In a draft ”non-paper” the EU Commission has outlined possible new approaches to stock management/TACs when there is scientific uncertainty in the stock assessment process.
In a policy statement last year the Commission set out its approach to setting TACs in such cases, proposing as its aim to “set the TAC according to STECF advice but not to change the TAC by more than 15%”. This rule was used by the Commission when making its annual TAC proposal for 2009.
Since that process has proved questionable, not the least in context of implementing the precautionary approach, the Commission and the Council agreed to examine other options. The examination is to be held jointly with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the EU Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). The draft “non-paper” is intended to prepare that debate, and the Commission calls for comments from RACs with both industry and NGO representation, Member States, ICES and STECF by February 13.
The Council will decide on a possible course of action by the end of the year, the Commission hopes.