EU proposes ‘moderate cuts’ in deep-sea fish quotas

(BRUSSELS) – The EU Commission put forward “moderate cuts” in deep-sea fish quotas in the EU and international waters in the North-East Atlantic in its fishing opportunities proposal for 2017-18.

Deep-sea fisheries account for about 1% of all fish caught in the North-East Atlantic. Over the years, fishing activity and associated jobs have been declining as stocks become more and more scarce.

The Commission says it aims to reverse this trend with this proposal. Based on the scientific advice received by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), the Commission is proposing to keep the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) unchanged for 1 stock and to reduce the TACs for 10 stocks in order to prevent their over-exploitation.

TACs for deep-sea sharks have not yet been proposed as the scientific advice is expected later this month. The Commission is also looking into the scientific advice and the underlying reported catches by the Member States on roughhead and roundnose grenadier and will make a proposal on those stocks by mid-October to Council.

Scientific data for the other deep-sea stocks is limited and precautionary cuts are proposed. This is the case for the 4 stocks of greater fork-beard, where the Commission proposes TAC cuts of 20%.

Red sea-bream in the Celtic Seas, the English Channel and Bay of Biscay is seriously depleted. As red sea-bream is an unavoidable by-catch in other fisheries the proposal includes a cut of 20%. The Commission furthermore proposes to add orange roughy to the list of prohibited species.

The proposal will be discussed by EU  Member States’ fisheries ministers at the November Fisheries Council in Brussels.

See Annex below: TACs proposal for each deep-sea species

Fishing for deep-sea species has been regulated by the European Union since 2003. The poor state of some deep-sea stocks and the lack of scientific assessments call for an improved framework for better managing deep-sea fisheries. With this goal in mind the Commission says it again welcomes the compromise reached between the co-legislators on the deep-sea access regime which is due to enter into force in 2017.

Further information

Map of fishing areas

Total Allowable Catches

Annex: TACs proposal for each deep-sea species