Latest on CFP from Brussels

http://cfp-reformwatch.eu/2012/12/fishe ... -discards/

The fisheries committee in the European Parliament today demanded sustainable quotas by 2015 and an end to discards, as they voted on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

“This is a great Christmas gift to fish and fishermen,” the rapporteur Ulrike Rodust tweeted after the vote.

After a voting session which lasted more than three hours in the morning and was interrupted by a long lunch break, the fisheries committee at 15:00 adopted the so-called basic regulation with 13 votes against 10 (2 abstentions).

Some of the main points adopted by committee:

A legal requirement to stop overfishing. By 2015 fisheries ministers must set sustainable quotas in order to rebuild fish stocks to healthy levels (above levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield = Bmsy) by 2020.
Long term management plans shall be established for every fishery through co-decision.
A ban on discards = an obligation to land and record all catches of harvested and regulated species, introduced between 2014 and 2017.
EU vessels fishing outside EU waters must meet the same requirements as boats in Europe. Fisheries agreements with third countries should only cover fish stocks with a surplus of fish.
There will be no transferable fishing concessions – the tradeable individual quotas proposed by the Commission. Each member state shall decide how to allocate fishing rights.
Member states shall introduce a network of marine protected areas where no fishing can take place (without any details on how large these areas should be).
The management regime that Ulrike Rodust had proposed for the Mediterranean Sea – a system of territorially based user rights for fishing (TURFs) – was rejected.
Member states have to assess and report on their fleet capacity. A member state which does not reduce overcapacity will not get any money from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

It may take some time before the consolidated version of the report is ready. The official parliamentary webpage with all documents is available here: Legislative Observatory – Common Fisheries Policy

Ulrike Rodust said: “We have overcome a major hurdle and I expect that in February the plenary of the European Parliament will confirm our decision: this will give us a strong hand to negotiate with the Council and get the reforms passed.”

The plenary vote is expected to take place in February or March.

Nice

A total ban on discards what will happen when twenty boxes of bass end up in the net the fisherman can't land them and now with the ban on discards can't throw them back either

I'd say there will be severe bending of the rules

A ban on discards = an obligation to land and record all catches of harvested and regulated species, introduced between 2014 and 2017.
Its worth looking at how the line above is worded. I can assure you that the wording was not accidental and would have been deliberated over at some lenght.
First of all it says obligation instead of "legal requirement".
Land and record may not necessarily mean fish are brought to shore. It could mean land on the boat and record.
Harvested and regulated species will not cover many of the species that are discarded. One of the big problems with "mixed stock" fishing is the amount of bycatch of unwanted species that are caught. They may be unwanted by the trawlers but these fish often play a vital role in the ecosystem.
Without onboard monitoring cameras any enforcement would be futile. How can anybody possibly know what is happening on a trawler out in the Irish sea on a wild winters night.
There is still a long way to go on the discard issue. Many of the Fisheries ministers feel under pressure to pay some type of lip service to the discard debate. What will eventually happen may be a very different story.

Yup. What comes out the door of Brussels may not be what comes in the door of Dublin. It just goes to highlight how vigilant we have to be to monitor and be prepared to react to any situation.

I'm sure ye are all right but I think this discard ban will be the worst thing possible for the bass ban . There was talk of a specie list alright that can be discarded at sea maybe bass might be on it who knows

Definition of obligation
noun
an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment:
[with infinitive]:
I have an obligation to look after her
[mass noun] the condition of being morally or legally bound to do something:
they are under no obligation to stick to the scheme
a debt of gratitude for a service or favour:
she didn’t want to be under an obligation to him
Law a binding agreement committing a person to a payment or other action.

It's understandable that the word obligation is a source of concern for some but it's no good a bunch of anglers speculating on what's going on behind closed doors. A discard is a discard no matter what way you look at it and if it comes in as law then the bottom line of the above definition comes into effect. Let's wait and see what the final language is before the angling community throws the toys out of the pram.

Member states shall introduce a network of marine protected areas where no fishing can take place (without any details on how large these areas should be).

