Brussels, 22/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - After 14 hours of intense negotiations, fisheries ministers from EU Member States reached a political agreement on Wednesday morning in Brussels by qualified majority on plans for restocking threatened fish species and Total Allowable Catches for 2005. Under pressure from Member States, European Commissioner for fisheries, Joe Borg, gave way on most of the initial controversial proposals (closed zones for cod fishing in the North Sea and Spanish and Portuguese lobster, significant reductions in deep sea fishing and anchovies from the Bay of Biscay.
Cod restocking. the presidency compromise abandons the idea, opposed by most Member States affected (France, Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands) to close fishing zones in the North Sea to protect cod but in exchange for the reduction of a day each month for fishing in most zones (except in the west of Scotland; reduction of two days a month). France obtained the revision of the current derogation on allowing it fishermen fishing for sole in the Channel to have the right to a reasonable number of fish each month (19). This derogation was not extended to French fishermen in waters in the south of the North Sea. The Commission also agreed to not extend the zones currently closed to cod fishing to the west of Scotland and Irish Sea on the condition of reducing the number of fishing days. Cod fishing in the Baltic Sea: the presidency text takes into account most of the Member States affected concerns, particularly Poland: zones closed to fishing for the whole year in three spawning grounds, summer ban of 4.5 months in east of Baltic, TAC of 39,000 tonnes for eastern cod and control measures for boats bigger than 8 metres.
Hake and lobster in Iberian Peninsula: the compromise includes the increase from 20 to 22 days fishing for hake and lobster in the west of the Iberian peninsula. The Commission also agreed to exclude lobster fishing from the ban. The compromise fully satisfied Spain and Portugal.
Sole restocking: France, United Kingdom and Belgium were unable to escape the setting up of a restocking plan for sole in the Western Channel. The number of fishing days has been increased to a maximum of 20 days for netters and beam trawlers.
Anchovies: at France and Spain's request, the Commission agreed to reduce anchovy quotas in the Bay of Biscay by only 9% in 2005 (30,000). France and Spain could therefore proceed to their traditional exchange of quotas at the beginning of the year.
Deep sea species: compared to the situation in 2003, fishing is expected to be reduced by 10% in 2005 and 2006 (as opposed to 30% in the initial proposal). The Commission agreed to TAC reduction and quotas of 15% except for certain species where catches are being maintained at the current level (black scabbard fish fished by the Spanish and Portuguese and red sea beam in the Portuguese zone).
Other TACs and quotas: on the subject of the general regulation on TAC and quotas for 2005, Member States decided to: increase quotas for herring in the North Sea, Monk fish (in most zones), Whiting in the North Sea, Haddock in waters of the west of Scotland, Channel and Bay of Biscay (but a significant decrease in quotas in the North Sea), hake in most zones, Blue Whiting, lobster in the North Sea (status quo in most other zones), sole in the North Sea; revision of TAC for several species, including Pollack, Horse mackerel, sprats, reasonable decreases (20%à for Haddock, mackerel, plaice, Lemon Sole, Dab, Turbo and Brill.