According to Europêche, ministers adopted a better-balanced Regulation in light of the socio-economic data provided by Member States at this year’s December Council following a highly conservationist set of proposals for 2018. Some stocks are subject to top-ups to adapt to the forthcoming landing obligation, but this does not solve the problems of choke species in mixed fisheries.
South-West FPO chief executive Jim Portus said that this year’s December Council had turned out to be one of the longer ones, resulting in a mixed bag for South-West and Channel fishermen containing both good fortune and despair.
The outcomes of this year’s December Council in Brussels bring mixed fortunes for Cornish fishermen, according to CFPO chief executive Paul Trebilcock.
There’s a positive vibe from Scottish government, which states that an additional £44 million worth of fishing opportunities will be available to the Scottish fishing industry in the wake of this year’s December Council, part of an overall £44 million package that includes the outcomes of deals with the Faroes and Norway.
The Shetland Fishermen’s Association has hit out at the deal struck at this week’s December Council, stating that while there are some positive outcomes for whitefish, the same does not apply to the pelagic sector.
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.
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