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Multiannual plan for fish stocks in the Western Waters and adjacent waters

Date of last review:: 28/10/2019

Author:: Publications Office of the European Union
Responsible entity(ies):: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Summarised document(s):

Summary code:

02.06.04.00 Preserving & managing fisheries stocks

EUROVOC descriptor:

Directory code:

04.10.30.10 Fisheries / Common fisheries policy / Conservation of resources / Catch quotas and management of stocks

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Multiannual plan for fish stocks in the Western Waters and adjacent waters

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2019/472 establishing a multiannual plan for stocks fished in the Western Waters and adjacent waters, and for fisheries exploiting those stocks

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

In accordance with the EU strategy for the marine environment and the United Nations Convention of 10 December 1982 on the Law of the Sea, it aims to:

manage fisheries in Western Waters;
restore and maintain populations of harvested species above levels which can produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY)*; and
avoid and reduce unwanted catches.

The EU fishing fleet concerned mainly includes vessels from Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom (1).

KEY POINTS

The regulation establishes a multiannual plan* for the fish stocks listed below, including deep-sea stocks, in specified areas of the Western Waters and adjacent waters:

black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo);
roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris);
seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax);
cod (Gadus morhua);
megrims (Lepidorhombus spp.);
anglerfish (Lophiidae);
haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus);
whiting (Merlangius merlangus);
hake (Merluccius merluccius);
blue ling (Molva dypterygia);
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus);
red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo);
plaice (Pleuronectes platessa);
pollack (Pollachius pollachius);
common sole (Solea solea).

The regulation also applies to by-catches* caught in the Western Waters when fishing for the stocks listed above.

The plan contributes to:

the common fisheries policy (CFP), in particular by applying a precautionary approach to fisheries management and ensuring that exploitation of fish stocks restores and maintains populations above levels which can produce maximum sustainable yield;
eliminating discarded fish by avoiding and reducing unwanted catches;
implementing the landing obligation for species with catch limits.

It takes an ecosystem-based approach* to fisheries management to minimise negative impacts of fishing on the marine ecosystem.

Target fishing mortality *

The target fishing mortality, a range for which is set out for each species and area covered by the regulation, must be achieved as soon as possible, and progressively at least by 2020, and be maintained after this date. The ranges, based on scientific advice and subject to revision by the European Commission to take urgent account of changing circumstances, provide flexibility to react to situations linked to mixed fisheries and to contribute to the landing obligation.

Safeguards

Fishing opportunities are designed to ensure that there is less than a 5% probability of the spawning stock falling below the reference limit, and specific conservation measures are put in place when scientific advice is that a stock is under threat.

By-catch management

Management of by-catch stocks including, where appropriate, fishing opportunities takes into account the best available scientific advice, and the challenges arising from fishing all stocks at MSY at the same time, especially in situations where that leads to the authorities closing fisheries prematurely to conserve stocks.

Technical measures

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts to supplement this regulation regarding the following technical measures:

specifications of (or modifications to) fishing gears (equipment) and rules on their use;
prohibition or limitation on fishing in specific areas;
prohibition or limitation on fishing or the use of certain types of fishing gear during specific time periods;
minimum conservation reference sizes of fish.

The Council determines each year the technical measures designed to control fishing for sole in the Western Channel.

Other provisions

When scientific advice indicates that recreational fishing is having a significant impact on fishing mortality of a stock the Council may set non-discriminatory limits for recreational fishing, based on transparent and objective criteria, including environmental, social and economic issues.

For each Western Waters zone each EU country issues fishing authorisations in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 for vessels flying its flag and which operate in that area. They may also limit the total capacity of such vessels using a specific gear. The Commission can set limits on the total fleet capacity of the country concerned.

Where stocks are also fished by non-EU countries, the EU will engage to ensure their sustainable management, and may exchange fishing opportunities.

Evaluating the plan every 5 years, the Commission reports to the European Parliament and to the Council on the results and impact of the plan on the stocks to which the regulation applies and on the fisheries exploiting those stocks.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 26 March 2019.

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