Bass Bass Bass and again Bass. I'd be more concerned about the implications of the above, especially for boat angling

A total ban on discards what will happen when twenty boxes of Bass end up in the net the fisherman can't land them and now with the ban on discards can't throw them back either

Anybody got any idea how often does this sort of thing happen without deliberately targetting bass?

I'd say there will be severe bending of the rules :evil:

Sadly Eoghanb, there always has been, is and will be by some fishermen. It's about time this was matched by genuinely severe punishments when caught.

. [i]Let's wait and see what the final language is before the angling community throws the toys out of the pram.

This seems to be a step in the right direction but over-fishing and fish stock problems won't be solved at one fell swoop but in many gradual steps, let's hope they keep walking!

Intense negotiations continue

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2 ... sh-quotas/

The EU Fisheries Council in Brussels is in its second day of intense negotiations on fish quotas for 2013.
Minister Coveney and his team will be seeking to overturn the Commission’s proposals of a 12% cut in the prawn fishery, a 55% cut in the Haddock Quota in the Celtic Sea, a 32% cut in Hake, the 20% cut in Monkfish, the 48% cut in Haddock in the North West and a 40% cut in Megrim in the North West.

In a statement from Brussels, Minister Coveney said, “We made some progress yesterday, particularly on the question of the management of Cod effort. However on the substantive issues of severe quota reductions for many of the key stocks of interest to Ireland, the Commission is maintaining their unjustifiable stance on these key stocks. As I stated yesterday, ahead of these talks, this is one of the most difficult Fisheries Councils in years. I do not in any way underestimate the considerable challenge posed here now”.

Reflecting on yesterday’s proceedings, the Minister outlined Ireland’s priorities on prawns, haddock, hake, monkfish, boarfish and megrim, saying “I put forward what I believe is a strong case respecting the scientific information available on all the key stocks of interest to Ireland where we have a difference of view to the Commission”. The current proposals on 2013 fishing opportunities for white fish would reduce income to the Irish seafood industry by €53 million, with resultant negative impacts on between 450-550 full and part time jobs.

Minister Coveney explained “It is my firm and consistent belief that the science should be respected when determining fishing opportunities. However, it is also my contention that the Commission’s application of the scientific advice is inappropriate in many cases. I have outlined a more balanced, but sustainable approach, considering the interests of both the fish stocks and our fishermen, with a view to maintaining a sustainable and economically viable industry in 2013”.

On the resumption of the negotiations, the Minister went on to say, “I expect these talks to go on long into the night tonight, with frank and robust exchanges on both sides. The indications are that that the Commission is intent on maintaining its’ rigid stand, making delivery of a better package for Ireland extremely difficult”.

He added, “I have had two meetings out here with a large delegation of Irish stakeholders for which I am very grateful. I have also had bilateral meetings with the Commission and the Cyprus Presidency in addition to meetings with a range of other key Member States. I will continue to press the Irish case at every opportunity throughout the Council to get the best possible outcome for Ireland”.

On an associated topic, the Minister referred to Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament vote on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy yesterday, saying “I welcome the vote on the reform of the CFP, it provides for positive momentum on the reform coming in to the Irish Presidency where we hope to bring this process to a conclusion by June 2013”.

In case any of you are in any doubt about how our Minister decides what direction fisheries management policy should follow then concider what he has said;
" However, it is also my contention that the Commission’s application of the scientific advice is inappropriate in many cases. I have outlined a more balanced, but sustainable approach, considering the interests of both the fish stocks and our fishermen, with a view to maintaining a sustainable and economically viable industry in 2013”.

"I have had two meetings out here with a large delegation of Irish stakeholders for which I am very grateful."
Note that when he talks about stakeholders he actually means only one stakeholder-commercial fishermen.
While he speaks about economically viable industry and disagrees with the fisheries scientists he follows the same direction as countless EU fisheries ministers who put the livelyhoods of commercial fishermen before the protection of the fish. The result of this is that commonly owned fish stocks are in dire straits and there are less people employed in commercial fishing that at any time in history.

