Brussels, 03/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 20 December, the EU Council of Ministers adopted, without debate, the regulation establishing 2008 fishing possibilities in the Black Sea (see EUROPE 9548 for the European Commission's initial proposal).
The regulation provides for a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 100 tonnes of turbot and another of 15,000 tonnes of sprat for Bulgarian and Romanian vessels. In addition, provision technical measures were put in place, including a ban on all fishing activity in the Community waters of the Black Sea from 15 April to 15 June 2008, and a minimum landing size for turbot (total length of 45 cm). These quotas are the first step towards a longer term sustainable fishing policy in the Black Sea. It is the first time that quotas and transitional technical measures have been set for these two countries, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007. (L.C.)