Commission proposes a total ban on cod fishing in the Irish Sea in 2012
The Commission is proposing a cod closure in the Irish Sea, West of Scotland and the Kattegat in 2012 ‘given the poor state of these stocks.’
The agency has presented its first proposal for 2012 fishing opportunities for certain stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea. These proposals set levels of total allowable catch (TAC) and fishing effort for fish stocks managed by the EU exclusively, and not for stocks managed with third countries.
Based on scientific advice, the Commission proposes to increase the TAC for nine stocks (certain stocks of cod, anglerfish, herring, haddock, hake, sole, megrim and Norway lobster) and reduce it for 53 stocks.
The proposed changes amount to an overall reduction in TACs (by weight) of 11% compared to 2011, “to set TACs at science-based levels that help recover the stocks and make fisheries sustainable in the long-term”.
Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said theproposal’s were cornerstones to long-term management and reliable scientific data on which to base their decisions, in line with their proposed reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.
“This reform will deliver a fisheries policy fit for the future, based on viable fish stocks which will assure fishermen a decent income.”
The proposed catch limits are based on the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
“The Commission’s ultimate aim is that all stocks are fished at sustainable levels, the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), by 2015 – a commitment that the EU made to the international community, and which is also a key pillar of the proposed CFP reform.
“To help achieve MSY by 2015, ICES has started to frame its scientific advice with this goal in mind, whenever possible. Also, multi-annual management plans are being put in place for all major commercial stocks. Stocks managed in this way tend to fare better than those subject to short-term decision-making.”
Background
The current proposal concerns only the 83 stocks for which the TACs are decided by the EU alone, and is scheduled to be discussed by Member States’ fisheries ministers at the November Fisheries Council.
A second proposal will deal with the 66 stocks for which the fishing opportunities must be agreed with Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) or in consultation with third countries and will be tabled later this autumn. By splitting the proposal in this way, fishermen will learn sooner how much they can fish in 2012 and be able to plan ahead better.
For some stocks, the long-term approach has already proven beneficial. For example, stocks of anglerfish in north and northwest Spain may reach sustainable levels (MSY) already in 2012, even with higher catches (110% increase in TAC proposed); TACs for cod in the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay can be safely increased by 141%.
Serious concerns remain however for a number of stocks, giving rise to the proposed cod closure in the Irish Sea, West of Scotland and the Kattegat.
“Poor data has hampered the management of these stocks, and despite successive cuts in the TACs over the recent years, the stocks still fail to recover. For stocks where data are too poor to properly estimate their size, the Commission applied a so-called precautionary principle, reducing the TACs by between 15% and 25% until more reliable data are available,” Commissioner Damanaki said.
