Meeting in Brussels this week, the Fisheries Council reached agreement on the catch limits for 2019 just two weeks before the latest and toughest phase of the landing obligation comes into effect.
Iceland’s minister of fisheries Kristján Thór Júlíusson has signed off regulations regarding the Icelandic fleet’s quotas for blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring for 2019. At present there is no agreement with the Faroe Islands for Icelandic vessels to catch any of these quotas in Faroese waters.
This year’s Council of Ministers is over following the usual gathering in Brussels. In broad terms, in 2019 there will be 59 fish stocks that are managed at MSY levels, some TACs have been increased, others cut, protection measures are in place for eel, bass remains a huge headache and the landings obligation comes into force on 1st January.
Recently awarded an OBE for contributions to marine conservation, Mike Park of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association said that it was an honour and privilege to be included in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
A sector already reeling from the chaos surrounding Brexit could now face further serious challenges and potential hardship, the Chief Executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has warned, commenting on the annual meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers currently in progress in Brussels.
EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella will present the European Commission's proposals for 2019 fishing opportunities for the Atlantic, North Sea and Black Sea at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17-18th December in Brussels.
Ahead of this week’s December Council, Scottish fishermen’s leaders have warned that the European Union countries will be guilty of vengeful behaviour if they pile pressure on UK fishermen as a result of Brexit, stating that with a fisheries agreement to be negotiated as part of the final exit settlement, it is not in the interests of the 27 EU nations to take a hard line on 2019 quotas and TACs.
The Netherlands will be pushing at this week’s December Council of Minister for a higher sole quota than that recommended by ICES, which advised a 22% reduction.
A few hours into the December Council of Minister which will set TACs and quotas for 2019, the NFFO is warning that problems associated with the Landing Obligation are unlikely to be solved by the assembled ministers.
Scotland’s Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing has called on the UK Government to ensure that Scotland’s interests are being fully represented at the coming week’s December Council in Brussels, following the disappointing outcome to recent negotiations.