The EU Commission has proposed fishing opportunities for the Black Sea for 2017, which affect Romania and Bulgaria as the only EU nations with Black Sea coastlines.
According to the EU Commission, these proposals are based on the EU’s reformed Common Fisheries Policy and take into account the best available scientific advice.
A sprat quota of 11,475 tonnes, allocated 70% to Bulgaria and 30% to Romania, is proposed, while the Commission has proposed an 86.40 tonne turbot quota for 2017, unchanged from 2016.
The Commission states that today’s proposals come on the back of successful work by Romania and Bulgaria to reduce illegal and unreported fishing for Black Sea stocks.
‘Throughout 2016, both countries increased the controls on catches of turbot and imposed stricter monitoring, control and surveillance measures onto their vessels. As a result, the effectiveness of fisheries management measures has improved. Romania and Bulgaria have committed to implementing additional control measures in 2017,’ the Commission states.
‘The Commission considers that those measures are necessary but not sufficient to guarantee the sustainability of both species, and will continue working on establishing a management plan for turbot in the region in 2017. In addition the Commission will work with Romania and Bulgaria as well as with other riparian States and the GFCM to implement actions for the Black Sea set out in the GFCM 2017-2020 multi-annual strategy and the recently adopted Bucharest Declaration of the High-Level conference towards enhanced co-operation in fisheries and aquaculture.’
The proposed 2017 quotas are being discussed by EU ministers at the Fisheries Council taking place in Brussels yesterday and today.
In May 2015, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) adopted measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in turbot fisheries in the Black Sea as well as management measures for dogfish in the Black Sea. Both sets of measures entered into force in November 2015. In May 2016, they were reinforced with additional management measures aiming to further protect the stocks in danger.
Black Sea sprats
