November 12, 2010

EU proposes 2011 fishing quotas

The EU Commission has released its proposed fishing quotas for 2011 on Thursday (Nov 11), which would amount to a 10% reduction in quotas, or 89,400 metric tonnes, from 2010-2011.

Of the 93 stocks it manages, the EC recommended cutting the quotas for 64 stocks, increasing the quotas for six stocks and leaving the quotas for 23 stocks unchanged.

The most drastic quota cuts recommended by the EC were for cod. Next year, the cod quotas in the Kattegat, Irish Sea, and west of Scotland could be slashed by 50%. Collectively, the cod quotas for these three areas totaled 1,296 tonnes this year.

North Sea cod took a turn for the worst in 2008, when a greater proportion of the stock was caught than in any year since 1999, according to the EC.

The most drastic quota increase recommended by the EC was for herring in the North Atlantic, which could be raised by 30% to 13,200 tonnes next year. For a majority of the stocks, a 15% quota reduction was recommended.

"We must not lose sight of the basic facts. The amount of fish in the sea is limited and the amount of fish that can be caught each year without putting the future of the stocks at risk is limited too," said EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki.

"I am keen to see the EU meet the World Summit on Sustainable Development target of exploiting fish stocks according to their maximum sustainable yields by 2015," she added.

"That deadline is not far off, and we need to start moving now. Clearly, science-based decisions are the only way to help rebuild fish stocks to levels that will sustain a healthy and profitable EU fishing industry. I regret to say there will be disappointing news on some quota levels, but past experience has shown that those who think they can negotiate with nature will not have a long future in fishing," she said.

EU fisheries ministers will meet on 13 and 14 December to set the 2011 quotas.

Thursday's quota proposals do not include stocks for which an agreement must be reached with non-EU countries, such as Norway, or a Regional Fisheries Management Organization.