Communication from the Commission to the Council - Fishing Opportunities for 2008 : Policy Statement from the European Commission
Date: 2007-06-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, fishery management, fishery resources

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 6.6.2007 
COM(2007) 295 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

Fishing Opportunities for 2008 
Policy Statement from the European Commission 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

Fishing Opportunities for 2008 
Policy Statement from the European Commission 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

2.3. 

2.4. 

2.5. 

3. 

3.1. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Taking Stock ................................................................................................................ 4 

CFP Reform ................................................................................................................. 4 

Scientific advice and TAC decisions 2003-2007 ......................................................... 4 

Economic aspects ......................................................................................................... 6 

Fishing effort................................................................................................................ 6 

Results .......................................................................................................................... 7 

Moving Forward........................................................................................................... 8 

Setting TACs for stocks for which there is no quantitative forecast in relation to 
precautionary limits...................................................................................................... 9 

3.1.1.  Stocks where an advice is provided by scientific agencies.......................................... 9 

3.1.2.  Stocks where no scientific advice is available ........................................................... 10 

3.2. 

3.3. 

3.4. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Setting TACs for stocks outside safe biological limits .............................................. 10 

Setting TACs for cod stocks covered by the cod recovery plan ................................ 11 

Fishing Opportunities as regards Effort management................................................ 11 

Technical Measures.................................................................................................... 11 

Other Issues................................................................................................................ 12 

Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 12 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Commission  Communication  COM(2006)  246  "Improving  consultation  on 
Community  fisheries  management"  set  out  a  new  working  method  for  deciding  on 
annual  fishing  opportunities.  As  part  of  that  approach  the  Commission  sets  out  its 
views concerning fishing opportunities for 2008. As before, fishing opportunities in 
the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea are the main subjects of this Policy 
Statement. 

The  Commission  reaffirms  its  commitment  to  management  under  long-term  plans. 
New plans will be developed and existing plans will be implemented and reviewed. 
For stocks not under long-term plans, generic rules are developed. The Commission 
has also presented a Communication on "Implementing sustainability in EU fisheries 
through maximum sustainable yield (MSY)" in 20061 and will, during 2007, consult 
stakeholders  and  seek  scientific  advice  about  managing  fisheries  so  that  they  can 
achieve  cost  reductions,  higher  catches  and  improved  revenue.  This  approach  will 
guide the development of future long-term plans.  

While  long-term  plans  with  MSY  objectives  are  developed,  fishing  opportunities 
should correspond either to maintaining stocks within these safe biological limits, to 
bringing stocks that are outside safe limits towards or inside such limits (though this 
can  be  done  progressively),  but  they  should  not  correspond  to  a  worsening  of  the 
situation by moving away from safe limits. Also, fishing opportunities should not be 
set that correspond to moving away from MSY objectives. 

The  Commission  also  reaffirms  its  commitment  to  consulting  stakeholders  and 
Member  States  about  setting  fishing  opportunities.  This  consultation  should  take 
place  about  the  long-term  methods  and  rules  to  be  used,  and  will  include  an 
examination of the likely effects of the proposed approach including economic and 
social aspects. In 2006, the first "Policy Statement" was published too late in the year 
for  an  effective  consultation  process  to  take  place  before  the  December  Council. 
Nevertheless,  the  rules  and  guidelines  set  out  in  that  Communication  were  used  by 
the  Commission  in  formulating  its  proposals.  Many  of  the  resulting  figures  were 
acceptable to Member States in Council. In 2007 the  Policy  Statement is presented 
much earlier and the Commission expects that stakeholders and Member States will 
engage in a constructive debate on methods for setting fishing opportunities based on 
good science, and having regard for economic and social consequences.  

The  Commission  is  seeking  scientific  advice  about  the  long-term  effects  of 
implementing the "Policy Statement" rules. Its approach may be modified as a result 
of the advice it receives, as well as in response to contributions from Member States 
and  stakeholders.  However,  when  making  its  proposal,  the  Commission  intends  to 
keep  to  agreed  long-term  approaches  unless  there  are  serious  and  unexpected  new 
elements in the scientific advice provided for 2008. 

