Commission proposes fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea for 2019
Brussels, 7 November 2018
Today the Commission presents its proposal ahead of the December Fisheries Council where Member States should agree next year's fishing quotas.
The European Commission proposes fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea for 89 stocks: for 62 stocks the fishing quota is either increased or remains the same, for 22 stocks is reduced and for 5 the Commission proposes new by-catch quotas at low level to reduce the fishing pressure.The fishing opportunities, or Total Allowable Catches (TACs), are quotas set for most commercial fish stocks that keep the stocks healthy, while allowing the fishing industry to profit from fishing the highest amount of fish. As the size of some key fish stocks is increasing – notably for Norway lobster in Skagerrak/Kattegat, Northern hake and Southern horse mackerel – so is the profitability of the fishing sector, with an estimated EUR 1.4 billion profit for 2018.
Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said: "Next year will be a milestone year for European fisheries. Our collective duty is to ensure a good transition to the full landing obligation as of 1st January 2019 while continuing our progress to achieve sustainable fishing by 2020. With this proposal, the Commission puts forward concrete solutions to advance on both fronts."
In order to put an end to the wasteful practice of discarding fish, as of 1st January 2019, the landing obligation will apply fully to all EU fishing fleets. This means that all catches of regulated commercial species taken on-board (including by-catch) are to be landed and counted against each Member States' respective quotas. In today's proposal the Commission has already deducted the amounts corresponding to the agreed exemptions to the landing obligation from the advised catches.
Substantial progress can be observed in the EU with regards to sustainable fishing: 53 stocks are now fishedat Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) levels compared to only 5 in 2009 and 44 in 2017. This means that the fishing pressure on the stock is limited to a level that will allow a healthy future for the fish stock's biomass, while taking into account socioeconomic factors. The Commission is working with Member States to support the fishermen in reaching the objective of having all stocks fished at sustainable levels by 2020, as set by the Common Fisheries Policy.
Today's proposal will be submitted for discussion and decision by the Member States at the December Fisheries Council on 17-18 December in Brussels, to be applied as of 1 January 2019.
Details of the proposal
The proposal covers stocks managed by the EU alone and stocks managed in cooperation with third countries, such as Norway, or through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). International negotiations for many of the stocks concerned are still ongoing and some further stocks are awaiting scientific advice. For these, the figures will be included at a later stage.
- Proposed increases: For 27 stocks such as Norway lobster and plaice in Skagerrak/Kattegat, the Northern hake stock, Western and Southern horse mackerel, cod, sole and plaice in the Irish Sea, and sole and megrim in the Bay of Biscay, the Commission proposes to increase the Total Allowable Catch.
- Proposed stocks to be fished at 2018 levels: 35 stocks are kept at the same level as last year.
- Proposed decreases: Decreases are proposed for 22 stocks, of which 12 see a decrease of less than 20%.For 5 of the stocks, namely cod in the West of Scotland and cod in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay/Iberian Waters, whiting in the West of Scotland and in the Irish Sea, and plaice in the southern Celtic Sea and southwest of Ireland, scientists have advised setting a zero quota (Total Allowable Catch) in 2019. The Commission is thus proposing to no longer allow targeting these stocks.
- Proposed new by-catch levels: For 5 stocks captured incidentally, a by-catch quota is proposed at low level to reduce the fishing pressure, subject to a number of conditions, including full catch documentation (see table 4). These stocks are caught in mixed whitefish fisheries.
- For northern seabass: the Commission is proposing a set of measures, expressed in catch limits (not TACs), following the latest scientific advice. Those measures would allow higher catches for hooks and lines fishery with 7 tonnes/vessel (compared to 5 tonnes/vessel in 2018) and a "bag limit" for recreational fisheries of 1 fish/day for 7 months, increasing from only three months in 2018.
For more information
See tables below for details on today's proposals for the Atlantic and the North Sea.
Questions and Answers on Commission's proposal on fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea for 2019.
