New Quotas Agreed

[JimC]

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/eymhideyeyey/

EU ministers agree temporary fishing deal
16/12/2009 - 08:15:14

EU ministers have agreed a temporary deal on fishing rights during crucial talks in Brussels last night.

All fleets face reductions on catches of overexploited species, such as haddock, sole and cod.

However, fishermen will be able to increase their share by 5% if they agree to fit CCTV cameras on their boats.

It is aimed at monitoring conservation measures and preventing the dumping of unwanted fish back in the sea.

Ireland managed to push through agreement that will allow trawlermen to fish up to 65% of 2009 mackerel levels.

Meanwhile, fishermen here face a 9% reduction in next year's Dublin Bay prawn catch - a huge improvement on the 30% figure mooted at the beginning of the talks.

The EU commission wants to allow 30 out of 35 fish stocks that are being overfished in the Atlantic and North sea a chance to replenish.


Tonight the European Commission described the deal as a "building block" in the EU strategy of achieving "environmental, economic and social sustainability" for the fishing industry.


A statement brushed aside the fact that some proposed quotas were increased by ministers, saying: "As is naturally the case with broad negotiations of this nature, the Commission’s initial proposal was modified to accommodate some concerns expressed by member states."

Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg commented: "The agreement we have reached here today is indicative of what Europe can achieve when we cooperate together in good faith and work as a team."

He said many stocks remained badly overfished, although a "small but increasing" number of stocks were now being fished at sustainable levels.

Fishermen who take up the experimental on-board camera scheme will have to fit three strategically-placed cameras on their vessels, including one in the hold where the catches are loaded, and one positioned to monitor for “discards” - the throwing back of mature fish, usually dead.

“Discards” occur because EU rules limit the quota of fish that vessels land in port, but not the amount they actually catch.

So fishermen have routinely thrown back “non-quota” species or surplus amounts of what they can catch.

However, the practice has been condemned by Governments and the Commission – and a recent report estimated that 880,000 tonnes of dead fish are dumped into the North Sea alone every year as fishermen trying to keep landed catches in line with quota limits.

Cod, haddock and whiting alone make up 60,000 tonnes of the wasted fish.

[Rampent Wreckfish]

Whoever wrote that abviously does not have a clue what discards are ha ha.

[captain AHAB]

those estimates of 880,000 and 60,000ton of nth sea dumped catch are extremely conservative to say the least.i would have liked to see severe penalties for breaking quotas as the french,italian spanish and dutch boats routinely and blatantly smash their quotas,pay the little fine and in most cases receive not even a slap on the wrist from their governments.

[samo]

Elsewhere cuts to other quotas were not as deep as expected.

Instead of a 30% cut in Ireland's prawn quota the cut will now be 9% for next year, while a proposed cut of 54% off the north west coast was reduced to a 25% cut.

A proposed 20% cut in cod was dropped and there will be a roll over of the 2009 quota.

The Celtic Sea herring quota was raised by over 70%, monkfish is up by 15%, Hake up by 7% and Irish Sea plaice is up by 14%.

[Bradan]

Ireland managed to push through agreement that will allow trawlermen to fish up to 65% of 2009 mackerel levels.

Meanwhile, fishermen here face a 9% reduction in next year's Dublin Bay prawn catch - a huge improvement on the 30% figure mooted at the beginning of the talks.

So let me get this, the scientists recommended a 30% cut in order to sustain stocks, but politicians decided on a 9% cut, so stocks will continue to fall.

Sounds about right...

[chrisfeeney30]

Ireland managed to push through agreement that will allow trawlermen to fish up to 65% of 2009 mackerel levels.

Meanwhile, fishermen here face a 9% reduction in next year's Dublin Bay prawn catch - a huge improvement on the 30% figure mooted at the beginning of the talks.

So let me get this, the scientists recommended a 30% cut in order to sustain stocks, but politicians decided on a 9% cut, so stocks will continue to fall.

really doesnt make sense does it...when will they learn

Sounds about right...

[Rampent Wreckfish]

Ireland managed to push through agreement that will allow trawlermen to fish up to 65% of 2009 mackerel levels.

Meanwhile, fishermen here face a 9% reduction in next year's Dublin Bay prawn catch - a huge improvement on the 30% figure mooted at the beginning of the talks.

So let me get this, the scientists recommended a 30% cut in order to sustain stocks, but politicians decided on a 9% cut, so stocks will continue to fall.

Sounds about right...

Happens every year

[Bradan]

Ireland managed to push through agreement that will allow trawlermen to fish up to 65% of 2009 mackerel levels.

Meanwhile, fishermen here face a 9% reduction in next year's Dublin Bay prawn catch - a huge improvement on the 30% figure mooted at the beginning of the talks.

So let me get this, the scientists recommended a 30% cut in order to sustain stocks, but politicians decided on a 9% cut, so stocks will continue to fall.

Sounds about right...

Happens every year

That was my point - plus ca change...

[daminim]

i was fishing clogherhead pier last saturday evening, and a trawlwer was discarding what looked to be thousands of fish all dead right there in the port. Mostly codling and whiting. Two people came up to me asking what they were doing as there were fish floating in the water everywhere. It disgusted me!!

[corbyeire]

was up in skerris 2 weekends ago on the pier - 2 shrimp boats came in - it seemed like there was 3 times as much discard as kept while they sorted them in the port

they were also dumping on the way in also - hundreds and hundreds of gulls were sporadically feeding

about 7 seals - were picking what they wanted - going for ray, dogs, gurnard - before having to try the whiting - the last resort!!!

it was amazing the amount of flatties that were still alive when they dumped overboard - they were completely disorientated swiming on the surface for ages - luckily for them the seals or gulls werent interested

from the hundred or so boxes on the quay of shrimp - there were a couple with fish - all terribly small - such a waste of fish - so inefficient and as was said above - the sea was covered in a dense layer of dead tiddlers

its a pity those discards couldnt be used for feed or something and save other fishing for meal or something

wonder what the seabed looks like after also?

[jd]

They had someone on the radio from one of the fishing organisation discussing the quotas. When questioned about the scientific advice his line was basically "sure scientists are only human as well and they make mistakes"

[corbyeire]

bet the same fella puts his faith in "science" when he hops in an aeroplane

as said above - the required cuts are sent in - its watered down by lobby groups and politicians - and the seas continue to be decimated