Agreement was reached on 25 October in Edinburgh between the European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, Norway and the Faroe Islands on management measures for mackerel in the north east Atlantic for 2007.
The Parties agreed on a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 422 551 tonnes (2006: 373 535 tonnes). This corresponds to the range of fishing mortality levels established in the long-term management plan for mackerel set up in 1999. This approach is consistent with the most recent scientific advice received from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in October, that the key to a sustainable fishery on mackerel lies in ensuring that the 1999 long-term management plan is adhered to in practice. The TAC will be shared by the Parties to the Agreement in the waters under their national jurisdictions.
At the annual meeting of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) in November a compatible TAC will be agreed for the NEAFC regulatory area. These arrangements will be confirmed by the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers in December, when they agree on the annual regulation setting fishing possibilities for 2007. The increase in the TAC was made possible by the improvements in control and enforcement that have taken place throughout the north east Atlantic over the past few years. The Parties also agreed to request advice from ICES in order to examine issues surrounding substantial underreporting of catches in the mackerel fisheries.
