The European Commission has tabled a proposal for a Council regulation on a multi-annual plan for the management of herring fisheries to the West of Scotland. The proposal will ensure the sustainability of the fishery and prevent any sudden increase in fishing pressure which could jeopardise its future. This will require adjusting the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) to achieve a high and sustainable yield by following scientific advice. The target fishing mortality rate (measure of catches) is set at 0.25 when the size of the spawning stock is greater than 75 000 tonnes, and 0.2 when it is between 75 000 tonnes and 50 000 tonnes. Should the stock fall below the 50 000 tonne level, the fishery would be closed, until it recovers.
“The review of the cod recovery plan shows how difficult it is to rebuild depleted stocks. As this herring stock is in reasonable shape, this is the right time to set up a long-term plan to ensure that current good fishing practices are maintained. This is the best way of ensuring the sustainability of the fisheries concerned.” commented European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joe Borg.
Though the fishing rate is roughly at the level scientists recommend, there are worries about the numbers of young fish joining the stock which is currently slightly overfished, hence the need for a long-term plan. The graduated approach to reducing fishing pressure set out in the plan is in line with the flexibility which the Commission has recently proposed as part of the review of the cod recovery plan. Year-on-year variations in TAC would be limited to a maximum of 15% as long as the stock is in good condition (i.e. above the 75 000 tonne level).
Special fishing permits will be required for vessels fishing on the stock, and these vessels will not be allowed to fish both inside and outside the West of Scotland area on the same fishing trip unless they transmit their catch reports daily to the fisheries authorities in their flag state. The plan will be subject to review at least every four years. For the purposes of the regulation, the West of Scotland area is defined as international and EU waters in ICES zones Vb and VIb, and the northern part of ICES zone VIa excluding the Clyde .
The West of Scotland herring stock is much smaller than the North Sea herring stock, and is fished mainly by vessels from the UK, Netherlands, Germany and France. In the late 1970s the fishery witnessed a dramatic collapse which led to it being closed completely for two years.More recently, it suffered from substantial misreporting up to 2006 (reporting of catches in an area other than the one concerned). The North Sea herring stock, which is managed jointly with Norway, has been managed under a multi-annual arrangement since 1997.
