The European Commission today published its annual Communication on Fishing Opportunities, announcing their initial plans for next year´s fishing quotas in the EU. The communication serves as a guide to the state of fish stocks within the European Union as well as providing an indication on the Commissions commitment of implementing the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, rebuilding fish stocks in accordance with the Maximum Sustainable Yield.
The reformed Common Fisheries Policy requires an end to EU overfishing by 2015 where possible and by 2020 at the latest. The communication published today shows that the Commission it ready to progress on multiannual management plans, but that further measures are needed to rebuild fish stocks in accordance with the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY).
The Communication revealed an alarming sate of fish stocks in European Waters, where 41% of North East Atlantic, including the Baltic and North Sea, and 91% of Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished. The status of half of the stocks in the North-East Atlantic and adjacent waters remains unknown. For the Black Sea, all bottom-living fish and 33% of pelagic stocks are overfished. The Communication furthermore indicates increased levels of overfishing, as fishing ministers continuously have set fishing limits above scientific advice, where fishing limits for 2014 on average where set 35% above recommended scientific advice.
What happens next?
For the Baltic Sea, the scientific advice has already been released (ICES, 30 May). A Commission proposal is expected in August with a likely Council decision in October. Advice for the other stocks in the Atlantic, North Sea, Antarctic, Black Sea will be release from June to October, with Commission proposals in October and November, and decisions expected at the December Council.