News
November 9, 2015
Newsletter editorial November 2015
Progress has halted on the Baltic Multiannual Plan for cod, sprat and herring since July. We have high expectations when trilogue resumes today that the Council, Parliament and Commission can make steps towards an agreement over the exploitation levels of fish stocks.
November 9, 2015
Scientists criticise EU for setting fishing limits above FMSY
In an open letter, scientists Sidney J. Holt and Rainer Froese criticise the European Council, Parliament and Commission for not following their own policies, and setting Baltic fishing limits above FMSY.
November 4, 2015
DG MARE misses the mark with new rules for the landing obligation
Impacting demersal fisheries in the North Sea, North Western Waters and South Western Waters, the Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries released a collection of delegated acts on 12 and 22 October to come into effect on 1 January 2016.
November 3, 2015
European Parliament drafts report on technical measures and multiannual plans
The Fisheries Committee draft report “A new CFP: framework for technical measures and multiannual plans" discusses the current challenges concerning technical measures and the landing obligation.
October 23, 2015
Council mandates overfishing of vulnerable cod stocks into 2016: CFP goals undermined
2016 fishing quotas have been set with seven out of ten quotas exceeding scientific advice. Whilst the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are generally a decrease compared with this year, they exceed scientific advice in most cases, and for cod quotas are worryingly high.
October 21, 2015
Baltic TACs to be set at October Council
We emphasise the need to set fishing opportunities below the exploitation level that corresponds with maximum sustainable yield (FMSY) by 2015, where possible, and by 2020 at the latest in order to restore and maintain fish stocks above levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield as required by the CFP.
September 24, 2015
Parliamentary hearing on multispecies management plans
Yesterday the Fisheries Committee in Parliament heard diverse views on the implementation of multispecies management plans. Focus was largely on the proposed Baltic multiannual plan for cod, sprat and herring and ongoing issues regarding the landing obligation and technical measures along with discussion on preparations and lessons learned for the North Sea multiannual plan and other plans in development. .
September 4, 2015
Newsletter editorial September 2015
Baltic TAC proposal released and trilogue on the Baltic multiannual plan resumes in September
September 4, 2015
BSAC and BALTFISH meetings: Technical measures, Baltic quotas & more
The Baltic Sea Advisory Committee (BSAC) working group and BALTFISH held back-to-back meetings in Warsaw earlier this week. Technical measures were the main agenda point for the BSAC working group. While the stalled Baltic Multiannual Plan, and an update on the newly implemented discard ban were on the agenda during the BALTFISH Forum.
September 2, 2015
Commission releases proposal for Baltic TACs
The Commission proposal for Baltic TACs in 2016 is balanced and largely in line with both ICES scientific advice and the reformed Common Fisheries Policy. However, we are concerned about the Commission’s proposal for both Baltic cod stocks.