Conservation organisation Oceana deemed the agreement reached by the EU Council of Ministers as 'regrettable'.

Council of ministers agree on deep-sea stock TACs for 2019 and 2020

EUROPEAN UNION
Tuesday, November 20, 2018, 22:30 (GMT + 9)

The Council of the European Union has reached an agreement on the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for certain deep-sea stocks in the European Union and international waters in the North-East Atlantic, for 2019 and 2020.

The agreed decision includes an increase in quotas for two vulnerable of deep-sea species and the reduction of the TACs for ten stocks, as it had been proposed by the European Commission.  

The sustainability of fish stocks and the viability of the EU's fisheries industry are key criteria when it comes to setting catch limits," pointed out  Elisabeth Köstinger, Austrian Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism and President of the Council.

“Today we decided to make cuts to fishing opportunities for deep-sea stocks in 2019 and 2020. This move will protect our maritime environment and help our industry in the longer term,” she added.

The Council confirmed the Commission's proposal to increase quotas for red seabream around the Azores and roundnose grenadier in South Western waters over the next two years, in line with positive scientific advice.

Given the small number of fish being caught and in line with the scientific advice, the TAC management system for greater forkbeard in the North-East Atlantic, roundnose grenadier in the North Sea and black scabbardfish in the North Sea and Skagerrak was cancelled. In addition, fishing for orange roughy remains prohibited.

The non-profit organisation Oceana deems the agreement as "regrettable" as it affects deep-sea fish and sharks, and goes against recommended conservation measures for this vulnerable marine life and sustainable fishing in the Atlantic.

The NGO warns that the decision on catch limits also undermines EU law under the Common Fisheries Policy, which aims to ensure that all fishing in the EU is done sustainably by 2020 to help overfished stocks recover and safeguard supplies of fish such as red seabream, black scabbardfish and sharks from EU waters.

“The European Commission and the Council have lowered the bar for deep-sea marine life, which essentially creates a double standard under the EU’s own Common Fisheries Policy. But the law is clear: the EU must stop overfishing and all fish must be caught at sustainable levels by 2020, including the most vulnerable ones,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Oceana Europe.

“Fisheries ministers have chosen to see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing for the deep sea. These ministers are responsible for the conservation of our oceans in Europe and their careless approach is simply unacceptable,” added Gustavsson.

Following finalisation by the legal/linguistic experts, the agreement will be submitted for final adoption without discussion at a forthcoming Council meeting.

 
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