02
Jan
Update TACs and Quotas
Position on TACs and Quotas - 5 Increase - 5 No Change - 16 Decrease
The EU Fisheries and Agriculture Council meeting detailed release can be found at :
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/97761.pdf
The following tables show the percentage change for each stock and the value of selected stocks to the Scottish economy (apologies for the quality of the graphic). Some thoughts :
- The recent increase for North Sea Cod of 11% was much trumpeted and lauded even though the fisheries’ contribution to the Scottish economy is relatively meaningless.
- The focus given to Cod by media and politicians is purely emotional at best, SPIN at worst.
- Stocks are in a much worse situation than the Ministers will admit.
- Nephrops contribute around 1/3 of Scottish fisheries revenues, is that the reason why so little effort being made to reduce discard levels ?
| Species | % Change |
| Haddock (Rockall) | 50 |
| Cod (North Sea) | 11 |
| Saithe (North Sea) | 10 |
| Haddock (Irish Sea) | 5 |
| Megrim (North Sea) | 8 |
| Cod (West of Scotland) | -25 |
| Cod (Irish Sea) | -25 |
| North Sea Plaice | -2.5 |
| North Sea Sole | -15 |
| Herring (North Sea) | -41 |
| Herring (West Coast) | -25 |
| Herring (Irish Sea) | -8 |
| Blue Whiting | -32 |
| Haddock (North Sea) | -15 |
| Haddock (West of Scotland) | -15 |
| Ling and Tusk | -15 |
| Plaice (North Sea) | -2.5 |
| Whiting (North Sea) | -25 |
| Whiting (Irish Sea) | -25 |
| Megrim (West Coast) | -20 |
| Pollock | NC |
| Ling | NC |
| Monkfish (Northern Shelf) | NC |
| Nephrops (West Coast) | NC*** |
| Nephrops (North Sea) | NC*** |
Other measures :
Part of the North Sea Mackerel stock has been cut by 9%
Nephrops fleet 10% cut in days at sea.
Whitefish fleet days at sea cut by 10% (Nsea), and by 18% (Wcoast) in the small mesh 70-89mm fisheries. These are reduced to 6% and 10% for Scotland because of decommissioning.
Spurdog 5% bycatch rule to apply to all EU waters.
Scotland to be allowed to flexibly allocate days at sea to the Scottish fleet.
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