As this year’s December Council came to its late-night finish early this morning, EU ministers have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2018 in the Atlantic, North Sea and Black Sea following negotiations at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 11 - 12 December. The negotiations were based on the Commission's proposal for Total Allowable Catches.
French seafood group Agromousquetaires, its fishing subsidiary Scapêche and parent company, the Intermarché supermarket chain, are calling for an end to electric fishing and have pledged not to sell any fish caught using this method in its more than 1800 retail outlets.
A certification scheme is being developed to promote good practice in UK fishing ports and give seafood buyers added confidence in the quality and sustainability of the seafood landed there.
It all kicks off once again today as ministers responsible for fishing in their respective countries come together in Brussels to thrash out how the cake gets to be divided, accompanied by spin-doctors, advisers, specialists and lobbyists, while the industry waits for the results.
Europêche has welcomed the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the European Commission’s proposal establishing a multi-annual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea, the second of its kind. Europêche’s position is that this will bring decision-making closer to Member States and fishermen through the adoption of joint recommendations – but many questions such as the implementation of landing obligation and negotiations with third countries still remain open and unclear.
In advance of next week’s December Fisheries Council, the European Association of fish Producers Organisations (EAPO) has sent a position paper with general observations and relevant recommendations for about 25 stocks to the Council Members.
Russia and the Faroe Islands signed their 41st fisheries agreement last week, continuing the 40 years of fisheries co-operation and reciprocal access, and this was followed by fisheries agreements with Norway.
An outline of possible post-Brexit management for North Sea fisheries was outlined at the recent Norway-EU negotiations in Bergen, with the Norwegian delegation presenting a picture of how things will work with the UK as an independent coastal state.
Norway and the EU have concluded agreements for fisheries in 2018, with both Norway and the EU looking to boost control of whitefish fisheries. The parties agreed to establish a working group to examine the challenges in the North Sea, and what measures should be introduced.
According to Scottish fisheries secretary Fergus Ewing, Scotland has secured a number of its negotiation objectives as fisheries talks between the EU and Norway concluded in Bergen.