The European Commission (EC) has tabled its proposal for the 2018 fishing opportunities in the Black Sea in preparation for the December Fisheries Council, taking place in Brussels on 11-12 December, where EU member states will agree next year’s quotas.
Its proposal, which concerns Bulgaria and Romania, follows the adoption of the first ever multiannual management plan for the region. The new plan was an outcome of this year's General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Annual Session.
For sprats, the EC proposes to maintain a catch limit of 11,475 metric tons (MT), with 70 percent allocated to Bulgaria and 30 percent to Romania.
For turbot, the Commission proposes a total allowable catch (TAC) of 114 MT for both 2018 and 2019, with 50 percent assigned to Bulgaria and 50 percent to Romania. It also wants a two-month closed period (15 April to 15 June) and limitation of fishing efforts to 180 days at sea per year.
New catch limits decided by the Fisheries Council will become applicable from 1 January 2018.
