Brussels, 24/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Ministers of the EU Member States adopted a regulation without debate on Friday amending the 2004 fishing quotas for EU ships in Greenland waters. These amendments to the December 2003 on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2004 are needed to incorporate the measures set out in the amended protocol of the fisheries agreement between the European Commission and the government of Greenland for 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006.
Unlike the original proposal (see Europe of 13 August 2004, p.5), the regulation gives ships from seven EU Member States a quota of 20,120 tonnes for cod captured in Norwegian waters (9431 tonnes for the UK, 2714 t each for Portugal and Spain, 2431 t for Germany, 2232 t for France, and 301 tonnes each for Greece and Ireland). No other changes have been made to the initial proposal. The Atlantic halibut quota has been increased by 800 t (for Portugal), and the Greenland halibut quota in Greenland waters by 4200 t. The Northern prawn quota has been increased by 4000 tonnes in Greenland waters (2000 tonnes each for France and Denmark). A 1000 tonne quota has been introduced for snow crabs (125 tonnes for Ireland and 875 tonnes for Spain) and a 2000 tonne quota has been set for bycatches.
In a statement annexed to the regulation, the United Kingdom supports the regulation providing fishing quotas for EU fishermen in lien with the amended fishing agreement with Greenland, but deeply regrets the lack of quotas for direct cod fishing in Greenland waters. The UK notes that it very much desires such a quota to be established as soon as possible.