Brussels, 11/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, at the European Commission is to adopt a proposal aiming to modify various provisions of the regulation of December 2004 on fishing possibilities for 2005. The changes relate to the following species:
Octopus: For the rest of 2005, the Commission proposes to set at 500 grammes the minimum weight for catches and sales of octopus caught in maritime waters which come under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of third countries along the western coast of Africa (zone of the Committee on Fisheries for the Eastern Central Atlantic, or CECAF). This measure, which will help to "contribute to conserving octopus and, in particular, protecting young stock", concerns Community boats fishing in the CECAF zone under bilateral EU/Mauritania and EU/Senegal fishing agreements. According to the Commission, this measure will help to reduce the volume of catches of male and female octopus, by 25% and 50% respectively. In Community waters, octopus cannot be caught unless it weighs a minimum of 750 grammes.
Herring: By virtue of new scientific opinions, the Commission feels that the fishing possibilities for herring caught in various divisions of the Baltic Sea should be increased by 15,000 to 86,856 tonnes (72,625 tonnes for Finland and 14,231 for Sweden).
Greenland halibut: The proposal provides to grant Lithuania a quota of 10 tonnes of Greenland halibut.