bay of Biscay and western Channel. In the other areas concerned by the hake plan, the measures taken to protect cod will provide sufficient protection for the small quantities of northern hake found there.
Monitoring, inspection and control
As in the cod recovery plan, proposed measures include special reporting requirements, an obligation to land catches above certain quantities in designated ports and conditions for the weighing and transport of landed cod. There are no proposals for satellite monitoring (VMS) in this recovery plan as this aspect will be addressed in a new regulation to be adopted as part of the Common Fisheries Policy reform.
Tackling social impact of recovery plans
Recovery plans combined with low catches in several fisheries are likely to further decrease the income of the most affected fleets. To help them through difficult times, the CFP has provided for additional support for those concerned:
- A € 32 million 'scrapping fund' has been proposed (but it has not yet been adopted by the Council, which is opposing the funding methods) to help Member States which need to meet the required reductions in fishing effort under recovery plans.
This adds to the funds already available for decommissioning vessels under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) over the 2000 to 2006 period. Aid from this new fund will be available for vessels whose fishing effort has to be reduced by 25% or more. Premiums for the permanent removal of these vessels will be 20% higher than those already available under the FIFG;
- aid is also available both to vessel owners and crews whose activities have to be temporarily halted. When stoppages are due to unforeseen circumstances, aid can now be extended from one year to a second one if the temporary stoppages result from the implementation of a recovery plan;
The Commission regrets that so far, Member States have only earmarked 3% of a total of € 3.7 billion available under FIFG (2000-2006) for socio-economic measures. The Commission has been encouraging Member States to review their FIFG programming to increase this share and to draw on other EU Structural Funds. Furthermore, the Commission underlines that FIFG measures, available to support the retraining of fishermen to help them reconvert to economic activities outside the catching sector, has now been extended to support diversification of activities allowing fishermen to continue fishing on a part-time basis.