COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2013
Date: 2012-06-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU waters, catch quota, fishing rights, sea fish, ship's flag

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 7.6.2012  
COM(2012) 278 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

TO THE COUNCIL  
concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2013 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

TO THE COUNCIL  
concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2013 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

This  consultation  document  sets  out  the  ideas  of  the  European  Commission 
concerning  the  ways  in  which  total  allowable  catches  (TACs)  and  effort  levels 
should be fixed in European waters and for European fishers in 2013 and, for certain 
stocks,  2013-2014.  Member  States,  Regional  Advisory  Councils  (RACs)  and  the 
Advisory  Committee  for  Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  (ACFA)  are  invited  to  provide 
their views to the Commission for consideration before a final decision is taken on 
the Commission's proposals. 

A  new  approach  to  setting  TACs  for  stocks  where  full  quantitative  advice  is  not 
available  is  set  out,  based  on  obtaining  qualitative  advice  and  the  use  of  less  data-
demanding assessment procedures in the provision of advice by scientific institutions 
(Section 4.1). 

Recent information about the development of the Common Fisheries Policy over the 
last  years  is  summarised,  based  on  scientific  advice  on  the  state  of  exploited  fish 
stocks  in  European  and  nearby  waters  and  on  economic  data  provided  by  Member 
States.  

their  most  productive 

The aim of setting levels of TACs, quotas and fishing effort levels should remain to 
phase  out  overfishing.  Overfishing  poses  a  risk  of  commercial  collapse.  Ending 
overfishing  means  that  as  much  or  more  fish  could  be  caught  with  less  fishing 
activity,  less  fuel  burnt  and  smaller  fishing  gears.  This  means  taking  each  year  a 
proportion  of  the  fish  in  the  sea  that  is  the  right  amount  to  let  fish  grow  and 
the  prevalent  ecological 
reproduce  at 
circumstances. Under these conditions, the long-term catches from fish stocks will be 
at their maximum sustainable yield level (MSY). In 2002, the European Commission 
and the Member States of the Union committed themselves to reach the objective of 
MSY by 2015. A plan for moving to MSY was set out by the Commission in 20061. 
In  2007,  Member  States  in  Council  encouraged  the  Commission  to  work  towards 
MSY and were mindful of the need to gather scientific advice, implement long-term 
plans with impact assessments, and consult stakeholders. 

level  under 

Achieving and maintaining MSY will bring significant benefits, and brings with it a 
change from fishing intensively on scarce resources to fishing better on larger stocks. 
The  same  or  larger  quantities  will  be  caught,  but  with  lower  impact  on  the 
environment. Impacts of fishing on sea bottoms will be less, by-catches of vulnerable 

1 

Implementing sustainability in EU fisheries through maximum sustainable yield. Communication from 
the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament. COM (2006) 360 final.  

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organisms  including  porpoises,  dolphins  and  other  marine  mammals  will  decrease, 
because  the  overall  intensity  of  fishing  will  be  less.  Against  a  background  of  high 
fuel  prices,  fuel  consumption  should  decrease  significantly  because  it  takes  less 
fishing time to catch a tonne of fish from an abundant stock than from a scarce one. 
This will reduce carbon emissions as well as the fuel expenditure of vessel owners. 

Another  important  benefit  is  that  pressures  to  discard  will  decrease.  Heavily-fished 
stocks are mostly made up of smaller and less valuable fish which are thrown back 
either because of their low value on the markets or because they are undersized and it 
is illegal to land them under the present rules. By reducing the rate of fishing, more 
fish  will  have  a  chance  to  grow  to  a  valuable  size  and  it  will  be  much  easier  for 
fishermen to take catches of good-sized fish without taking the smaller fish. 

In 2010 the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) developed a 
new form of advice concerning TAC levels which will lead to MSY fishing by 2015. 
The Commission based its TAC proposals on this new approach in 2011. For 2013, 
ICES  plans  to  develop  the  MSY  framework  further  so  as  to  provide  a  quantified 
advice for stocks for which it has hitherto been unable to provide such advice. This 
development  will  be  based  on  more  extensive  use  of  assessment  methods  that  are 
robust to missing information, and on greater and more systematic use of qualitative 
evaluations  within  a  quantitative  framework.  The  Commission  welcomes  this 
approach,  which  will  greatly  improve  the  information  base  upon  which  TAC 
proposals are made. 

2. 

STATE OF FISH STOCKS 

It is worrying that in European waters 65% of the stocks are not fully assessed and 
only 22% of stocks under TACs known not to be overfished (Annex I). Futhermore, 
the  tendency  over  the  past  years  has  been  that  a  decreasing  proportion  of  stocks 
(from  47%  in  2003  to  35%  in  2012)  can  be  classified  according  to  safe  biological 
limits.  It  is  not  clear  how  far  this  may  be  affecting  the  data  (i.e.  is  it  the  stocks  at 
highest risk that are no longer assessed ?).  