Scientific advice: the proposed TACs take due account of the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
Note: The tables below only list EU stocks not shared with third countries. All TAC values are expressed in tonnes.
Final TAC figures for 2018 reflect the total TAC set by the EU for a certain stock, after transfers to third countries where applicable.
Table 1: Stocks with proposals for increased Total Allowable Catch (TAC)
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
TAC Unit
|
Final TAC in 2018
|
TAC 2019 (Proposal)
|
TAC change: 2018 - 2019 (Proposal)
|
Anglerfish
|
Lophiidae
|
8c, 9, 10, CECAF 34.1.1
|
3 955
|
4 023
|
+2%
|
Blue ling
|
Molva dypterygia
|
Union and int. waters 5b, 6, 7
|
10 463
|
11 778
|
+13%
|
Boarfish
|
Caproidae
|
6, 7, 8
|
20 380
|
21 830
|
+7 %
|
Cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
7a
|
695
|
807
|
+16%
|
Haddock
|
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
|
6b, 12 and 14
|
5 163
|
10 469
|
+103%
|
Haddock
|
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
|
7a
|
3 207
|
3 739
|
+17%
|
Hake
|
Merluccius merluccius
|
3a
|
3 136
|
4 286
|
+37%
|
Hake
|
Merluccius merluccius
|
2a and 4
|
3 653
|
4 994
|
+37%
|
Hake
|
Merluccius merluccius
|
5b, 6, 7, 12 and 14
|
62 536
|
79 762
|
+28%
|
Hake
|
Merluccius merluccius
|
8abde
|
42 460
|
52 118
|
+23%
|
Horse mackerel
|
Trachurus
|
2a, 4a; 6, 7a-c,7e-k, 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e 5b; international waters of 12 and 14
|
99 470
|
119 118
|
+20%
|
Horse mackerel
|
Trachurus
|
8c
|
16 000
|
18 858
|
+18%
|
Horse mackerel
|
Trachurus
|
9
|
55 555
|
94 017
|
+69%
|
Lemon sole and witch
|
Microstomus kitt & Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
|
Union waters of 2a, 4
|
6 391
|
7 874
|
+23%
|
Megrim
|
Lepidorhombus
|
Union waters of the North Sea
|
2 526
|
2 887
|
+14%
|
Megrim
|
Lepidorhombus
|
7
|
12 310
|
18 132
|
+47%
|
Megrim
|
Lepidorhombus
|
8abde
|
1 218
|
1 704
|
+40%
|
Megrim
|
Lepidorhombus
|
8c, 9, 10, Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1
|
1 387
|
1 872
|
+35%
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops
|
3a
|
11 738
|
19 424
|
+65%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
3aS (Kattegat)
|
1 483
|
2 941
|
+98%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
7a
|
1 793
|
3 075
|
+72%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
7fg
|
511
|
1 608
|
+215%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
3a
|
448
|
502
|
+12%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
7a
|
40 t
|
414
|
+935%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
7e
|
1 202
|
1 242
|
+3%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
8ab
|
3 621
|
3 823
|
+6%
|
Turbot & brill
|
Psetta maxima & Scophthalmus rhombus
|
2a and 4
|
7 102
|
8 122
|
+14%
|
Table 2: Stocks with no changes in Total Allowable Catch (TAC)
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
TAC Unit
|
Final TAC in 2018
|
TAC 2019 (Proposal)
|
TAC change: 2018 - 2019 (Proposal)
|
Blue ling
|
Molva dypterygia
|
2a, 4
|
53
|
53
|
0%
|
Blue ling
|
Molva dypterygia
|
3a
|
8
|
8
|
0%
|
Cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
6b Rockall
|
74
|
74
|
0%
|
Greater silver smelt
|
Argentina silus
|
1, 2
|
90
|
90
|
0%
|
Greater silver smelt
|
Argentina silus
|
3a, 4
|
1 234
|
1 234
