Many practical issues still remains to be solved to implement the discard ban in the Baltic Sea next year. These include how to handle unwanted fish onboard and in ports (especially in small harbours) and how to control that undersized and unwanted fish is reported not being used for human consumption. Additionally, control and reporting systems is not yet adapted to the shift of regulation. To enable the fishing industry to adjust to the new legislation, there is a responsibility of the Baltic Member States to deliver clear instructions on how and where to act. Being the first region in Europe where the new regulation is going to be applied a successful implementation in the Baltic Sea Region is crucial.
A meeting between the Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC) and BALTFISH was held November 26, in Vilnius. BSAC had called for this meeting to discuss the most critical and remaining issues to be addressed for the implementation of the landing obligation in the Baltic Sea. Fishermen and NGOs jointly urged that they would like Member States (MS) to be more proactive in their work and to establish a level playing field throughout the Baltic Sea Region. A special guide laying down how fishermen should behave in order not to be punished was called for by the industry.
There are still different understandings among MS on at what point unwanted fish should be treated as not for human consumption and consequently managed in accordance to the EU regulation on the hygiene of foodstuff ((EC) 852/2004 ). Sweden suggested that the sorting of catch could be divided into two phases, one sorting onboard and one sorting when landed in port, and that unwanted catch should be treated as animal products not to be used for human consumption only after the second sorting.
Additionally there is a need to revise both control and reporting systems, according to the Danish Control Agency electronic log books will not be adjusted until late 2015/early 2016, which is especially problematic since the bulk of the Baltic cod fishery is conducted during the first couple of months of the year. Paper log books can be ready though.
Furthermore, no joint understanding on the view of damaged fish and the obligation to report it exist at present. Sweden and the Commission stressed that there is an obligation to report catches of damaged fish according to the CFP. Denmark also supported this comprehension and stressed the need for improved information on nominal catches for the sake of the accuracy of scientific assessment of the stocks. According to the Commission damaged salmon (including seal damaged salmon) must be reported and counted off quotas.
The need for a more flexible regulation on technical rules was also raised by the industry, especially the developed gears to avoid large and unwanted catches in the trawling fishery for cod. A more result based and flexible management was called for by most actors. There was also full agreement that to ensure a level playing field, practical issues must be treated in a similar way throughout the Baltic.
It was decided to form a working group under the BALTFISH authority to discuss progress, obstacles and difficulties encountered with the landing obligation and to identify and formulate solutions that can be applied rapidly. It was suggested that the group should meet at least every quarter of the first year after the implementation and that wide range of participators should attend, including represents of the fishing industry, NGOs, Member States, European Commission (DG Mare), and the European Fisheries Control Agency.