1 

To  implement  obligations  undertook  by  the  Community  in  the  2002  World  Summit  on  Sustainable 
Development - COM(2006) 360. 

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The  "Policy  Statement"  rules  should  conform  to  other  Community  policies  such  as 
the Action Plan on Fisheries Biodiversity and the proposed Marine Strategy. While 
the latter is still under discussion, it is anticipated that similar  objectives should be 
reached through these approaches.  

2. 

TAKING STOCK 

2.1. 

CFP Reform 

As part of the preparation of the 2002 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, the 
Commission  concluded2  that  many  stocks  were  outside  safe  biological  limits,  were 
too heavily exploited, or had low quantities of mature fish. This resulted largely from 
setting annual catch limits above those proposed on the basis of scientific advice, and 
from fleet management plans with less ambitious targets than was needed. This was 
made worse by poor enforcement of regulations and led to a precarious situation in 
the industry and to reduced profitability. Stakeholders were not sufficiently involved 
in  the  management  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy.  The  TACs  alone  were 
insufficient  conservation  instruments  because  of  discarding,  high-grading  and  non-
respect. There was also concern about scientific advice concerning ecosystems, data 
collection and sampling, and the adequacy of scientific resources, putting more of the 
science in the public domain, and better analysis in support of decision-making. The 
economic and social dimensions were increasingly regarded as a cause of concern. 

Substantial  changes  were  made  in  the  2002  reform.  The  Regional  Advisory 
Committees  were  created.  The  Commission 
intensified  consultations  with 
stakeholders  and  incorporated  substantial  elements  of  stakeholder  advice  into  its 
proposals,  and  paid  more  attention  to  social  and  economic  consequences.  More 
stocks  were  brought  under  long-term  plans.  Effort  management  was  more  widely 
introduced  as  an  additional  conservation  tool.  Significant  efforts  were  made  to 
improve  control  and  enforcement.  The  Commission  took  up  a  key  demand  from 
stakeholders  –  to  limit  TAC  variations  to  15%  -  throughout  its  TAC  and  quota 
policy. Due attention has been paid to the views of Member States in Council, and 
the  adoption  of  a  fishing  opportunity  in  Council  has  only  very  rarely  been  made 
without  the  agreement  of  the  Member  State  concerned.  Some  Member  States  have 
made significant improvements in their control and enforcement systems.  

2.2. 

Scientific advice and TAC decisions 2003-2007 

Before  considering  decisions  for  2008  it  is  worth  briefly  reviewing  recent  policy 
developments. Long-term management arrangements for northern hake, Biscay sole, 
North  Sea  haddock,  mackerel  and  saithe  have  brought  benefits  to  the  industry  and 
better order in stock management. The Northern hake appears to have recovered and 
returned within safe biological limits, and it has been possible to make increases in 
the  TACs  for  sole  in  the  Bay  if  Biscay  and  in  the  Western  channel  while  still 
reducing  fishing  mortality.  However,  the  recovery  measures  and  the  recovery  plan 
for cod have not brought the improvements that were expected.  

2 

Green Paper. The future of the Common Fisheries Policy. Luxembourg, Office for Official Publications 
of the European Communities, 2001. ISBN 92-894-0904-5. 47pp. 

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The Commission has reviewed scientific advice and decisions since 2002 (Panel 1):  

Panel 1. Summary of scientific advice and TAC decisions since 20023 

Measures of the provision of advice

TACs with full assessment and forecast tables (*)
TACs with a relevant quantitative advice
TACs with no advice

(*) Where one advice covers two TACs, it is not

counted twice

Measures of the state of the stocks

Stocks with a zero-TAC advice
Stocks outside SBL
Stocks inside SBL
Stocks with status unknown wrt SBL

TACs where status is known wrt F MSY
TACs where fishing is above FMSY
TACs fished within Fmsy 

Measures of the Annual Decisions (Raw)

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

40
60
31

24
30
12
49

34
53
40

13
29
10
54

40
55
39

12
26
14
54

34
32
2

31
66
29

14
26
11
58

23
21
2

29
62
35

20
26
12
59

33
30
3

Average deviation from the advised catch (%)

42%

48%

57%

47%

43%

For stocks which were assessed in 2007 :
Average change in F if the TAC is taken (%)
F relative to Fpa if the TAC is taken (%)

-11%
101%

-19%
90%

-4%
99%

-5%
101%

-4%
101%

This  table  illustrates  some  recent  trends.  For  example,  scientists  are  moving  away 
from providing advice based on short-term forecasts.  