|
0%
|
Greater silver smelt
|
Argentina silus
|
Union and int. waters of 5, 6, 7
|
4 661
|
4 661
|
0%
|
Greenland halibut
|
Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
|
Union waters of 2a and 4; Union and international waters of 5b and 6
|
2 500
|
2 500
|
0%
|
Herring
|
Clupea harengus
|
6a (S), 7b, 7c
|
1 630
|
1 630
|
0%
|
Herring
|
Clupea harengus
|
Union and int. waters of 5b, 6b, 6a (N)
|
4 170
|
4 170
|
0%
|
Herring
|
Clupea harengus
|
7ef
|
930
|
930
|
0%
|
Horse mackerel
|
Trachurus
|
4b, 4c, 7d
|
15 179
|
15 179
|
0%
|
Ling
|
Molva molva
|
Union and int. waters of 1 and 2
|
36
|
36
|
0%
|
Ling
|
Molva molva
|
3a
|
87
|
87
|
0%
|
Ling
|
Molva molva
|
Union and int. waters of 5
|
33
|
33
|
0%
|
Ling
|
Molva molva
|
Union and int. waters of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14
|
20 396
|
20 396
|
0%
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops
|
8c
|
2
|
2
|
0%
|
Picked dogfish
|
Squalus acanthias
|
1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14
|
270
|
270
|
0%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
5, 6, 12, 14
|
658
|
658
|
0%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
7bc
|
74
|
74
|
0%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
8, 9, 10 CECAF 34.1.1
|
395
|
395
|
0%
|
Pollack
|
Pollachius pollachius
|
5b, 6, 12, 14
|
397
|
397
|
0%
|
Pollack
|
Pollachius pollachius
|
7 Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, English channel
|
12 163
|
12 163
|
0%
|
Pollack
|
Pollachius pollachius
|
8abde
|
1 482
|
1 482
|
0%
|
Pollack
|
Pollachius pollachius
|
8c
|
231
|
231
|
0%
|
Pollack
|
Pollachius pollachius
|
9, 10, CECAF 34.1.1
|
282
|
282
|
0%
|
Saithe
|
Pollachius virens
|
7, 8, 9, 10, CECAF 34.1.1
|
3 176
|
3 176
|
0%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
6
|
57
|
57
|
0%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
7bc
|
42
|
42
|
0%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
7hjk
|
382
|
382
|
0%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
8cde, 9 , 10, CECAF 34.1.1
|
1072
|
1072
|
0%
|
Tusk
|
Brosme brosme
|
Union and int. waters 1, 2, 14
|
21
|
21
|
0%
|
Tusk
|
Brosme brosme
|
3a Kattegat, Skagerrak
|
31
|
31
|
0%
|
Tusk
|
Brosme brosme
|
Union waters of 4
|
251
|
251
|
0%
|
Tusk
|
Brosme brosme
|
Union and int. waters 5, 6, 7
|
4 130
|
4 130
|
0%
|
Whiting
|
Merlangius merlangus
|
8
|
2 540
|
2 540
|
0%
|
Table 3: Stocks with proposals for decreased Total Allowable Catch (TAC)
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
TAC Unit
|
Final TAC in 2018
|
TAC 2019 (Proposal)
|
TAC change: 2018 - 2019 (Proposal)
|
Anglerfish
|
Lophiidae
|
7
|
33 516
|
32 999
|
-2%
|
Anglerfish
|
Lophiidae
|
8abde
|
8 980
|
8 371
|
-7%
|
Blue ling
|
Molva dypterygia
|
Int. waters of 12
|
286
|
229
|
-20%
|
Cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
3aS (Kattegat)
|
630
|
476
|
-24%
|
Haddock
|
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
|
7b-k, 8, 9, 10
|
6 910
|
5 937
|
-14%
|
Hake
|
Merluccius merluccius
|
8c, 9 and 10, Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1
|
9 258
|
7 963
|
-14%
|
Herring
|
Clupea harengus
|
7a Irish Sea
|
7 016
|
6 896
|
-2%
|
Herring
|
Clupea harengus
|
7ghjk Celtic Sea, South West Ireland
|
10 127
|
4 742
|
-53%
|
Ling
|
Molva molva
|
Union waters of 4
|
3 843
|
3 738
|
-3%
|
Megrim
|
