Brussels, 08/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - As anticipated, the European Commission adopted its proposal on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2005 on Wednesday, together with new measures to protect threatened fish resources (see the details in EUROPE of 7 December, p.12). The Fisheries Ministers of the Member States of the EU are to negotiate and adopt proposals at their traditional end of year marathon on 21 and 22 December. The Fisheries Council is also to set the TACs for the so-called deep-water species, which come under a separate proposal (EUROPE of 30 November, p.11).
The European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg, said at a press conference on Monday that "we have been able to get good results in recent years" to ensure sustainable European fishing. He welcomed that measures to reduce fishing effort and catch which had been brought in "are starting to bear fruit". However, as is shown by the latest scientific opinions, "extra efforts are needed to rebuild the stocks which have declined the most", he said. "We cannot afford to ease up, because that would undo all the good work of recent years". For this reason, "we propose to close down certain fishing areas in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to protect cod", and new measures to "protect other stocks [hake, Norway lobster and monkfish) in the Iberian peninsula", he explained. "In order to achieve our objectives, we need long-term restocking plans and a better application of the legislation. Our proposals are a good balance between what is biologically imperative and what is economically reasonable", he said in conclusion.
Here is a summary of the main measures proposed for the most threatened species:
Cod: The Commission has proposed a renewal of current measures to limit fishing effort for 2005 (reduction of numbers of days of fishing) for cod in the north Sea, Kattegat and Skagerrak, the western Channel, the Irish Seas and in the western Scottish waters. It has also proposed a closure of certain fishing areas in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in 2005, for greater protection of the species. The banned fishing areas will be the ones with the largest catches of cod. As for Kattegat and Celtic Sea cod, a ban on cod fishing is envisaged for the first quarter of 2005. The Commission has proposed no extra closure of zones for the cod stocks of western Scotland and the Irish Sea.
Norway lobster and hake from the Iberian peninsula: The Commission has proposed to pre-empt measures to be presented early in 2005 for the restitution of hake stocks in this region. These will involve a 10% reduction in fishing effort for this species, reducing from 30 to 20 the maximum number of authorised fishing days per month. For Norway lobster, the Commission has proposed a ban on bottom trawling in six areas.
Plaice and sole: The Commission has proposed a reduction of the number of fishing days for plaice in the North Sea and for sole in the western Channel.