The number of forecasts has decreased from 40 to 29, though scientists still provided 
about the same number of catch advices. This could be due either to worsening data, 
or to better knowledge about the limitations of the data. Scientists have been turning 
to simpler principles in giving advice, such as that it is not desirable to increase the 
fishing on a stock if it is not known whether such an increase would be sustainable. 
This  is  consistent  with  the  precautionary  approach  as  included  in  the  Common 
Fisheries Policy's objectives, and serves as a suitable basis for TAC proposals. 

The number of stocks at risk appears neither to be decreasing nor increasing. About 
four-fifths  of  stocks  remain  outside  known  safe  biological  limits.  The  number  of 
stocks  where  a  zero  catch  is  advised  is  roughly  stable  at  about  134.  TAC  decisions 
have  been  on  average  substantially  higher  than  the  annual  catches  advised  by 
scientists, although the percentage is variable among different stocks. This has led to 
very small decreases in the impact of fishing. Only three stocks under TACs (North 
Sea  haddock,  North  Sea  saithe  and  megrims  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay)  are  exploited 
consistently  with  the  commitments  made  at  the  UN  World  Summit  on  Sustainable 
Development in Johannesburg in 2002 about MSY. Continuing to set TACs at much 

3 
4 

The technical basis for this table is available on request from the Commission services. 
Excluding stocks for which a closure was advised on a mixed-fishery basis in 2002 and not counting the 
new advice about depleted shark, skate and ray stocks that was issued in 2006. 

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higher levels than advised means that fisheries have been taking a high risk. And all 
the  more  so  as  many  of  these  TACs  are  substantially  overshot  due  to  insufficient 
enforcement.  

2.3. 

Economic aspects 

Economic  aspects  of  the  fisheries  have  also  changed.  Higher  nominal  prices  were 
attained  by  several  fisheries  products  in  2006.  Prices  of  some  important  species 
remain similar or lower and showed considerable short term volatility in EU markets. 
Other factors, such as the cost structure of each fleet, have had a big impact in the 
economic performance in the period. 

There  have  been  different  trends  in  the  economic  performance  of  the  EU  fisheries 
among fleets, countries and regions depending on the economic net balance of trends 
in  prices,  landings,  operational  costs  (especially  fuel  costs),  fixed  costs  and  overall 
economic productivity. These economic differences are explained by different capital 
intensity, economic structure, activity and behaviour of local fish markets. 

The  trawl  fishing  fleet,  which  has  high  fuel  consumption,  has  suffered  the  highest 
economic deterioration in recent years due to the higher fuel costs, whereas vessels 
using  less  fuel-  intensive  methods  have  showed  a  relative  improvement  in  their 
accounts. 

The latest economic data suggest that productivity is recovering in some EU fleets. 
Coupled  with  more  positive  price  developments  in  some  markets,  this  might  be 
encouraging  and  raise  some  expectations  for  an  overall  improved  economic 
performance. All this will have to be examined more in detail to assess the different 
trends among fleets, countries and regions. 

2.4. 

Fishing effort 

Since the reform, fishing effort limitations have been fixed for western waters5, for 
deep water species6 and for recovery stocks7. 

According  to  data  provided  by  Member  States  to  STECF  the  overall  fishing  effort 
deployed in 2005 compared to 2000 had diminished by about 15% in the Kattegat, by 
about  20%  in  the  North  Sea,  Skagerrak  and  eastern  Channel,  by  about  35%  to  the 
West of Scotland and also by about 35% in the Irish Sea. There have been changes in 
the type of fishing gear used, with decreases in effort using large-mesh trawls (over 
100mm) and increases in effort using smaller-mesh trawls (70-99mm) (Panel 2). 

