Brussels, 28/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 28 November, the European Commission adopted its proposal on total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing quotas for 2008 in the waters of the English Channel, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Taking the view that additional efforts are required to guarantee the future of fishing in Europe, the Commission has made a proposal to the ministers, who will decide at the traditional end of year Council (17-19 December), for major reductions in all the thresholds for catches of cod (-25% in most cases), whiting (to -25%), haddock (to -37% in the western waters of Scotland), herring (-25%) and sole (-15% for several stocks). The only proposed increases are for hake (+15% in the southern stocks). Three quarters of stocks are not being exploited sustainably, according to an expert.
The latest scientific opinions show that “most stocks continue to be over-exploited”, although there are encouraging developments, said Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries. He noted that a large number of the proposed TACs result from the implementation of the multi-annual reconstitution plans for species in a poor biological state. The commissioner therefore calls on the Council to remain “faithful” to its commitments and to “take decisions which put the long-term health of fishing activities before short-term economic and political interests”.
Reconstitution plans for species in a poor biological state. The reconstitution plans consist of prudent variation measures in the TACs, and limitations on the fishing days. For cod, the Commission points out that the EU and Norway have reached an agreement on an increase of 11% in 2008 for quotas for the species in the North Sea (conditional upon measures aiming to reduce discards of this species). But in the other zones covered by this plan, the biological state of the stock remains a cause for concern. For this reason, the Commission proposes to reduce by 25% catches of cod in the other zones covered by the reconstitution plan (Kattegat and Skagerrak, the eastern English Channel, the Irish Sea and western Scotland). In the waters of the Celtic Sea, not covered by the plan, reductions in catch of 25% have also been proposed.
For northern hake, the Commission has accepted an increase of 2.5% in catches. For sole in the Bay of Biscay, a 10% reduction in fishing mortality (on the basis of samples) has been suggested, in line with the provisions under the reconstitution pan. This would translate into an 8% reduction in quota.
The Commission has agreed to an increase of 15% in catches of southern hake, but also a reduction of 15% for Norway lobster in the Iberian peninsular (both of these species come under the same reconstitution plan). For sole and plaice in the North Sea, the Commission has proposed a reduction of 15% in the TACs.
Deep-sea species. The Commission has proposed a 41% reduction in quotas for herring in the North Sea and a reduction of 32% for catches of blue whiting.
Species with short lifespans. The Commission has proposed a TAC of 50,000 tonnes for Norway pout, corresponding to scientific opinions. For anchovy in the Bay of Biscay, the Commission proposes to keep fisheries closed pending the publication of the scientific opinions, anticipated for around the end of May 2008. The Commission also intends to undertake discussions with the countries concerned (Spain and France) with a view to setting in place a reconstitution plan over several years of this stock, “to put an end to these annual conflicts”, as a Commission expert put it. Experimental fisheries for sand eels in the North Sea has been carried out with a view to determining the state of the stock (for the time being, no quotas are proposed). For North Sea sprat, an increase of 15% is possible, under the Commission's proposal. Lastly, it is worth noting that the Commission has proposed putting the porbeagle under a TAC (422 tonnes in total).
Further fishing possibilities have been proposed for 2008: a reduction of 15% for megrims (compared with 2007 levels), a reduction of 8% for monkfish (anglerfish) in the English Channel, Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, a prorogation of the current quotas for Norway lobster (with the exception of the north-west of Spain and along the coast of Portugal, for which the reduction of 15% has been proposed), a reduction of 15% for pollack, with a prorogation of the current volume for saithe in the English Channel area, the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay. (L.C.)