However,  where  the  state  of  stocks  has  been  assessed,  they  seem  to  be  improving, 
albeit slowly: the proportion of overfished2 stocks in the Atlantic and nearby seas fell 
from  32  out  of  34  stocks  in  2004  to  18  out  of  38  stocks  in  2011,  i.e.  from  94%  to 
47%.  (see  Annex  I  for  details).  Achieving  MSY  is  a  realistic  and  achievable  goal. 
The  new  stocks  that  are  no  longer  assessed  as  overfished  include  Iberian-Atlantic 
anglerfish,  blue  whiting,  Celtic  Sea  sole,  west  of  Scotland  haddock,  North  Sea 
herring, North Sea plaice and Herring in the Gulf of Bothnia. For 2012 several TAC 
increases  were  possible,  which  will  provide  over  €135m  in  additional  income  for 
fishermen. Fishing policies based on  MSY are already starting to deliver more fish 
for consumers and potentially more jobs and more income for people working in the 
catching and processing sectors.  

2 

"Overfished" means that the latest estimate of fishing mortality rate is higher than the fishing mortality 
rate that will deliver maximum sustainable yield in the long term. 

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Current  knowledge  on  the  state  of  fish  stocks  is  summarised  in  Annex  I  and 
described briefly below on a regional basis3.  

Northeast Atlantic Pelagic stocks: All the main pelagic stocks except mackerel are 
now fished at or within MSY fishing rates, and corresponding TACs have been set 
for 2012. The Union has undertaken numerous attempts to secure the agreement of 
Iceland  and  the  Faroe  Islands  to  join  Norway  and  the  EU  in  the  sustainable 
management of mackerel. The total of the mackerel TACs fixed by the EU, Norway, 
Faroe Islands and Iceland in 2012 were 36% above the scientific advice (excluding 
Russian  catches).  The  rate  of  fishing  of  mackerel  is  well  outside  sustainable  limits 
and the stock will decline in future years if an agreement with Iceland and the Faroe 
Islands cannot be reached for the sustainable management of this stock. This failure 
to agree and the loss of proper management has led to the loss of certification as a 
sustainably managed stock by the Marine Stewardship Council. 

In the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat plaice, haddock, herring, Nephrops and 
sole (in the Skagerrak and Kattegat only) are fished in accordance with MSY fishing 
mortality  rates.  Other  stocks  are  either  in  unknown  state  or  are  overfished.  TACs 
exceeded scientific advice by 5% in 2012 compared with 11% in 2011, 17% in 2010 
and 37% in 2009. 

Many  stocks  in  the  west  of  Scotland,  Irish  Sea  and  Celtic  Sea  are  small  with 
uncertain  assessments.  ICES  has  reported  problems  with  recording  of  catches  and 
other  data,  including  discards,  for  a  number  of  stocks.  Five  stocks  are  so  depleted 
that, according to scientific advice, catches should be reduced to the lowest possible 
level. Of 18 stocks where MSY assessments could be made, a third were overfished 
and 12 were fished at or below MSY targets. Celtic Sea herring and west of Scotland 
haddock have shown welcome improvements recently, but already high discards of 
cod, haddock and whiting will increase if intensive fishing with small mesh nets for 
Nephrops continues without the greater use of selective gear that will let small fish 
escape. The catch-composition rules that were introduced to protect this stock when 
it was at a low level have now been suspended4. Member States have committed to 
introducing more selective fishing gear to reduce discards. 

Few  assessments  are  available  for  the  stocks  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  and  Iberian-
Atlantic  Seas.  Southern  hake  are  in  better  shape  due  to  good  recruitment  of 
juveniles,  but  large  over-quota  catches  were  again  taken  in  2011,  so  the  long-term 
sustainability of this stock is at risk and market prices are low. The Commission and 
Spain are working on an action plan to adapt the national catch and effort registration 
system  to  meet  that  challenge.  Audits  of  the catch and effort registration system in 
other Atlantic Member States will be completed during summer 2012. Nephrops in 
the Cantabrian Sea are still subject to an advice to stop fishing. 

3 
A table of European quotas and relevant "traffic lights" can be read at  
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/documentation/publications/poster_tac2012_en.pdf. 
A full analysis of the state of fish stocks can be found at www.ices.dk and https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu 
4 

Commission  Regulation  (EU)  No  161/2012  of  23  February  2012  on  emergency  measures  for  the 
protection of haddock stocks in waters to the west of Scotland. OJ L 52 pp.6-7, 24.2.2012 

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In  the  Baltic  Sea,  5  out  of  7  known  stocks  remain  overfished.  Only  cod  in  the 
Eastern  Baltic  and  herring  in  the  Bothnian  Sea  are  fished  at  maximum  sustainable 
yield rates. 

