Brussels, 09/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - When the regulation on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2005 was adopted last December, there was a mistake in the table (annex 4, paragraph 6d) on derogations to the number of cod fishing days (EUROPE of 23 December 2004). The European Commission intends to rectify this error by presenting a proposed modification to the regulation “in the next six weeks”.
According to the Commission, the increase of three fishing days granted under certain conditions (120mm squared mesh nets) should apply to Danish fishermen of Norway lobster and cod in Kattegat and Skagerrak and not to those fishing in the waters of the North Sea. This lapse will have an unfortunate consequence: Scottish cod-fisherman believe they are entitled to three extra days of fishing in an area where stocks are already dangerously low. Furthermore, the Danish fishermen are also involved in these extra outings to the North Sea. The Commission has asked the Scottish fishermen to demonstrate “intellectual honesty”, as they are aware that there were never any negotiations on such derogations in the North Sea at last December's Fisheries Council. The Scottish fishermen are said already to have invested in equipment (especially in nets) to take account of these extra days. The Commission replies that by putting a swift end (by the end of March) to this situation by changing the provisions, the fishermen will soon see a return on their investments.