A new agreement for the management of shared fish stocks in the North Sea has been concluded between the European Union and Norway, at the end of the negotiations that took place this week in Clonakilty, Ireland.
The total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the shared stocks in the North Sea were set and an agreement on the exchange of reciprocal fishing possibilities in each other’s waters was also reached.
Following the positive developments of the stock situation, the agreement involves increases in TACs for many of the important stocks compared to 2012, such as 15% for North Sea Haddock, 15% for North Sea Saithe, 11% for North Sea Whiting, 15% for North Sea Plaice, and 18% for North Sea Herring. Furthermore, it was possible to keep the TAC for North Sea cod at the same level as in 2012. In the absence of agreement with Iceland and the Faroe Islands, a catch limit for mackerel, which follows the scientific recommendations, was set. The EU quota for mackerel in 2013 amounts to 336.285 tonnes.
On the issue of sustainable management of mackerel fishery in the framework of the negotiations in the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, Commissioner Damanaki said: “The Commission is closely examining the situation and will decide on next steps with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of the mackerel fishery”.
EU Commission – FiskerForum.com
