European Commissioner Karmenu Vella has given EU Fisheries Ministers a preview of the fishing limits to be applied in 2017.
He stressed that fisheries are making good progress towards sustainable management, but said that the effort must be maintained to be able to comply with common objectives and deadlines.
The Ministers confirmed their commitment to move slowly but surely towards sustainable fishing levels.
Maximum sustainable yield should be reached as soon as possible and by 2020 at the latest. At the same time - they pointed out - the economic sustainability of the fleets concerned needs to be preserved at all times.
In stark contrast to the overall situation, overfishing is still widespread in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea, and stocks are in bad shape. Both Commissioner Vella and the Member States around these basins committed to renew collective efforts - some Ministers underlined that those efforts have to extend to the third countries of the basin as well.
Please click here for more information on fishing opportunities for 2017.
