EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

One of the central objectives of the reform of the current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is reaching the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) exploitation rate for all stocks in order to restore and maintain populations of fish stocks at sustainable levels i.e. above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources can be better achieved through a multiannual approach to fisheries management by adopting the multiannual fisheries management plans which according to the current CFP should reflect the specificities of the different fisheries and of the stocks. The multiannual management plans should provide the framework for the sustainable exploitation of stocks defining clearly the time frame and safeguard mechanisms for unforeseen development in fish stock status.

In 2013 an Inter-institutional Task Force on multiannual plans was established between the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission for the purpose of agreeing on a way forward to facilitate the development and introduction of multiannual plans under the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy. It decided that the target which corresponds to the MSY objective, should be expressed as a range of Fmsy values provided by scientists, which would then be fixed by the co-legislators and established in the plan. The Council would adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities on an annual basis, based on scientific advice and in such a way as to achieve the objectives of the plan.

The first multiannual management plan after the reform of the CFP was adopted for the Baltic Sea region. Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 established a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat (stocks concerned) in the Baltic Sea (the plan). The objective of the plan is to ensure that the exploitation of the stocks concerned restores and maintains populations of those stocks above levels which can produce MSY. The plan sets the quantifiable targets, i.e. fishing mortality ranges, as well as, conservation reference points expressed in terms of MSY Btrigger and Blim. The numerical values of the mentioned parameters were taken from the scientific advice provided by International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2015. The scientific assessment conducted in 2017 shows that the respective MSY values for the stocks of the Bothnian Sea herring and of the Bothnian Bay herring have changed.

Article 5(6) of Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 provides that where, on the basis of scientific advice, the Commission considers that the conservation reference points set out in Annex II to that Regulation no longer correctly express the objectives of the plan, those points, as a matter of urgency, may be submitted for the revision to the European Parliament and the Council.

It is therefore the intention of the Commission to propose an amendment of the Regulation (EU) No 2016/1139 in light of the most recent and the best scientific advice available.

2.RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

The scientific background for the amendment was provided by ICES. In 2017 ICES conducted an evaluation of the herring stocks in the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay. A key issue considered by scientists was stock identification, i.e. whether to combine the two areas in one assessment unit, or continue assessing them separately. It was decided to combine the stock based on the following considerations:

a) there is no strong biological evidence either for combining or separating the stocks;

b) data availability does not support a good quality assessment for the Bothnian Bay herring and this is unlikely to be possible to improve in the future;

c) there is no concern for overexploitation of the smaller stock component in the Bothnian Bay when merged together with a larger component of herring in the Bothnian Sea.

As a result of merging the two stocks, the new MSY reference values were estimated by ICES. The resulting FMSY point value is 0.21. The corresponding FMSY ranges were calculated and resulted in FMSY lower equal to 0.15 and FMSY upper to 0.21. Due to the probability of stock biomass falling below the safeguard levels, the FMSY upper is therefore limited to and equal to FMSY point value of 0.21. The corresponding biomass levels of MSY Btrigger and Blim were calculated to be 283 180 and 202 272 tonnes respectively.

No specific impact assessment has been carried out as the impacts of applying the MSY concept to fisheries management have already been assessed under the impact assessment supporting the reform of the CFP. As part of that impact assessment, the impacts of reaching MSY were quantified. A further impact assessment would not add to the information already available from the previous assessment carried out. The changes to the existing regulation are in accordance of its Article 5(6) and triggered by a scientific advice . They are essential to set or revise, where appropriate, the annual fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea and the proper functioning of the new CFP.

3.LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL

Summary of the proposed action

The main action is to facilitate achieving sustainable fisheries as envisaged under the Common Fisheries Policy reform by adapting the MSY related values to the best scientific advice available.

Legal basis

Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.