On 30 May, the Commission published its annual communication on fishing opportunities. Its initial section on status of stocks gives quite a mixed picture, but shows some improvements in the number of stocks covered by scientific assessments and the number of stocks managed at or below FMSY.
FISH welcomes this communication for the Commission and the overview it provides, though it is difficult to attain a full picture of the total number of stocks exploited, under scientific advice and in line with management objectives in EU waters through the figures provided.
While stocks in the Baltic are doing fairly well overall – 4 stocks are fished at Maximum Sustainable Yield levels – 75 percent of stocks in the Mediterranean remain overfished. The status of half of the stocks in the North-East Atlantic and adjacent waters is unknown and the fisheries on 11 stocks ought to be closed based on the scientific advice.
We can also see that fuel prices are increasing, but so are income and net profits – though this is unevenly distributed among different fleet segments. Employment across the EU is going down.
The Commission further highlights the need to continue to develop advice for data poor stocks, as well as the anticipated change from landing quotas to catch quotas with the gradual implementation of the new discard ban. This shift may involve increases in quotas for previously discarded fish, but only if the stock has already reached the target exploitation rate (FMSY) – i.e. any adjustments have to be in line with the conservation objectives of the reformed CFP.
Principles for fixing fishing possibilities
- The Commission outlines nine fundamental principles for fixing fishing possibilities in 2014:
- Existing long-term management plans or multi-annual plans should apply
- Proposed plans not yet adopted, such as the management plan for Baltic salmon, will be followed in the proposals
- Plans developed by the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), which have been assessed to be consistent with the current “MSY standards” will be followed
- Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and measures agreed with third countries will be followed
- For stocks under full assessment [not subject to a plan or pre-agreed measures], the scientific advice will be followed.
- Where estimates for data poor stocks have been provided, the scientific advice will be followed.
- When there is no scientific advice, the precautionary principle will be followed
- For data limited stocks considered of low economic importance, TACs will remain unchanged from 2013 – see Annex III.
- TACs for deep sea species are agreed biannually, and have already been fixed for 2014.
What happens next?
For the Baltic Sea, the scientific advice has already been released (ICES, 31 May). A Commission proposal is expected in September, with a likely Council decision in October. Advice for the other stocks in the Atlantic, North Sea, Antarctic, Black Sea will be release from July to December, with Commission proposals in October and November, and decisions expected at the December Council.