Lepidorhombus
|
Union and int. waters of 5b, 6, 12, 14
|
5 432
|
5 363
|
-1%
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops
|
2a and 4
|
24 518
|
22 854
|
-7%
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops
|
9, 10
|
381
|
281
|
-26%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
7de
|
10 360
|
10 116
|
-2%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
2a and 4
|
15 684
|
12 247
|
-22%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
7d
|
3 405
|
2 508
|
-26%
|
Sole
|
Solea
|
7fg Bristol Channel
|
920
|
841
|
-9%
|
Sprat
|
Sprattus sprattus
|
7de
|
3 296
|
2 637
|
-20%
|
Cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
6a, Union and international waters of 5b
|
|
0
|
-100%
|
Cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
7b, 7c, 7e-k, 8, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF
|
|
0
|
-100%
|
Whiting
|
Merlangius merlangius
|
6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14
|
|
0
|
-100%
|
Whiting
|
Merlangius merlangius
|
7a
|
|
0
|
-100%
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
7h, 7j and 7k
|
|
0
|
-100%
|
Table 4: Stocks for which a by-catch Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is proposed
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
TAC Unit
|
Bycatch TAC 2019
Proposal (t)
|
Cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
6a, Union and international waters of 5b
|
1396
|
Cod
|
Gadus morhua
|
7b, 7c, 7e-k, 8, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF
|
pm
|
Whiting
|
Merlangius merlangius
|
6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14
|
1238
|
Whiting
|
Merlangius merlangius
|
7a
|
612
|
Plaice
|
Pleuronectes platessa
|
7h, 7j and 7k
|
90
|
Table 5: Stocks subject to pending advice or ongoing negotiations
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
TAC Unit
|
Final TAC in 2018
|
Anchovy
|
Engraulis
|
8
|
33000
|
Anglerfish
|
Lophiidae
|
Union waters of 2a and 4
|
16225
|
Anglerfish
|
Lophiidae
|
6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14
|
9180
|
Haddock
|
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
|
5b, 6a
|
4654
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops
|
6; Union and international waters of 5b
|
12129
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops
|
7
|
29091
|
Norway lobster
|
Nephrops
|
8abde
|
3614
|
Northern Prawn
|
Pandalus borealis
|
Union waters of 2a and 4
|
1957
|
Skates and rays
|
Rajiformes
|
Union waters of 2a and 4
|
1654
|
Skates and rays
|
Rajiformes
|
Union waters of 3a
|
47
|
Skates and rays
|
Rajiformes
|
Union waters of 6ab, 7a-c and 7e-k
|
9699
|
Skates and rays
|
Rajiformes
|
Union waters of 8 and 9
|
4326
|
Skates and rays
|
Rajiformes
|
7d
|
1276
|
Whiting
|
Merlangius merlangus
|
7b-k
|
22213
|
Undulate Ray
|
Raja undulata
|
7d, 7e
|
180
|
Table 6: Stocks for which the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is delegated to an individual Member State
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
TAC Unit
|
Delegated to
|
Herring
|
Clupea
|
6 Clyde
|
United Kingdom
|
Horse Mackerel
|
Trachurus
|
Union waters of CECAF (Canaries)
|
Spain
|
Horse Mackerel
|
Trachurus
|
Union waters of CECAF (Madeira)
|
Portugal
|
Horse Mackerel
|
Trachurus
|
10, Union waters of CECAF (Azores)
|
Portugal
|
Penaeus shrimps
|
Penaeus
|
French Guyana
|
France
|
|
