The U.K. government on Tuesday said it secured a deal that is good for both the sustainability of fisheries and the U.K. fishing industry at this year’s annual round of EU fisheries talks.
These were the first EU quota negotiations since agreeing the historic reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the industry has said it has been imperative that next year’s quotas are consistent with the new CFP. This has meant taking decisions based on three clear principles: following the available scientific advice; achieving sustainable levels of fishing (known as Maximum Sustainable Yield or MSY) by 2015 where possible and by 2020 at the latest; and reducing discards.
UK Fisheries Minister George Eustice said although the negotiations were difficult,, he is pleased that the best possible deal was secured for ensuring sustainable fisheries and a strong U.K. fishing industry.
“We have achieved this by securing for another year a vital freeze in the number of days fishermen can go to sea under the cod recovery plan. This gives fishermen the time they need to fish more selectively and avoid discarding perfectly good fish,” said Eustice.
“It was my top priority to ensure that days at sea for fishermen would remain the same next year and that is exactly what has been achieved. I entered these discussions with the firm belief that any decisions on quotas or days spent at sea need to be based on three clear principles; following scientific advice, fishing sustainably and the need for continued reduction in discarding. We stuck to these principles throughout.”
Increased quotas agreed upon include:
• Channel: 15 percent monkfish
• West of Scotland and Irish Sea: megrim 20 percent; Rockall haddock 22 percent
• Celtic Sea: 30 percent herring; 25 percent Bristol Channel plaice
• Irish Sea: 5 percent herring
• All UK waters: 49 percent hake
2013 quotas for a number of flatfish stocks, such as lemon sole and witch, were maintained.
The UK also successfully negotiated a number of further concessions, including:
• Celtic Sea: 75 percent cut to haddock reduced to 33 percent
• West of Scotland: 20 percent cut to monkfish reduced to 10 percent
• Irish Sea: 24 percent cut to prawns reduced to 9 percent
• Eastern Channel: 45 percent cut to sole reduced to 18 percent
North Sea cod quotas won’t be agreed until January 2014.
“Many fish stocks are becoming healthier but some have a longer way to go and we have accepted quota cuts where these are necessary. We are also fishing more sustainably but further work can be done to make fishing methods even more sustainable. The U.K. has been praised for steps we are already taking to do this — including making strong progress on the selectivity of fishing gear and implementing our catch quota schemes which eliminate discards,” said Eustice.
“Other areas where we have achieved positive results include reducing the proposed cut in quota for Celtic Sea haddock and increased flexibility for fishermen to choose where they can catch monkfish. Both of these achievements will prevent discards of these stocks.”