Coveney: New EU fish quotas 'a good deal for Irish fishermen'

Thursday, December 20, 2012 - 09:59 AM

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingne ... 78495.html

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney has cited scientific data collated by the Marine Institute as playing a critical role in Ireland emerging with increased catch quotas this morning from all-night fisheries talks in Brussels.

Ireland fishing fleet will now be allowed to catch an extra 6,500 tonnes extra of white fish in 2013.

Crucially, Ireland has turned EU plans to cut Irish prawn quotas by 12% into a 6% quota increase. Minister Coveney said that underwater camera research conducted by the Marine Institute during 2012 had helped him convince the Fisheries Council that Ireland could sustainably increase its catch in this most lucrative specials.

Minister Coveney said: “I am pleased that we have secured a good deal for Irish fishermen at the EU Fisheries Council that will support our fishing industry over the coming year and which is sustainable in terms of the fish stocks on which we are dependant.”

In total 216,300 tonnes of fish quotas worth €213m will be available to Irish fishermen in 2013.

The Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation said there was good and bad news in the deal.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said the value and tonnage of the white fish quota would remain at last year’s level, worth €114m.

Elsewhere, interim quotas worth €100m have been set for most pelagic stocks, including mackerel and herring, pending negotiations between the EU and Norway in the new year.

The prawn quota is worth about €50m.

Some 6,400 tonnes of white fish quotas were secured above the levels proposed by Europe.

The deal sees Irish fishermen with quotas of 36,538 tonnes of white fish and 180,000 of pelagic stocks such as mackerel and herring.

In the Celtic Sea there will be a 29% increase in the whiting quota, providing an additional 1,500 tonnes for fleets along the southern and western coasts.

The department said there was a modest increase in cod for the same area and hake, megrim and monkfish quotas were maintained.

The haddock take has been cut in accordance with scientific advice – by 15%.

Off the north-west, herring, mackerel, blue whiting and the emerging boarfish market is important.

A stock rebuilding plan, devised by local fishermen and the Marine Institute, is in place for herring, while a 63% increase has been secured for blue whiting, giving an Irish quota of 13,105 tonnes.

The boarfish quota rolls over for a second year with a 56,666 tonne limit after deals were signed with important Chinese markets.

The department said final quotas for mackerel, blue whiting and horse mackerel will only be finalised after the EU/Norway talks wrap up in the new year.

Minister Coveney outlined the challenge facing him at this Council.

“Despite the difficult initial starting position, where I was facing large cuts in over 30 stocks of interest to Ireland, the result achieved is a good deal for the Irish fishing industry,” he said.

“We have secured increases from last year for key stocks including increased prawn quota in all areas totalling 8,733 tonnes and an increased whiting quota in the Celtic Sea amounting to 6,812 tonnes. The package of quotas secured today will support the economies of those coastal communities which are dependent on the resulting employment created both at sea and in onshore related industries.”

Minister Coveney was speaking after two days of intensive negotiations, which concluded at 7am this morning. The Minister described the Council as “very challenging” and said that “My primary aim from the outset was to achieve an outcome that protected the overall interests of the Irish fishing industry while respecting the most up-to-date scientific advice for key stocks of critical importance to our fleets. I believe that I have achieved that aim.”

The annual quota-fixing talks became the usual battle between belt-tightening cutbacks demanded by the Commission on the basis of scientific evidence of dwindling stocks and ministers' determination to keep beleaguered fishing communities afloat - economically and literally.

Stormont’s Fisheries Minister Michelle O’Neill said she was happy with the deal, but acknowledged that negotiations at the Brussels Fisheries Council had not delivered all good news for the North, with cuts to the catch limits for haddock, cod and whiting.

But she insisted the 6% increase in the prawn (nephrops) quota was the most significant outcome.

“We achieved our main negotiating objectives in the tough negotiations that took place over two days,” she said.

“The 6% increase in the allowable catch adds some £900,000 to the sector, which is already worth £15m (€18.4m), and means a sustainable supply to our local fish processing businesses which have sales in excess of £70m (€85.9m) and employs over 550 workers.”

A statement from the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “The UK Government has secured a deal that is good for both the health of our seas and the UK fishing industry at this year’s annual round of fisheries talks.”