Brussels, 22/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) concluded its week long meeting on Friday 22 June with an assessment of the state of the anchovy resource. The opinion will be sent to the European Commission which will make a decision either to re-open or to close the anchovy fishery carried out by Spanish and French vessels in the Bay of Biscay.
Last December, the EU Council of Ministers set the total allowable catch (TAC) for anchovy in the Bay of Biscay for 2007 at zero. It was, however, agreed to allow 28 vessels (20 Spanish and 8 French) to carry out an experimental fishery from 15 April-15 June, the aim of which was to assess the state of the spawning stock biomass, with the help of scientific vessels. The Commission was authorised by the Council to take a decision (closure or setting a quota) in the light of the STECF conclusion. (lc)