EU Commission running public consultation on “fishing opportunities for 2015”

The EU Commission states, 26th June 2014: “Fishing opportunities for 2015 will be fixed for the first time under the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Setting fishing opportunities must contribute to achieving the objectives of the new CFP [Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy]. Fishing opportunities set in line with the maximum sustainable yield objective, in combination with the other management instruments set out in the new CFP, should ensure that fishing activities are environmentally sustainable in the long run and are managed consistently to achieve economic, social and employment benefits and contribute to the availability of food supplies.

“Fishing opportunities must be set according to Article 2 of the CFP and with the objective of progressively restoring and maintaining populations of fish stocks above biomassbiomass The amount of living matter. This is therefore a different measure to numbers of organisms. So, for example, there is much more biomass in 1 elephant than there is in 1000 fleas and there may be more biomass in 100 large cod than you would find in 150 small (because of over fishing) cod. levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The MSY objective is to be achieved by 2015 where possible and on a progressive, incremental basis at the latest by 2020 for all stocks. This objective will also contribute to achieving good environmental status by 2020 as provided for by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the CFP.

“In order to achieve this objective, the Commission’s proposals will be based on bringing the impact of the fishing fleets on the stocks (fishing mortality) in the shortest feasible time-frame to the levels required to allow the stocks to rebuild to biomass levels that produce maximum sustainable yield. When that has been achieved the Commission will, as appropriate, propose measures to enable further rebuilding.

“2015 will also be the year in which the landing obligation for certain fisheries comes into force. Fishing opportunities for stocks falling under the landing obligation are to be fixed taking into account the change to fishing opportunities that reflect catches rather than landings, on the understanding that that should not jeopardise the MSY objective or result in an increase of fishing mortality in the fishery.

“The Commission will base its proposals for the fishing opportunities on the best available scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) on achieving MSY. For stocks where such advice is not available, the Commission proposals will apply the precautionary approach in line with Article 2(2) of the CFP. On request from the Commission ICES has prepared an advice for a framework for the evaluation of good environmental status (GES) for commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks (Descriptor 3 of MSFD)5. Further work will be carried out to show how MSY contributes to achieving GES and thereby ensure coherence between CFP and MSFD implementation.

“This Communication sets out the principles for the Commission proposals for fishing opportunities for 2015. Stakeholders are invited to present their views to the Commission by 30.09.2014.”

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