5 
6 
7 

Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003. 
Regulation (EC) No 2340/2002 and subsequent adaptations. 
Set out in the annual TAC and quota regulations since 2003, and for 2007 in Annex II of Regulation 
(EC) No 41/2007. 

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Panel 2. Effort deployed (kW*days at sea) by group of fishing gears. Top row: left, 
Kattegat Right, North Sea and Skagerrak. Bottom row,. Left, Irish Sea. Right, West of 
Scotland. Source: STECF. 

Area 2a (IIIaS); Total effort

Area 2b (II,IIIaN,IV, VIID); Total Effort

a
e
s

t
a

s
y
a
d

*

W
k

7000000

6000000

5000000

4000000

3000000

2000000

1000000

0

a
e
s

t
a

s
y
a
d
*
W
K

14000000

12000000

10000000

8000000

6000000

4000000

2000000

0

Total

4a, Otter trawls

4b, Beam trawls

4c, Gillnets

4d, Trammel nets

4e, Longlines

Other

200000000
180000000
160000000
140000000
120000000
100000000
80000000
60000000
40000000
20000000
0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Area 2c (VIIa); Total effort

Area 2d (VIa);  Total effort

Total

4a, Otter trawls

4b, Beam trawls

4c, Gillnets

4d, Trammel nets

4e, Longlines

Other

a
e
s

t
a

s
y
a
d

*

W
k

35,000,000

30,000,000

25,000,000

20,000,000

15,000,000

10,000,000

5,000,000

0

Total

4a, Otter trawls

4b, Beam trawls

4c, Gillnets

4d, Trammel nets

4e, Longlines

Other

Total

4a, Otter trawl

4b, Beam trawl

4c, Gillnets

4d, Trammel nets

4e, Longlines

Other

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Despite these declining trends in total fishing effort there has been an increase in the 
effort  deployed  using  smaller-mesh  gear  (70-89mm).  This  may  have  caused  more 
small cod to be caught. Scientific advice is being sought on this question. 

The declining effort shown above may not be directly linked to reductions in days-at-
sea under Annex II of the "fishing opportunities" Regulation. Those decreases began 
well  before  the  introduction  of  the  days-at-sea  limits,  and  no  change  in  the  rate  of 
decline  occurred  when  the  regime  began.  Also,  according  to  the  data  provided  by 
Member  States  only  72%  of  the  fishing  effort  allowed  was  actually  deployed  in 
2006, which would indicate that, on average, the regime did not constrain the activity 
of the fleet.  

This shows that the contribution of the days-at-sea limits to stock recovery is not yet 
sufficient.  The  system  has  also  proved  difficult  to  manage  by  both  Member  States 
and the Commission. It has been criticised as overcomplicated, non-transparent and 
difficult to monitor. There is also some overlap with other effort regimes.  

However,  the  effort  management  system  has  led  to  a  better  understanding  of  the 
operation  of  fishing  fleets,  which  in  some  cases  has  stimulated  the  use  of  more 
selective devices, and which may serve as a basis for further improvements. 

2.5. 

Results 

Overall, since 2002: 

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•  the  stocks  are  not  showing  a  tendency  to  recover  or  to  increase  inside  safe 
biological limits – rather, the industry continues to be in a high-risk situation. The 
situation is worse for demersal stocks, and better for small pelagic stocks; 

•  while  economic  performance  has  been  deteriorating  in  recent  years,  certain 
improvements  in  productivity  and  price  increases  for  some  species  might  be 
encouraging; 

•  the days-at-sea system has often no limiting effect on the overall effort deployed: 

the complexities and costs in terms of management seem disproportionate. 

3. 

MOVING FORWARD 

Clearly the conservation status of European stocks has not yet improved as much as 
needed.  In  order  to  move  stocks  inside  safe  biological  limits  and  improve  the  long 
term economic prospects, serious efforts need to be continued both in TACs and in 
effort  management.  Rules  concerning  effort  management  should  be  simplified  and 
made more effective in controlling fishing. These improvements should be achieved 
through  a  cooperative  approach,  where  consultation  with  the  stakeholders  will  be 
essential, as is improved compliance with fishing opportunity regulations. 

