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Commission proposes fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea for 2019

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Today (7 November) the Commission presents its proposal ahead of the December Fisheries Council where member states should agree next year's fishing quotas.

The European Commission proposes fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea for 89 stocks: for 62 stocks the fishing quota is either increased or remains the same, for 22 stocks is reduced and for five the Commission proposes new by-catch quotas at low level to reduce the fishing pressure.The fishing opportunities, or Total Allowable Catches (TACs), are quotas set for most commercial fish stocks that keep the stocks healthy, while allowing the fishing industry to profit from fishing the highest amount of fish. As the size of some key fish stocks is increasing – notably for Norway lobster in Skagerrak/Kattegat, Northern hake and Southern horse mackerel – so is the profitability of the fishing sector, with an estimated €1.4 billion profit for 2018.

Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries  Commissioner Karmenu Vella said: "Next year will be a milestone year for European fisheries. Our collective duty is to ensure a good transition to the full landing obligation as of 1st January 2019 while continuing our progress to achieve sustainable fishing by 2020. With this proposal, the Commission puts forward concrete solutions to advance on both fronts."

In order to put an end to the wasteful practice of discarding fish, as of 1 January 2019, the landing obligation will apply fully to all EU fishing fleets. This means that all catches of regulated commercial species taken on-board (including by-catch) are to be landed and counted against each member states' respective quotas. In today's proposal the Commission has already deducted the amounts corresponding to the agreed exemptions to the landing obligation from the advised catches.

Substantial progress can be observed in the EU with regards to sustainable fishing: 53 stocks are now fishedat Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) levels compared to only 5 in 2009 and 44 in 2017. This means that the fishing pressure on the stock is limited to a level that will allow a healthy future for the fish stock's biomass, while taking into account socioeconomic factors. The Commission is working with Member States to support the fishermen in reaching the objective of having all stocks fished at sustainable levels by 2020, as set by the Common Fisheries Policy.

Today's proposal will be submitted for discussion and decision by the member states at the December Fisheries Council on 17-18 December in Brussels, to be applied as of 1 January 2019.

Details of the proposal

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The Commission bases its proposal on scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), with a view to achieving sustainable management of fish stocks while sustaining profitable livelihoods for fishermen.

The proposal covers stocks managed by the EU alone and stocks managed in cooperation with third countries, such as Norway, or through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). International negotiations for many of the stocks concerned are still ongoing and some further stocks are awaiting scientific advice. For these, the figures will be included at a later stage.

  • Proposed increases: For 27 stocks such as Norway lobster and plaice in Skagerrak/Kattegat, the Northern hake stock, Western and Southern horse mackerel, cod, sole and plaice in the Irish Sea, and sole and megrim in the Bay of Biscay, the Commission proposes to increase the Total Allowable Catch.
  • Proposed stocks to be fished at 2018 levels: 35 stocks are kept at the same level as last year.
  • Proposed decreases: Decreases are proposed for 22 stocks, of which 12 see a decrease of less than 20%.For 5 of the stocks, namely cod in the West of Scotland and cod in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay/Iberian Waters, whiting in the West of Scotland and in the Irish Sea, and plaice in the southern Celtic Sea and southwest of Ireland, scientists have advised setting a zero quota (Total Allowable Catch) in 2019. The Commission is thus proposing to no longer allow targeting these stocks.
  • Proposed new by-catch levels: For 5 stocks captured incidentally, a by-catch quota is proposed at low level to reduce the fishing pressure, subject to a number of conditions, including full catch documentation (see table 4). These stocks are caught in mixed whitefish fisheries.
  • For northern seabass: the Commission is proposing a set of measures, expressed in catch limits (not TACs), following the latest scientific advice. Those measures would allow higher catches for hooks and lines fishery with 7 tonnes/vessel (compared to five tonnes/vessel in 2018) and a "bag limit" for recreational fisheries of one fish/day for seven months, increasing from only three months in 2018.

More information

See tables below for details on today's proposals for the Atlantic and the North Sea.

TACs and quotas

Questions and Answers on Commission's proposal on fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea for 2019.

Scientific advice: the proposed TACs take due account of the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).

Stakeholders were also consulted, based on the Commission's Consultation document.

Multiannual management plans

Map of fishing areas

Note: The tables below only list EU stocks not shared with third countries. All TAC values are expressed in tonnes.

Final TAC figures for 2018 reflect the total TAC set by the EU for a certain stock, after transfers to third countries where applicable.

