Demersal stocks in the North Sea — Multiannual plan

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2018/973 — establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It establishes a multiannual plan for demersal* fish populations in the North Sea and the fisheries catching them.

KEY POINTS

Scope

Demersal fish species covered by this regulation include:

• cod;
• haddock;
• plaice;
• saithe;
• sole;
• whiting;
• anglerfish;
• northern prawn;
• Norway lobster.

It also covers by-catches* caught when fishing for one of the listed species.

Objectives

The plan aims to:

• help the EU and EU countries meet the objectives of the common fisheries policy (CFP), and in particular to ensure that fish species are caught sustainably;
• contribute to eliminating fish discards* at sea by avoiding and reducing unwanted catches and by implementing the landing obligation for the fish species covered;
• implement the ecosystem approach to fisheries management to minimise any negative impacts of fishing on the marine environment.

It includes:

• quantifiable targets with clear timeframes;
• conservation reference points to ensure fish populations can reproduce fully;
• safeguard measures;
• technical measures to avoid and reduce unwanted catches;
• rules on access to waters and resources;
• principles for managing stocks of common interest to the EU and non-EU countries;
• strengthened regional cooperation providing a voice to local fisheries;
• authorisation for the European Commission, on the basis of scientific advice, to adopt delegated acts, to adapt the geographical distribution of the stocks provided for in the plan and to submit a proposal to amend the list of stocks.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 5 August 2018.

BACKGROUND

• The EU is a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• The EU fisheries control system ensures that rules of the CFP are respected.

KEY TERMS

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008 (OJ L 179, 16.7.2018, pp. 1-13)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2018/973 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, pp. 22-61)

See consolidated version.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, pp. 1-50)

See consolidated version.

Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, pp. 19-40)

See consolidated version.

last update 20.08.2019