In a terse statement, the European Union has made clear its concern that North-East Atlantic Coastal States are reluctant to accept scientific advice on mackerel – as yet another Coastal States meeting came to an end without agreement.
North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) members opposed the EU proposal to set the mackerel TAC in line with scientific advice provided by ICES. The meeting also ended without an agreement on a sharing arrangement for blue whiting, despite the EU proposal to follow the scientific advice for this stock. Both stocks are considered to be heavily overfished.
The EU also sees the lack of appetite among Coastal States to outlaw transhipment – despite the fact that such activity is forbidden in most of the members’ national waters, including in the EU and UK waters – undermines the fight against illegal and unregulated fishing and the sustainability of North-East Atlantic fish stocks.
‘A predominant resistance to the deployment of inspection means to control this practice risks deteriorating further the situation in the area,’ the EU states.
‘The EU regrets that it was not possible to garner a collective commitment among the contracting parties to manage fish stocks based on science, to stop overfishing and tackle illegal and unregulated fishing,’ a representative commented.
‘The EU will continue to reach out to partners with a view to ensuring a common approach on ensuring the sustainability of crucial common stocks.’
