Commission welcomes Council adoption of Fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2013
The Fisheries Council reached a political agreement on Fishing Opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2013. After the discussions among the ministers, the compromise was reached just after the first exchange of views.
Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki welcomed the Council decision: "Such a decision was only possible due to the extensive preparatory work carried out by the Presidency and Commission but also by BaltFish, the forum established by Member States around the Baltic Sea. This voluntary initiative is a good example of a regional platform for discussing Commission proposals or developing new initiatives at regional level. The Baltic Member States showed a clear commitment to keep to the objective of achieving fisheries at MSY levels by 2015 for almost all stock."
The total allowable catch (TAC) for the western cod stock has been adopted lower than initially proposed by the Commission in order to achieve sustainable levels, known as Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) sooner than forecast in the management plan. Since the BaltFish proposals were within the limits of the scientific advice, and commonly agreed among all Baltic Sea Member States, the Commission decided to agree with them as a final compromise in the Council.
With the decision reached, three of the Baltic stocks will continue to be fished at MSY levels, whilst the other three pursue their progress towards reaching this target by 2015.
Fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea for 2013
This year's scientific advice indicates that the number of stocks managed at Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) level in the Baltic Sea might be increasing. The cuts in Total Allowable Catches (TACs) adopted in previous years proved effective and the number of stocks being fished at MSY level could go from three to six in 2013, if the proposed TACs are adopted.
The Commission proposed higher TACs for sprat, for the stocks of Central and Western herring and for plaice. It also proposed to reduce TACs of the remaining pelagic stocks to respond to the natural fluctuations of stocks and ensure MSY levels. The number of days at sea for fishing vessels were to remain the same as in previous years.
The proposals are based on scientific advice from ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) and STECF (Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries).
