Brussels, 01/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - In line with its commitment of 22 June, the European Commission formally adopted emergency measures on Friday to protect anchovy stocks in the Gulf of Gascony (EUROPE 8975). In so doing, the Commission has closed anchovy fishing, which is practised in this area by Spanish and French fishing boats, for three months (from 1 July until the end of the month of September).
This decision, which has come under a blistering attack from France, will be on the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the fisheries ministers, to be held in Brussels on 18 and 19 July. France hopes to make a modification to the Commission's decision, which will only be possible if a qualified majority can be rallied within the Council. France is calling for anchovy fishing to be reopened as of 15 August, and for an area to be created in the Gulf of Gascony in which fishing is banned (a reserve of young stock). On Thursday, the French Minister for agriculture and fisheries, Dominique Bussereau, announced aid for the country's anchovy fishermen. The Minister referred to "an initial envelope of several million EUR to compensate fishermen and equipment providers" until 15 August. The details for this compensation are being studied, with fishermen calling for 4000 EUR per sailor for this period.
Spain, for its part, supports the measure proposed by the Commission, but would have preferred all fishing to be suspended for six months. It is worth noting that Spanish fishermen stopped their fishing campaign in mid-May due to low levels of anchovy catches (200 tonnes compared to 2000 tonnes as is usual for this time of year). Aid of 8.8 million EUR (75% from the government and the remaining 25% from the Community) has already been earmarked for Spanish fishermen remaining in dock.
By deciding to close anchovy fishing temporarily, the Commission is following the advice of the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The Commission has called a meeting, which will take place from 11 to 13 July, of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
The experts from the EU Member States will examine the most recent scientific data, including those from the French institute Ifremer and the Spanish institutes IEO and AZTI. The Commission does not rule out reviewing its decision in the light of the outcome of the STECP deliberations.
The problem of the scarcity of anchovy resources is nothing new. When the Commission last year presented its last proposal on the fishing possibilities for 2005, it followed the scientific advice of the ICES which, for the second year running, warned of the poor state of stock. The ICES recommended setting a preliminary catch level of 5000 tonnes (compared to 33000 tonnes in 2004, a reduction of 85%) with the possibility to review the quota during the year. But the Member States decided at the end of December 2004 to set the catch level at 30000 tonnes. The Commission continues to support the creation of a regime for this species which would allow the catch levels to be adjusted as a product of the state of stock. At the marathon Fisheries Council of last December, the Council in fact adopted a declaration underlining the need for such a seasonal management regime.