North Sea plan: ensuring sustainable stocks and security for fishermen
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-clear rules and ranges of fishing quotas
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-quotas based on best available scientific advice
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-recreational fisheries included
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-third countries must take plan into account
Plans to tackle overfishing and offer more security to local fishermen by introducing multiannual fishing quotas in the North Sea were backed by MEPs on Wednesday.
The second multiannual fisheries plan under the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) would manage the fisheries of demersal species living near the bottom of the sea and accounting for 70% of catches in the North Sea (zones IIa, IIIa and IV). The management approach covers different species and is tailored to the complexity of North Sea mixed fisheries, which makes it impossible to target and catch only one species. The long-term sustainable exploitation of these stocks will guarantee the security of fishing opportunities and the livelihoods of fishermen.
The new rules would inter alia:
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-set the ranges (minimum-maximum) within which the Council can set the yearly Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas
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-achieve maximum sustainable yield (MSY) at the latest by 2020 for all stocks affected by this regulation”
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-base all measures on the best available scientific advice as reviewed by the International Council of Exploration of the Sea (ICES) or the Scientific, Technical & Economic Committee for Fisheries (STEFC)
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-suspend the targeted fishery for one particular stock and reduce fishing opportunities when scientific advice indicates a stock is in danger
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-cover also recreational fisheries
Fisheries MEPs want an evaluation of the plan by the Commission three years after its entry into force and every five years thereafter.
Cooperation among member states
The new plan also aims to set a framework for improved cooperation between the member states concerned. Countries having a direct interest will be able to submit joint recommendations no later than a year after its entry into force and a year after each evaluation of the plan. If an abrupt change in the situation of a stock occurs then the member states concerned could again propose measures in the form of joint recommendations.
Agreements with third countries
MEPs added a new article to the plan to ensure that “the stocks managed jointly with third countries and the total fishing opportunities would not exceed the ranges set in the plan” and that “future agreements with third countries would take account of the plan”.
Ulrike Rodust (S&D, DE), rapporteur
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Next steps
The draft mandate-adopted by 13 votes to 4, with 7 abstentions-will now need to get the green light of the full House in September before negotiations with the Council can start.
Quick facts
North Sea demersal fishing represents over 70% of the sector in this area, involving several thousand vessels from the seven bordering Member States at least (i.e. Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom). Demersal catches were worth more than €850 million (2012), with the highest total value of landings by species for sole, followed by plaice, Norway lobster (also called Nephrops), cod, saithe, haddock, turbot, anglerfish, whiting and lemon sole.
A multiannual management plan is the instrument for managing the fish stocks in a certain area. The fishing mortality rates are an essential part of it. They provide a basis for the setting of the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas. The norm set out in Article 2, paragraph 2 of the Basic Regulation for the Common Fisheries Policy is that the exploitation restores and maintains "harvested species above levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY)".
The first multiannual fisheries plan under the new CFP was the Batlic Sea plan officially adopted in July 2016.
Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY):
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-The maximum level at which a species can be routinely fished without long-term depletion