Article 47 / 55 angler catch assessment

You may remember the furore from last year when recreational sea angling was dragged into the EU common fisheries policy proposals in the guise of control regulation Article 47.

After we led an email campaign and contacted MEP Struan Stephenson, he organized a protest in the European Parliament; this along with the efforts of other MPs, MSPs, groups etc led to the article being watered down on an almost weekly basis.

Compromises were eventually gained, but Article 55 as it became known, may still affect sea anglers fishing for species under a recovery programme – at the moment for Scottish sea anglers, this essentially means cod.

The EU is proposing to require the Scottish government, by methods as yet unknown, assess angler cod catches and report their findings to the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries.

If they consider the catches to be significant, then some form of bag limits or quota for recreational sea anglers may apply. Note – as you can see from the background info below, it is not intended that these measures will affect shore anglers, meanwhile you can download a document covering the relevant associated articles regarding sampling plans here.

We shall be meeting with Marine Scotland officials shortly to understand how they intend to monitor recreational catches and we’ll provide an update.

Background Info ::

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No…/2009

of

establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance

with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy,

Chapter V

Control of recreational fisheries

Article 55

Recreational fisheries

1. Member States shall ensure that recreational fisheries on their territory and in Community waters are conducted in a manner compatible with the objectives and rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.
2. The marketing of catches from recreational fisheries shall be prohibited.
3. Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 199/2008, Member States shall monitor, on the basis of a sampling plan, the catches of stocks subject to recovery plans by recreational fisheries practised from vessels flying their flag and from third country vessels in waters under their sovereignty or jurisdiction. Fishing from shore shall not be included.
4. The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) shall evaluate the biological impact of recreational fisheries as referred to in paragraph 3. Where a recreational fishery is found to have a significant impact, the Council may decide, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 37 of the Treaty, to submit recreational fisheries as referred to in paragraph 3 to specific management measures such as fishing authorisations and catch declarations.
5. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 119.

Category: SSACN Announcements