The total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the shared stocks in the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat were set. The agreement on the exchange of reciprocal fishing possibilities in each others waters was also reached. The level of that exchange will be significantly higher for 2012, compared to 2011. The EU and Norway also agreed to introduce a discard ban and harmonised technical measures for the Skagerrak, with details to be finalised in 2012. The TAC for North Sea cod was set at 26,475 tonnes and additional 12% was allocated to continue fully documented fisheries trials. The remaining North Sea TACs were set as follows: 39,166 tonnes for haddock, 79,320 tonnes for saithe, 17,056 tonnes for whiting, 84,410 tonnes for plaice, and 405,000 tonnes for herring. The TAC for mackerel will be agreed following the negotiations with Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The TAC for cod in Skagerrak was set at 3,783 tonnes, for haddock and whiting in Skagerrak and Kattegat – at 2,409 tonnes and 1,050 tonnes respectively, for plaice in Skagerrak – at 7,950 tonnes. The TACs for herring and sprat in the Skagerrak and Kattegat were set at 45,000 tonnes and 52,000 tonnes, respectively.