Table 1: Stocks with proposals for increased Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

Common name Scientific name TAC Unit Final TAC in 2018 TAC 2019 (Proposal) TAC change: 2018 - 2019 (Proposal)
Anglerfish Lophiidae 8c, 9, 10, CECAF 34.1.1 3 955 4 023 +2%
Blue ling Molva dypterygia Union and int. waters 5b, 6, 7 10 463 11 778 +13%
Boarfish Caproidae 6, 7, 8 20 380 21 830 +7 %
Cod Gadus morhua 7a 695 807 +16%
Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus 6b, 12 and 14 5 163 10 469 +103%
Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus 7a 3 207 3 739

 

+17%
Hake Merluccius merluccius 3a 3 136

 

4 286

 

+37%
Hake Merluccius merluccius 2a and 4 3 653 4 994 +37%
Hake Merluccius merluccius 5b, 6, 7, 12 and 14 62 536 79 762 +28%
Hake Merluccius merluccius 8abde 42 460

 

52 118 +23%
Horse mackerel Trachurus 2a, 4a; 6, 7a-c,7e-k, 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e 5b; international waters of 12 and 14 99 470

 

119 118

 

+20%
Horse mackerel Trachurus 8c 16 000 18 858 +18%
Horse mackerel Trachurus 9 55 555

 

94 017

 

+69%
Lemon sole and witch Microstomus kitt & Glyptocephalus cynoglossus Union waters of 2a, 4 6 391 7 874 +23%
Megrim Lepidorhombus Union waters of the North Sea 2 526 2 887 +14%
Megrim Lepidorhombus 7 12 310 18 132 +47%
Megrim Lepidorhombus 8abde 1 218 1 704 +40%
Megrim Lepidorhombus 8c, 9, 10, Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 1 387 1 872 +35%
Norway lobster Nephrops 3a 11 738 19 424 +65%
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa 3aS (Kattegat) 1 483 2 941 +98%
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa 7a 1 793 3 075 +72%
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa 7fg 511 1 608 +215%
Sole Solea 3a 448 502 +12%
Sole Solea 7a 40 t 414 +935%
Sole Solea 7e 1 202 1 242 +3%
Sole Solea 8ab 3 621 3 823 +6%
Turbot & brill Psetta maxima & Scophthalmus rhombus 2a and 4 7 102 8 122 +14%

Table 2: Stocks with no changes in Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

Common name Scientific name TAC Unit Final TAC in 2018 TAC 2019 (Proposal) TAC change: 2018 - 2019 (Proposal)
Blue ling Molva dypterygia 2a, 4 53 53 0%
Blue ling Molva dypterygia 3a 8 8 0%
Cod Gadus morhua 6b Rockall 74 74 0%
Greater silver smelt Argentina silus 1, 2 90 90 0%
Greater silver smelt Argentina silus 3a, 4 1 234 1 234 0%
Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Union and int. waters of 5, 6, 7 4 661 4 661 0%
Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides Union waters of 2a and 4; Union and international waters of 5b and 6 2 500 2 500 0%
Herring Clupea harengus 6a (S), 7b, 7c 1 630 1 630 0%
Herring Clupea harengus Union and int. waters of 5b, 6b, 6a (N) 4 170 4 170 0%
Herring Clupea harengus 7ef 930 930 0%
Horse mackerel Trachurus 4b, 4c, 7d 15 179 15 179 0%
Ling Molva molva Union and int. waters of 1 and 2 36 36 0%
Ling Molva molva 3a 87 87 0%
Ling Molva molva Union and int. waters of 5 33 33 0%
Ling Molva molva Union and int. waters of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 20 396

 

20 396

 

0%
Norway lobster Nephrops 8c 2 2 0%
Picked dogfish Squalus acanthias 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14 270 270 0%
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa 5, 6, 12, 14 658 658 0%
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa 7bc 74 74 0%
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa 8, 9, 10 CECAF 34.1.1 395 395 0%
Pollack Pollachius pollachius 5b, 6, 12, 14 397 397 0%
Pollack Pollachius pollachius 7 Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, English channel 12 163 12 163 0%
Pollack Pollachius pollachius 8abde 1 482 1 482 0%
Pollack Pollachius pollachius 8c 231 231 0%
Pollack Pollachius pollachius 9, 10, CECAF 34.1.1 282 282 0%
Saithe Pollachius virens 7, 8, 9, 10, CECAF 34.1.1 3 176 3 176 0%
Sole Solea 6 57 57 0%
Sole Solea 7bc 42 42 0%
Sole Solea 7hjk 382 382 0%
Sole Solea 8cde, 9 , 10, CECAF 34.1.1 1072 1072 0%
Tusk Brosme brosme Union and int. waters 1, 2, 14 21 21 0%
Tusk Brosme brosme 3a Kattegat, Skagerrak 31 31 0%
Tusk Brosme brosme Union waters of 4 251 251 0%
Tusk Brosme brosme Union and int. waters 5, 6, 7 4 130 4 130 0%
Whiting Merlangius merlangus 8 2 540 2 540 0%

