Brussels, 30/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Commission is due, on Wednesday 1 October, to adopt a proposal on fishing possibilities in the waters of the Black Sea for 2009. The two countries affected are Romania and Bulgaria, which joined the EU in 2007. The proposal will then be submitted to the Council for adoption before the end of the year.
In the light of catches of the last number of years and current use of 2008 quotas, the following total allowable catches (TACs) are proposed: 12,750 tonnes of sprat (15% less than the 2008 TAC) and 100 tonnes of turbot (the same TAC as in 2008). Turbot is to be shared, with 50 tonnes for each country. No allocation has been made for the sprat TAC, since the levels of exploitation of this stock has not yet been established.
Technical measures. The Commission also proposes to maintain the technical measures put in place in 2008 in the turbot fishery: - no activity targeting turbot is allowed in Community waters in the Black Sea from 15 April to 15 June; - the minimum authorised bottom-set gillnet mesh size for catching turbot is 400mm (with exemptions); - the minimum landing size for turbot is 45 cm. (L.C./transl/rt)