Brussels, 18/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The staff of Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg have made concrete proposals to help France and Spain overcome their differences on the experimental anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay, which opened on 15 April (see EUROPE 9407). A meeting between the two parties, scheduled for Thursday 19 April, should see the finishing touches put to arrangements for this fishery that was agreed in December 2006.
In a letter to the French and Spanish fisheries ministers, Dr Borg says that he believes the experimental anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay should be conducted in the following manner: - France will immediately recall to port the vessels that have already gone out to fish for anchovy; - the consort fishery, by 10 vessels, will start on 23 April, accompanying the research vessels that should start their campaign on that date; - for the remaining 18 vessels, the Commission will convene a meeting in the coming days with scientists from French and Spanish research institutes, in particular to determine the timing and the area coverage of the experimental fishery by those vessels.
In addition, the Commission confirmed that anchovy caught could be marketed, something the French authorities welcomed, and called on Spain not to take measures that would hinder the marketing of anchovy caught in the experimental fishery. On the day the fishery came into effect, the Spanish said they would not buy anchovy landed in French ports and would even block such products at the border. This fishery, scheduled to last until 15 June, is intended, through scientific assessment, to provide a clearer idea of the state of the anchovy stock in the Bay of Biscay. In the light of data gathered, the Commission will make a decision at the end of June on whether or not to set a total allowable catch (TAC) for anchovy for the remainder of the year. (lc)