European fishing chiefs yesterday set out their proposals for catch limits for more than 60 Atlantic/North Sea fish stocks as their opening gambit in negotiations over a 2016 quota deal.
The European Commission (EC) said it aimed to maintain or increase quotas for 35 stocks, and reduce catches for 28 stocks on the basis of the scientific advice received.
“Top ups” are being introduced for the first time to compensate skippers who from the start of next year will have to land white-fish that in the past would have been thrown overboard as discards.
More details about the top-ups, including their likely size, will be announced later this month.
Industry bosses said the onus was now on politicians to negotiate a quota deal which secured a viable future for fishing in the face of the latest challenging catch rules.
Javier Garat president of Europeche, whose members include the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said: “Fishing opportunities for 2016 will be set against the backdrop of the most challenging phase of the discard ban, that of demersal (white-fish) fisheries, which will come into force in a matter of weeks.
“I am pleased to see that the commission will propose quota uplift to help fishermen adapt to this radical change and we hope that this will be adequate.
“The commission must guarantee the full use of this and other flexibility measures … to allow our fishermen to achieve the core objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, which aims for stocks to reach MSY (maximum sustainable yield) levels by 2020 at the latest.”
MSY reflects the largest catch that can be taken from a stock over an indefinite period without harming it.
The EC has proposed an automatic quota cut of 20% for stocks lacking up-to-date scientific data on their health, such as skates and rays.
Mr Garat said any reduction of more than 15% would be “socially and economically intolerable” and affect the long-term profitability of the sector.
The EC’s proposals cover about half of the Atlantic/North Sea fisheries governed by EU catch rules.
Negotiations with non-EU countries and regional management organisations will decide the fate of the other fisheries, including those targeting key North Sea species such as cod and haddock.
Yesterday’s EC figures include a proposed increase of nearly 27% for North Sea megrim, with the same species benefiting from a near 19% boost off the west coast.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella said: “I want us to bring all stocks to healthy and sustainable levels as soon as possible.
“I am happy that for a number of fish stocks we can propose quota increases.
“The efforts of our fishermen paid off and we are here to support them also in making the transition to landing all fish caught.”