In the Mediterranean, 80% of the resources studied are overfished and some are at 
low  levels  (Annex  Ib).  The  number  and  quality  of  assessments,  though  still 
geographically unbalanced and not regular over time have continued to increase,. and 
now  cover  more  than  100  stocks  from  27  species;  however  only  63%  of  evaluated 
stocks have been classified according to MSY criteria. The status of 37 % of stocks 
remain unknown. As these assessments have begun only recently and not all of the 
stocks  are  assessed  every  year,  it  is  not  possible  to  use  these  data  to  look  at  the 
development of the state of the stocks over time. 

In  the  Black  Sea,  the  situation  has  not  changed  significantly.  Sprat  is  in  good 
condition based on recent strong recruitments and is fished sustainably while turbot 
is still highly overfished.  

3. 

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 

Economic performance is expected to be poor in many sectors of the European fish 
catching industry, particularly the demersal sectors. There are two reasons for this.  

Firstly, the continued poor state of many fish stocks means that catch rates are lower 
and  costs  associated  with  fishing  –  and  notably  fuel  usage-  have  been  higher  than 
necessary.  However,  TAC  increases  worth  at  least  €135m  were  already  possible  in 
2012, indicating that the short-term negative economic and social impacts resulting 
from the transition to MSY could be less than was feared. The anticipated long-term 
positive  gains  from  MSY  are  kicking-in  earlier  than  expected.  Nevertheless,  the 
financial resilience of the sector is still presently quite low. 

Secondly, fuel prices have climbed again to values close to the peak values reached 
in  July  2008,  and  prices  of  fish  in  the  main  consumer  markets  fell  slightly.  Some 
offset  of  these  stresses  could  be  achieved  by  changing  to  more  fuel-efficient 
propulsion  and  changes  in  fishing  behaviour  and  fishing  gear.  Improvements  in 
marketing strategies could also bolster the stability of the sector. However, it is the 
phasing  out  of  overfishing  that  can  make  the  biggest  contribution  to  economic 
efficiency and stability in the face of challenges from higher costs and lower product 
prices. 

The most recent employment figures available (for 2009) show that the total number 
of  fishermen  employed  in  the  EU  fishing  fleet  (excluding  Greece,  whose  figures 
were not submitted) was 134,700 - a decrease of around 8% compared to 2005. Thus, 
employment in the sector continues to decrease. An improvement in the underlying 
state of fish stocks is essential to halt this declining tendency. 

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4. 

POLICY DIRECTIONS  

4.1. 

Developments in scientific advice for stocks where information is incomplete 

5 
In  2011,  quantified  scientific  advice  about  overfishing  with  respect  to  Fmsy
(excluding deep-sea species) could be provided for 38 stocks out of 92 in the North-
east  Atlantic,  i.e.  41%  of  stocks,  though  this  advice  covers  most  of  the  larger  and 
commercially important resources. In total, 2 million tonnes of fishing opportunities 
are  covered  by  this  advice,  out  of  2.5  million  tonnes  total  corresponding  fishing 
opportunities  (i.e.  80%  of  the  catch  tonnage  is  covered  by  advice).  In  the 
Mediterranean and Black Sea, out of 103 stocks investigated in 2011, advice about 
overfishing could be provided in 65 cases (63%).  

In  the  Atlantic,  North  Sea  and  Baltic  Sea,  the  number  of  stocks  for  which  advice 
could be provided with respect to MSY rose from 34 in 2005 to 39 in 2010 and was 
38 in 2012. There has been a slight declining trend in the proportion of stocks where 
a  quantified  analysis  and  forecast  is  available.  The  proportion  of  stocks  where  no 
scientific  advice  is  available  rose  from  45%  in  2003  to  52%  in  2006  and  then  fell 
again to 36% for 2012. 

The reasons for the absence of advice are various: missing or unreliable information 
on catches, incomplete surveys or poor sampling, or underlying uncertainties about 
the biology of the stock as well as lack of human resources in the scientific advisory 
process.  Providing  scientific  data  on  fisheries  according  to  the  EU  data  collection 
framework6  is  the  responsibility  of  Member  States,  and  these  responsibilities  in  a 
number of cases are not met fully despite the available EU funding. In 2011, Member 
States  were  urged  by  the  Commission  and  the  Council  to  improve  data  availability 
for  the  stocks  in  Table  1.  The  results  of  this  exercise  will  become  apparent  in  the 
forthcoming advice of ICES, due in June 2012. 

