North Sea multi-annual plan
11th August 2016
Brussels has tabled a multi-annual plan to manage North Sea demersal stocks
This is the first comprehensive management plan for the North Sea that takes into account the number of different countries – including Norway – that fish the North Sea, and the wide mix of species and range of fishing vessels and methods.
It will replace the current cod recovery plan and plaice and sole management plans.
The Commission says it aims to ensure that stocks are fished at sustainable levels and will bring decision-making closer to fishermen.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella said: “Multi-annual plans are an important tool to shift decision-making to the regional level. We are proposing to bring the North Sea, one of our richest fishing grounds, under such a multi-annual plan. Its long-term approach is not only aimed at improving the conservation of stocks, but also at increasing predictability for our fishermen in the long run.”
The proposal requires the EU to set catch limits that restore and maintain fish stocks above MSY levels. It will define ranges within which catch limits can be set.
“Fishing opportunities in the higher part of the ranges will only be possible under clearly defined conditions and in line with the MSY approach,” said the Commission. The plan also obliges the EU to take swift action when the sustainability of any demersal stock is threatened.
“Certain decision-making powers will shift to the relevant national and regional authorities, bringing decision-making closer to the fishermen through the so-called regionalisation process,” said the Commission.
This will allow regions ‘to recommend tailor-made rules on the phasing-in of the landing obligation’.
The proposal includes an obligation to land important species only in designated ports, as well as new rules on the obligation to notify landings to authorities. “The proposed rules aim to strike a balance between more flexibility for fishermen and more effective control – more fishermen will have to inform national authorities of their intended landings, but they will be able to do so at shorter notice,” said the Commission.
The North Sea proposal follows a multi-annual plan for the Baltic that the European Parliament and Council reached earlier this year.
The North Sea Advisory Council was consulted several times on the proposal and an online public consultation was carried out.
The Commission’s proposal will now go for discussion to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.
More details in Fishing News next week.
Brussels has tabled a multi-annual plan to manage North Sea demersal stocks
This is the first comprehensive management plan for the North Sea that takes into account the number of different countries – including Norway – that fish the North Sea, and the wide mix of species and range of fishing vessels and methods.
It will replace the current cod recovery plan and plaice and sole management plans.
The Commission says it aims to ensure that stocks are fished at sustainable levels and will bring decision-making closer to fishermen.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella said: “Multi-annual plans are an important tool to shift decision-making to the regional level. We are proposing to bring the North Sea, one of our richest fishing grounds, under such a multi-annual plan. Its long-term approach is not only aimed at improving the conservation of stocks, but also at increasing predictability for our fishermen in the long run.”
The proposal requires the EU to set catch limits that restore and maintain fish stocks above MSY levels. It will define ranges within which catch limits can be set.
“Fishing opportunities in the higher part of the ranges will only be possible under clearly defined conditions and in line with the MSY approach,” said the Commission. The plan also obliges the EU to take swift action when the sustainability of any demersal stock is threatened.
“Certain decision-making powers will shift to the relevant national and regional authorities, bringing decision-making closer to the fishermen through the so-called regionalisation process,” said the Commission.
This will allow regions ‘to recommend tailor-made rules on the phasing-in of the landing obligation’.
The proposal includes an obligation to land important species only in designated ports, as well as new rules on the obligation to notify landings to authorities. “The proposed rules aim to strike a balance between more flexibility for fishermen and more effective control – more fishermen will have to inform national authorities of their intended landings, but they will be able to do so at shorter notice,” said the Commission.
The North Sea proposal follows a multi-annual plan for the Baltic that the European Parliament and Council reached earlier this year.
The North Sea Advisory Council was consulted several times on the proposal and an online public consultation was carried out.
The Commission’s proposal will now go for discussion to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.
More details in Fishing News next week.