This approach should also ensure that measures to be taken by Council can take due 
account of specific situations of the fishing industry in different parts of the EU. 

Further long-term recovery and management plans need to be developed and existing 
ones  revised,  where  necessary,  for  fish  stocks  which  need  to  be  brought  or 
maintained  within  safe  biological  limits.  More  efforts  are  needed  to  ensure  that 
scientific advice is available in time and that it serves as a reliable scientific basis for 
the decisions to be taken within the CFP. 

The Commission is committed to improving the assessment of social and economic 
impacts  of  the  decisions  to  be  taken.  Stakeholder  consultation  should  contribute  to 
these  assessments.  The  Commission  will  also  seek  scientific  advice  on  socio-
economic aspects in support of its final proposals.  

For  2008  the  Commission  intends  to  prepare  two  proposals  for  regulations 
concerning  fishing  opportunities:  one  concerning  stocks  in  the  Baltic  Sea  to  be 
presented in September 2007, and another for the stocks in other areas, in November 
2007. 

No new proposal concerning deep-sea stocks is foreseen as Council Regulation (EC) 
No 2015/2006 concerning fishing opportunities for deep sea species covers 2008. 

The  Commission  has  already  set  out  the  principles  concerning  fishing  opportunity 
proposals  in  its  previous  "Policy  Statement"  Communication.  These  principles  and 
rules  applied  when  preparing  the  fishing  opportunities  proposal  for  2007  remain 
valid  for  2008.  However,  there  are  some  additional  questions  to  be  raised  with 
stakeholders and Member States. These are set out below. 

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3.1. 

Setting TACs for stocks for which there is no quantitative forecast in relation to 
precautionary limits 

3.1.1. 

Stocks where an advice is provided by scientific agencies 

in  a  less  quantitative  fashion  using 
Scientific  agencies  are  giving  advice 
precautionary criteria, with phrases such as "effort should be reduced substantially" 
without  a  clear  quantification.  Advice  phrased  in  this  way  will  have  been  provided 
after consideration of the trends in the data and of the results of modelling exercises 
even  though  these  may  not  have  been  presented.  Such  advice  should  be  taken  as 
seriously as advice given where the results of a mathematical model is presented to 
managers.  To  do  otherwise  would  be  to  create  an  unwise  constraint  on  the  advice 
provided  by  scientists:  it  would  not  be  right  to  require  scientists  to  present  a 
mathematical  model  in  order  to  have  their  advice  taken  seriously.  Additionally, 
valuable  but  non-quantified  statements  about  the  state  of  a  fish  stock  have  to  be 
translated  into  practical  measures.  Taking  these  points  into  consideration,  the 
Commission considers that the following guidelines should apply:  

a)  where there is an advice by STECF to limit catches at a particular level, this 
should be treated in the same way irrespective of whether this is accompanied by a 
catch forecast table – the rule of moving the TAC towards the advised catch level in 
steps of no more than 15% per year should be followed; 

b)  where there is an advice to reduce effort, STECF should be asked to measure 
effort levels and to advise on the level of appropriate effort, and while such studies 
are being carried out, the TACs should be reduced by up to 15%; 

c)  where there is a non-quantified indication that stock sizes are improving due to 
good  recruitment,  a  15%  increase  in  the  TAC  should  be  applied;  conversely  where 
there  is  a  non-quantified  indication  that  a  stock  is  at  high  risk  or  declining  due  to 
weak recruitment, a decrease of up to 15% should apply; 

d)  where  there  is  a  very  strong  –  but  non-quantified  –  indication  that  a  stock  is 
depleted and an advice for a zero catch or a reduction to the lowest possible level is 
provided, the Commission will propose a reduction that is as large as is compatible 
with  any  mixed  fisheries  considerations  and  with  relevant  social  and  economic 
considerations. If a recovery plan is in force concerning the stock, the best possible 
approximation to the recovery plan rules will be proposed in the light of the existing 
scientific  knowledge.  In  any  event,  the  proposed  reduction  will  be  no  less  than  the 
reduction implied by general principles outlined above. 

