EU fishing possibilities for 2010

are discussed in a consultation document which sets out the approach the Commission intends to take when setting the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and the fishing effort limitations for the coming year.

The Commission points out that slow progress has been made in stock recovery since the 2002 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. One of the reasons for this is that fishing opportunities consistently have been set at levels which were too high for the fish stocks to sustain.

As a result, more than 80% of EU stocks are now overfished, compared with a global average of 28%.

On the other hand, several long-term plans have been implemented successfully, generating signs of stock recovery. The Commission is therefore proposing greater flexibility in changing TACs from year to year, to enable more effective recovery measures for overexploited stocks.

Commissioner Joe Borg said: "The situation created by overfishing is serious, but multi-annual management plans are working, and some stocks are already showing signs of recovery. This means that the long-term approach is the way to go and that good management always works.

I am committed to a sound approach to fisheries, based on long-term planning, scientific advice and dialogue with the sector – and capable of restoring the productivity of our oceans and seas."

The Communication assesses the current state of the EU fisheries resources, which are drastically overfished compared to most other regions of the world. It then goes on to explain that the contribution of EU fisheries to the European economy and food supply is far smaller today than it used to be in the past. Even more worryingly, the status of some 59% of stocks is unknown to scientists, largely due to inaccurate catch reporting.

Furthermore, in the paper the Commission reiterates its intention to phase out discards. In 2009, significant steps are being taken to address the problem of discards: highgrading (i.e. discarding commercial fish in view of a higher size/price catch) has been banned in the North Sea and Skagerrak.

TACs and quotas must also respect the EU’s international commitments and the provisions of long-term management plans. With today’s Communication, the Commission wants to facilitate an informed debate with stakeholders on the basic principles which should underpin the Commission’s proposals on fishing opportunities for next year.

TACs are set annually for the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and the North-East Atlantic including the North Sea. TACs for fisheries on deep sea species are fixed every two years. Fisheries in the Mediterranean are not managed through catch limits, except in the case of bluefin tuna.

For more information

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/press_releases/2009/com09_28_en.htm

Category: EU Government News