Brussels, 12/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 12 May, the European Commission adopted a communication describing the main principles for determining fishing possibilities in EU waters for 2010. Consultation is open on this subject with EU countries, those working in the sector and other interested parties. The Commission's proposals on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2010 will not be put forward until October for the Atlantic, North Sea and international waters (scientific opinions mid-July) but will be made a little earlier (September) for stocks in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. The communication will be examined in June by European fisheries ministers.
First and foremost, annual fishing possibilities should be fixed at a level that guarantees sustainable exploitation of resources at the economic, environmental and social level, the text states, explaining the major principles set out for determining catch levels for 2010. Secondly, in order to provide fisheries operators a stable and foreseeable environment, annual variations must be maintained within pre-established limits. Thirdly, commitments taken at international level must be upheld, including that of reconstituting stocks so that they reach maximum productivity (application of the principle of sustainability in European Union fisheries through sustainable maximum output).
The Commission considers that the state of resources continues to give cause for concern. Scientific bodies each year verify whether stocks present risks of a kind that will compromise reproduction, that is, whether they are outside “biological safety limits”. Also, the status of some 59% of stocks is unknown to scientists, largely due to inaccurate catch reporting. For stocks whose status is known, 69% present serious overfishing and only 31% can be sustainably fished. Some 18% of stocks are in such a deplorable state that scientists recommend a total ban on fishing.
Perfected method of fixing TACs. For stocks suffering from overfishing, the Commission suggests a more flexible approach to year-on-year changes in TACs, on the basis of advice from the Commission's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF). For stocks with a low level of biomass, it is proposed that TACs be reduced by up to 20% a year, as long as fishing mortality does not increase. For those stocks which have recovered beyond the level allowing the highest yield to be taken, TACs could be increased by up to 25% a year. Conversely, when STECF advises a zero catch, TACs should be reduced by at least 25%. For stocks where an analytical assessment is not available, the approach is being revised in light of new scientific advice.
Furthermore, the Commission repeats that it is also necessary to adjust the size of the fleet in order to avoid overfishing and notes for 2008-2009 that there is a “worsening” in the economic results of the fleet (reduced fishing possibilities, surge in fuel prices in 2008, stagnation and even a fall in prices for the first sale of many species, including cod, etc).
Multi-annual management plans. Long term plans exist for North Sea and Baltic Sea cod, North Sea plaice and sole, Western Channel sole and stocks of southern hake and Norway lobster. In December 2008, the new long term plan for cod stocks brought significant changes to the way the fishing effort is managed (with a system based on kW-day ceilings) and, according to the Commission, should “serve as an example” to further improve effort systems applicable for other species or in other areas. Specific plans will be proposed in 2009 for North Sea hake, horse mackerel, anchovy in the Bay of Biscay and Baltic salmon. Also, the Commission is reflecting on a different legal structure for the next long term plans. One possibility might be to submit many different stocks to long term management in a single regulation.
Discard ban. The Commission reaffirms its intention to gradually phase out discards. In 2009, the number of initiatives to deal with this problem is due to increase. “High grading” (i.e. a practice involving the selective rejection of part of a catch for economic reasons with a view to catching and keeping larger and/or more value fish) is banned in the North Sea and the Skagerrak. Fishing is even more restricted under the multiannual plans and pilot studies are underway to examine the possibility of reducing discards further. For 2010, the Commission provides for: - reduction in fishing effort in line with multiannual plans (fundamental measures for discard reduction); - a general ban on “high grading”; - the launching of research studies on matters linked to the ban on discards (survival of species discarded, improved selectivity of fishing gear, economic effect of the ban on discards and possible use of undesirable organisms); - and responsible management of fishing permits (the Commission recommends that member states only issue fishing permits to vessels for which fishing possibilities have been allocated).
Co-decision. In its communication, the Commission specifies that, once it has taken effect, the Lisbon Treaty will provide for co-decision to be the main decision-making procedure for matters under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). An exception is foreseen in Article 43§3 of the Treaty as regards measures on “fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities”. These measures are to be adopted by the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, without the involvement of Parliament. It therefore becomes important to make a clear distinction between measures that can be considered as concerning the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities and those which, on the contrary, must be adopted via co-decision. (L.C./transl.jl)