Today the Council reached an agreement on the fishing opportunities for 2024 - for the Atlantic and the North Sea, including agreements reached with Norway and the United Kingdom, and the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
We had intense negotiations spanning over three days over 23 stocks. I had big hopes for a shorter Council, setting the bar high in terms of transparency, dialogue and efficient proceedings. All the ingredients for that to happen were there, including the timely agreements on the 73 stocks we share with the UK and Norway, which could be included in today's decision. This provides certainty to our fishers. The fishing opportunities available to EU fleets in 2024 stemming from these consultations are set at about 1.6 million tonnes and worth almost 2.2 billion euros (adjusted for inflation). Of those 73 TACs, 56 have been set in line with MSY
Coming to the discussion on the 23 EU-only TACs, for the Commission it was important to reach an agreement that is both balanced and responsible.
A responsible decision for me is such that would preserve fishers' livelihoods in the long term, that would improve chances for stock recovery and healthier stocks, that will encourage fishers to fish sustainably, and reward such effort.
During the discussions, we had to stay on track with the implementation of multi-annual plans, the common fisheries policy regulation, and scientific advice.
In the Atlantic and the North Sea, where the EU manages the stocks alone, the Council has followed the Commission proposal and set 14 of total allowable catches (TACs) in line with the advice on maximum sustainable yield (MSY). This includes an increase for megrims, anglerfish, hake, and horse mackerel in the Iberian waters, as well as for undulate rays.
The Council has also followed the Commission proposal to set a TAC at low level for Norway lobster in Skagerrak and Kattegat and for plaice in Kattegat to protect cod.
In the Bay of Biscay, we agreed on decreases for pollack, Norway lobster, sole, seabass and whiting. In addition, we introduced measures for recreational catches for pollack.
For the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, we agreed to continue implementing the various multiannual management plans decided at the level of the General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean (GFCM): for the Strait of Sicily, the Ionian and the Levant Seas, the Adriatic, and the Black Sea.
For the Western Mediterranean, scientific advice once again confirmed that we need to continue implementing combined actions to achieve the legal obligation of fishing sustainably, at MSY level, by 1 January 2025.
The Ministers have, therefore, agreed to continue the reduction of the trawling fishing effort by 9.5%, in combination with other management tools, such as further reduced catch limits for deep water shrimps and continuing the effort freeze for longliners.
Moreover, the agreement expands the compensation mechanism introduced in 2022, granting between 4,5 and up to 6 % additional fishing days for trawlers, depending on how many additional conservation measures Member States would apply.
With this agreement, Ministers also agreed to incorporate into EU law the new GFCM management measures for the common dolphinfish and European eel in the Mediterranean.
On eels in the North east Atlantic, the Council has accepted the clarification, proposed by the European Commission, that the closure period must cover the peak migration period in marine waters across the EU.
As I said earlier, these negotiations were intense. We were called to make difficult decisions in challenging times – for our fish stocks and our fleets and I would like to acknowledge our fishers' tremendous efforts over recent years to fish sustainably and to live up to their key role in providing the EU market with high quality seafood.
In closing, I would like to thank the Presidency, all the Ministers and colleagues at the Commission for their tireless efforts to reach this agreement.