The  Commission  invites  stakeholders  and  Member  States  to  improve  the  data 
concerning the stocks they exploit, as well as concerning economic performance; and 
to  comment  on  the  implementation  of  scientific  advice  according  to  the  above 
guidelines. 

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3.1.2. 

Stocks where no scientific advice is available 

For a number of stocks no biological advice or information is available from STECF. 
In these cases, the precautionary approach, as incorporated in the Common Fisheries 
Policy8,  can  be  applied  without  reference  to  scientific  advice.  In  these  cases,  the 
guiding principle can be that no expansion of the fishery should be foreseen because 
there  are  no  scientific  data  showing  that  such  an  expansion  could  be  sustainable. 
Where current TACs are substantially higher than the real recent catches, they would 
be adapted towards the real catches at a rate of 15% per year. 

3.2. 

Setting TACs for stocks outside safe biological limits 

Recent  experience  (see  2.5.)  shows  that  decisions  made  concerning  fishing 
opportunities  after  consulting  stakeholders  have  not  in  general  resulted  in 
improvements  in  stock  status  with  respect  to  precautionary  reference  points.  The 
fishing industry is continuing in a high risk situation concerning many stocks.  

The 15% limit on TAC reductions may be problematic in such cases. For example, 
the a 15% limit on TAC reductions would not have prevented the decline of the West 
of Scotland cod.  

That stock fell outside safe biological limits in 1985 and thereafter the stock size fell 
by about 10% per year. If the TAC had been reduced by 15% in each year during that 
period, fishing mortality would have reduced by only 5% annually. This is too slow 
to  ensure  a  safe  recovery  of  a  stock.  In  such  cases,  larger  reductions  that  15%  per 
year are likely to be needed in order to gain significant improvements in the fishery. 

In order to return such stocks to within safe limits, fishing opportunities should be set 
that  will  reduce  fishing  mortality,  which  may  mean  reducing  TACs  by  more  than 
15%.  Whereas  in  the  "Policy  Statement"  for  2007  it  was  envisaged  not  to  propose 
fishing opportunities that would result in further deteriorations in stock status, a more 
positive  approach  could  be  needed,  e.g.  leading  to  movements  towards  safe 
biological limits at a reasonably rapid rate. 

In  order  to  comply  with  the  principles  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy,  the 
Commission  requires  that  its  proposal  for  fishing  opportunities  should  lead  to  a 
reduction in the number of stocks outside  precautionary limits. Also, where fishing 
mortality  exceeds  precautionary  limits,  fishing  opportunities  should  be  set  that 
reduces the fishing mortality towards those limits. 

The  Commission  invites  stakeholders  to  give  their  opinion  on  methods  to  reduce 
long-term  risks  by  alternative  methods  for  setting  fishing  opportunities,  and 
specifically by allowing for more rapid recovery for stocks outside safe biological 
limits,  a  reduction  in  the  number  of  stocks  outside  safe  biological  limits  and  a 
reduction in fishing mortality rates where these exceed precautionary rates. 

8 

Article  2  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2371/2002  of  20  December  2002  on  the  conservation  and 
sustainable  exploitation  of  fisheries  resources  under  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy  (OJ  L  358, 
31.12.2002, p. 59). 

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3.3. 

Setting TACs for cod stocks covered by the cod recovery plan 

For 2008, the Commission will propose fishing opportunities for cod stocks that are 
consistent with the provisions of the recovery plan if STECF is able to measure stock 
size and fishing mortality to allow the direct application of the plan.  

As of 2006, there had been no detectable reduction in cod mortality in most areas and 
no  significant  recovery  of  the  stock.  Management  arrangements  in  2007  have  been 
similar to those in place since 2004, and this is likely to continue into 2007. The cod 
conservation  measures  will  be  reviewed  in  2007.  While  no  new  regulation  will  be 
proposed concerning cod recovery until 2008, lessons learned in the review process 
will  be  taken  into  account  when  making  proposals  for  fishing  opportunities 
concerning cod for 2008. 

