Luxembourg, 17/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - EU fisheries ministers are expected to reach a political agreement on the recovery plan for cod stocks in the Baltic Sea at their June meeting, thus allowing them (only just) to meet the deadline of the end of June for agreement on this matter. If no agreement is reached, the European Commission reminded everyone that authorised quotas for cod would be automatically reduced, in line with the decisions taken by the Fisheries Council at the end of 2006.
The proposal, which was brought forward on 25 July 2006, provides for a recovery plan to ensure sustainable fishing of cod stocks in the waters of the Baltic Sea. The Commission proposes targets of fishing mortality rates of 0.6 for Western Baltic cod and 0.3 for Eastern Baltic cod. Total Allowable Catches (TACs) would be set so as to reduce fishing mortality by 10% per year. An effort limitation scheme will also be set up: summer ban (for two months in the Western Baltic and three months in the Eastern Baltic) on all fishing for cod with bottom set lines and nets larger than 90mm. The number of fishing days will then be reduced by 10% each year until such time as the fishing mortality targets for the stocks have been reached. The proposal includes a special derogation to the closed periods for small-scale coastal fisheries, where boats of less than 12 metres in length will be authorised to retain on board and land up to 10% of cod by live weight caught in gill nets, entangling nets or trammel nets with a mesh size of 110 mm or more. In addition, the number of fishing days allocated to member states will be increased in proportion to any permanent reductions in fishing effort achieved, whether through permanent cessation of fishing activities or through the definitive withdrawal of vessels from the fishing area concerned.
During the debate on Monday 16 April, most member states concerned called for a simple and easily monitored system to be put in place. Finland called in particular for a system of fishing licences, instead of having to record data in logbooks. With regard to small-scale fishing, Finland suggested working on the technical aspects of fishing gear and on fishing seasons. Sweden and others, like Denmark and Poland, stressed the urgency of the need to combat the illegal fishing of cod. Sweden proposed an effort limitation scheme based on the number of authorised days at sea. Denmark supported the aims of the plan and proposed using days at sea, while allowing governments some freedom in sharing these days among the vessels. Lithuania and Poland called for the mortality rate of 0.6 to be applied in the Eastern Baltic too. Estonia was rather critical, calling for modifications to fishing gear rather than reductions in days at sea.
Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg indicated that small-scale fishing must not be dealt with too leniently, given that it was responsible for most cod catches. He said, however, that he was ready to listen to the concerns expressed. (lc)