EU talks to finalise fish catching opportunity for 2016 in the Atlantic, North Sea and Black Sea concluded in Brussels early on 16 December.
The agreement sets out how much EU fishermen can catch from the main commercial fish stocks next year, estimated to be worth more than €4bn.
The Commission proposed a number of TAC increases, which it says are in line with MSY.
On sea bass, the Commission says it is building on the measures that it has put in place in 2015 both for commercial and recreational fisheries, and is committed to measures that will be effective enough for sea bass, in an attempt to reverse the steep decline of the stock. The Commission also took into account the fact that there is a lower impact by small scale fishing vessels on the sea bass, than by the large scale trawlers.
“We have also made a big step towards the landing obligation for demersal fisheries,” said EU Commissioner, Karmenu Vella. “Today we have also ensured a balanced regime that rewards our fishing industry with fair compensation for their efforts in landing all fish in a number of fisheries as of January next year.”
Quotas were increased for several key stocks, which Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said is good news for the Scottish fishing industry. Quota rises were agreed for haddock (+30%), North Sea cod (+15%), North Sea herring (+16%), megrim (+26%), monkfish (+20%) and West coast prawns (+16%). North Sea whiting and lemon sole quotas remain the same whilst there was a drop for North Sea prawns (-23%).
It is also reported that at the Brussels talks there was considerable anger from the Scottish pelagic sector at a ‘behind doors’ deal negotiated by the European Commission which resulted in Norway gaining a disproportionate share of the blue whiting quota.
Commissioner Vella said that Europe is currently at 36 MSY TACs in the North Sea, the Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, and is on track to meet its sustainability targets.
“The limits we set today give us a foundation for the next two years,” said Commissioner Vella. “Aiming for MSY closer to the end date of 2020 is too risky. It is therefore in everyone's interest to avoid high cuts at the end.
“With this said, I am happy to announce that we have made good progress in that direction together with the Member States. Working together for our common objective has never been more important.”
Full details of the agreement can be found here.