Conservation measures for Celtic Sea cod will be proposed that are comparable and 
proportionate to those applicable to the other cod stocks pending the inclusion of this 
stock in the cod recovery regulation. 

A  specific  consultation  exercise  will  be  held  concerning  cod  recovery  measures, 
building  on  the  results  of  the  symposium  on  cod  recovery  held  in  Edinburgh 
(March  2007).  The  lessons  learned  will  be  used  when  making  the  2008  fishing 
opportunities  proposal  in  the  framework  of  the  existing  plan,  as  well  as  in  its 
future revision. 

3.4. 

Fishing Opportunities as regards Effort management 

The  Commission  will  propose  adjustments  to  the  permissible  effort  levels  in 
accordance with the long-term management and recovery plans in force.  

The Commission will start a debate in 2007 to investigate, together with all relevant 
stakeholders  and  Member  States,  how  to  simplify,  improve,  and  consolidate  the 
existing  effort  regimes.  This  will  start  with  a  discussion  on  the  definition  of  effort 
and  capacity  indicators  (COM(2007)  39),  taking  account  of  the  cod  recovery 
symposium.  The  results  will  guide  the  Commission  in  establishing  common  rules 
covering existing effort regimes. This will improve enforceability and efficiency, so 
helping  cod  recovery.  The  debate  will  also  guide  possible  proposals  to  be  made  in 
2007 setting out transitional measures applicable in 2008.  

Stakeholders and Member States are invited to take part in this debate actively. 

4. 

TECHNICAL MEASURES 

The  number  of  technical  measures  included  in  the  annual  "fishing  opportunities" 
regulations will be reduced by moving measures to three other regulations. 

A proposal concerning conservation and enforcement measures in the NAFO area is 
to  be  adopted  by  the  Council  in  May  2007.  Technical  measures  for  fisheries  in 
Atlantic  waters  are  currently  being  reviewed,  and  a  proposal  revising  Council 
Regulation  (EC)  No  850/98  will  be  presented  in  the  autumn  of  2007.  The 
technical  measures 
Commission  will  also  propose  a  regulation  concerning 

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recommended  by  the  International  Commission  for  the  Conservation  of  Atlantic 
Tunas (ICCAT) in the first half of 2007. 

A review of measures concerning deep-sea gill nets will be carried out as part of the 
general review of technical measures. Transitional measures may be proposed in the 
"Annex III" for 2008. 

The Commission will discuss the implementation of fisheries management measures 
in  the  Mediterranean  Sea  with  stakeholders  and  Member  States.  Where  there  is 
agreement that an early adoption of measures would be beneficial, the Commission 
may propose such measures in "Annex III". 

A  separate  Communication  addresses  the  issue  of  discard  reduction  in  depth9.  If 
appropriate some initial measures to reduce discards may be proposed in the "Annex 
III" also. 

5. 

OTHER ISSUES 

Member  States  undertook  to  provide  data  on  spurdog  catches  in  2007.  Based  on 
these,  the  Commission  will  propose  one  or  more  TACs  and  allocations  to  Member 
States in order to protect this depleted stock.  

The Commission will work on a long-term plan for the northern hake stock in 2007, 
including an  impact  assessment and consultations with stakeholders. The long-term 
plan  should  be  compatible  with  the  decision  taken  at  the  2002  World  Summit  on 
Sustainable Development concerning maximum sustainable yield. 

Concerning porbeagle, the Commission will, after consultation with Member States, 
propose  a  recommendation  to  the  International  Council  for  the  Conservation  of 
Atlantic  Tunas  in  2007.  Corresponding  measures  will  be  proposed  as  part  of  the 
"fishing opportunities" for 2008. 

6. 

CONCLUSION 

Stakeholders and Member States are invited to make a detailed examination on the 
issues  raised.  In  order  that  the  results  of  consultations  can  be  used  in  time,  the 
Commission requests that contributions be finalised by 31 July 2007. 

9 

A  policy  to  reduce  unwanted  by-catches  and  eliminate  discards  in  European  fisheries  -  COM(2007) 
136. 

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