Table 3: Stocks with proposals for decreased Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

Common name Scientific name TAC Unit Final TAC in 2018 TAC 2019 (Proposal) TAC change: 2018 - 2019 (Proposal)
Anglerfish Lophiidae 7 33 516 32 999 -2%
Anglerfish Lophiidae 8abde 8 980

 

8 371 -7%
Blue ling Molva dypterygia Int. waters of 12 286 229 -20%
Cod Gadus morhua 3aS (Kattegat) 630 476 -24%
Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus 7b-k, 8, 9, 10 6 910 5 937 -14%
Hake Merluccius merluccius 8c, 9 and 10, Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 9 258 7 963 -14%
Herring Clupea harengus 7a Irish Sea 7 016 6 896 -2%
Herring Clupea harengus 7ghjk Celtic Sea, South West Ireland 10 127 4 742 -53%
Ling Molva molva Union waters of 4 3 843 3 738 -3%
Megrim Lepidorhombus Union and int. waters of 5b, 6, 12, 14 5 432 5 363 -1%
Norway lobster Nephrops 2a and 4 24 518 22 854 -7%
Norway lobster Nephrops 9, 10 381 281 -26%
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa 7de 10 360 10 116 -2%
Sole Solea 2a and 4 15 684 12 247 -22%
Sole Solea 7d 3 405 2 508 -26%
Sole Solea 7fg Bristol Channel 920 841 -9%
Sprat Sprattus sprattus 7de 3 296 2 637 -20%
Cod Gadus morhua 6a, Union and international waters of 5b   0 -100%
Cod Gadus morhua 7b, 7c, 7e-k, 8, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF   0 -100%
Whiting Merlangius merlangius 6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14   0 -100%
Whiting Merlangius merlangius 7a   0 -100%
Plaice

 

Pleuronectes platessa

 

7h, 7j and 7k   0 -100%

Table 4: Stocks for which a by-catch Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is proposed

Common name Scientific name TAC Unit Bycatch TAC 2019

Proposal (t)

Cod Gadus morhua 6a, Union and international waters of 5b 1396
Cod Gadus morhua 7b, 7c, 7e-k, 8, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF pm
Whiting Merlangius merlangius 6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14 1238
Whiting Merlangius merlangius 7a 612
Plaice

 

Pleuronectes platessa

 

7h, 7j and 7k 90

Table 5: Stocks subject to pending advice or ongoing negotiations

Common name Scientific name TAC Unit Final TAC in 2018
Anchovy Engraulis 8 33000
Anglerfish Lophiidae Union waters of 2a and 4 16225
Anglerfish Lophiidae 6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14 9180
Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus 5b, 6a 4654
Norway lobster Nephrops 6; Union and international waters of 5b 12129
Norway lobster Nephrops 7 29091
Norway lobster Nephrops 8abde 3614
Northern Prawn Pandalus borealis Union waters of 2a and 4 1957
Skates and rays Rajiformes Union waters of 2a and 4 1654
Skates and rays Rajiformes Union waters of 3a 47
Skates and rays Rajiformes Union waters of 6ab, 7a-c and 7e-k 9699
Skates and rays Rajiformes Union waters of 8 and 9 4326
Skates and rays Rajiformes 7d 1276
Whiting Merlangius merlangus 7b-k 22213
Undulate Ray Raja undulata 7d, 7e 180

Table 6: Stocks for which the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is delegated to an individual Member State

Common name Scientific name TAC Unit Delegated to
Herring Clupea 6 Clyde United Kingdom
Horse Mackerel Trachurus Union waters of CECAF (Canaries) Spain
Horse Mackerel Trachurus Union waters of CECAF (Madeira) Portugal
Horse Mackerel Trachurus 10, Union waters of CECAF (Azores) Portugal
Penaeus shrimps Penaeus French Guyana France

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