The Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg on 19 and 20 October took a number of important decisions and made headway on a number of issues. The discussions were dominated by the Commission's proposals for a root-and-branch reform of the CFP control framework and for fishing possibilities in the Baltic Sea for 2010. The Control Regulation, proposed last November, has now been approved by Council and will enter into force on 1 January 2010. Delays have been agreed for a number of articles to enable Member States to be fully prepared to implement all measures in the Regulation. Ministers resolved the final outstanding issues, including a degree of harmonisation of sanctions, a new penalty points system, a payback system for overfished quotas and provisions to allow for the suspension of Community assistance in the event of non-compliance by Member States with the agreed control provisions. Furthermore, it was agreed that, for now, recreational catches will not be counted against national quotas. The new control system will provide Europe with the level playing field required to usher in a much-needed culture of compliance in the fisheries sector. Council also reached political agreement on the Commission proposal on fishing possibilities for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2010. On the positive side, with scientific advice showing that cod stocks in the Baltic are starting to recover, Council was able to agree on total allowable catches (TAC) increases of 15% and 9% for the eastern and western cod stocks respectively. On the less positive side, the western herring stock continues to cause serious concern, prompting Council to agree on a 16.5% reduction.
The Control Regulation, proposed last November, has now been approved by Council and will enter into force on 1 January 2010. Delays have been agreed for a number of articles to enable Member States to be fully prepared to implement all measures in the Regulation. Ministers resolved the final outstanding issues, including a degree of harmonisation of sanctions, a new penalty points system, a payback system for overfished quotas and provisions to allow for the suspension of Community assistance in the event of non-compliance by Member States with the agreed control provisions. Furthermore, it was agreed that, for now, recreational catches will not be counted against national quotas. The new control system will provide Europe with the level playing field required to usher in a much-needed culture of compliance in the fisheries sector.
Council also reached political agreement on the Commission proposal on fishing possibilities for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2010. On the positive side, with scientific advice showing that cod stocks in the Baltic are starting to recover, Council was able to agree on total allowable catches (TAC) increases of 15% and 9% for the eastern and western cod stocks respectively.
On the less positive side, the western herring stock continues to cause serious concern, prompting Council to agree on a 16.5% reduction.
EU fisheries ministers agreed on Tuesday to crack down on overfishing, saying their fishermen would get points on their fishing licences each time they broke rules or quotas and would be banned for excessive infractions. The points system, taking effect next year, is part of a drive to reduce excessive fishing which has severely depleted European stocks of cod, haddock and hake. Ministers agreed new quotas for Baltic cod and herring and put on hold a controversial proposal that national tallies include fish landed by recreational anglers. They also cut the amount of overfishing that will be tolerated to 10 percent from 20 -- drawing criticism from a Green Europarliamentarian that this was accepting "legalised cheating," though on a reduced scale.
The points system, taking effect next year, is part of a drive to reduce excessive fishing which has severely depleted European stocks of cod, haddock and hake.
Ministers agreed new quotas for Baltic cod and herring and put on hold a controversial proposal that national tallies include fish landed by recreational anglers.
They also cut the amount of overfishing that will be tolerated to 10 percent from 20 -- drawing criticism from a Green Europarliamentarian that this was accepting "legalised cheating," though on a reduced scale.
Amateur anglers are to be included in tougher controls on EU fishing which have been agreed as part of continuing efforts to revive dwindling stocks. A deal struck in Luxembourg means closer monitoring of licensed fishing boats, stiff penalties on the industry and national authorities for breaching strict annual catch quotas, and the first-ever inclusion of casual fishermen in the Common Fisheries Policy net. After howls of anguish from MEPs earlier this year, the new deal clarifies that those catching a bit of supper off the end of the local jetty with a rod and line will not be included. And even anglers putting to sea will not have to report every landed tiddler to the authorities - unless the fish on the line is subject to an EU stock recovery programme, such as cod in the North Sea.
A deal struck in Luxembourg means closer monitoring of licensed fishing boats, stiff penalties on the industry and national authorities for breaching strict annual catch quotas, and the first-ever inclusion of casual fishermen in the Common Fisheries Policy net.
After howls of anguish from MEPs earlier this year, the new deal clarifies that those catching a bit of supper off the end of the local jetty with a rod and line will not be included.
And even anglers putting to sea will not have to report every landed tiddler to the authorities - unless the fish on the line is subject to an EU stock recovery programme, such as cod in the North Sea.