Table  1  –  Stocks subject to a joint statement by Council and Commission on improving 
data availability in European waters of the Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea. 

Stocks 

Anglerfish 

Anglerfish 

Anglerfish 

Haddock 

Horse mackerel 

Megrims 

Areas 

[ North Sea and] West of Scotland 

Celtic Seas 

Bay of Biscay 

Celtic Sea 

North Sea 

Celtic Sea 

5 
6 

The rate of fishing that will achieve the highest levels of catch on average and for the long term. 
Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  199/2008  of  25  February  2008  concerning  the  establishment  of  a 
Community  framework  for  the  collection,  management  and  use  of  data  in  the  fisheries  sector  and 
support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. OJ L 60, 5.3.2008, p. 1-12 

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Megrims 

Plaice 

Plaice 

Plaice 

Pollack 

Pollack 

Bay of Biscay 

Irish Sea 

Celtic Sea (Area VIIfg) 

Baltic Sea 

West Scotland 

Celtic Sea 

Skates and Rays 

West Scotland 

Sprat 

Sprat 

Whiting 

Channel 

North Sea 

Celtic Sea 

Following  additional  scientific  studies  in  2012,  it  is  expected  that  the  scope  of 
scientific advice will be extended to cover more, if not most, of the stocks. While in 
2011  we  had  over  44  stocks  for  which  the  scientific  assessments  could  not  be 
completed, this figure is likely to decrease to about 10-12 in 2012. This will require 
the use of assessment methods and advisory procedures which are novel in European 
advice,  but  which  have  been  well  tried  and  tested  elsewhere.  It  will  allow  case-
specific considerations to be taken into account, as was recommended in the public 
consultations held in 2011.  

The  Commission  looks  forward  to  using  this  new  advice  to  base  its  proposals  on 
fishing  opportunities  for  these  resources  in  2013  and,  where  applicable,  2014. 
However, where scientific advice is unavailable and uncertainty is greater it remains 
appropriate  to  use  a  more  cautious  approach  to  setting  fishing  opportunities,  in 
accordance with the precautionary principle7.  

Meanwhile, Member States should devote sufficient resources to deliver urgently the 
necessary  information  to  allow  the  state  of  the  stocks  to  be  estimated.  The 
Commission  will  continue  to  promote  development  of  common  standards  and 
programmes  for  monitoring  and  assessing  stocks  in  the  Mediterranean  and  Black 
Seas, including those shared with non-EU countries. Expert working groups will be 
convened  to  focus  on  those  stocks  and  areas  which  have  received  less  scientific 
coverage to date. 

4.2. 

Fishing effort 

Fishing effort (limits on time at sea for fishing vessels) has been managed alongside 
TACs  to  reduce  discards  and  illegal  catches.  Effort  management  is  a  conservation 

7 

Communication from the Commission on the precautionary principle. COM (2000) 1 final 

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measure used in several long-term management plans, e.g. for cod in the North Sea 
and  Baltic  Sea,  the  North  Sea  plaice  and  sole,  the  western  Channel  sole  and  the 
southern hake and Norway lobster stocks (Annex II). 

Annex II shows a general, if irregular, trend towards decreasing fishing effort since 
2003 or 2004 until 2010. 

The total effort decreases are greatest for the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Kattegat, 
the Irish Sea, and the west of Scotland but slightly less in the Western channel. Only 
small  decreases  occurred  in  the  Iberian-Atlantic  area  up  to  2009.  However,  total 
effort increased slightly in the central Baltic Sea and beam-trawl effort also increased 
in the western Channel from 2010 to 2011. 

Clearly, measures to reduce effort in this area have not yet been effective. 

During 2012 the  Commission will review effort  management  regimes  implemented 
so far in the EU. This will include a public meeting to be held on 5 July 2012 and 
will  examine  a  wide  range  of  issues,  as  raised  by  science,  Member  States, 
stakeholders and industry with a view to moving forward on the issue of simplifying 
stock management to a great extend in a reformed Common Fisheries Policy.  

5. 

MANAGEMENT BY MULTI-ANNUAL PLANS 

The Commission has started preparations to replace current single-stock-based plans 
with  multi-stock  management  plans.  The  first  proposal  to  be  presented  will  be  a 
multi-species  plan  for  the  Baltic  Sea,  incorporating  biological  interactions  such  as 
predation and competition. Work is also underway on a mixed-fisheries plan for the 
North  Sea,  which  will  incorporate  technical  interactions,  i.e.  the  way  in  which 
different fleets and fishing gears catch different mixtures of fish.  

Mixed-fisheries plans for the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and west of Scotland are to follow 
once  the  science  is  consolidated.  Development  of  proposals  to  amend  the  current 
plans  for  sole  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  and  Southern  hake  and  Norway  lobster  are 
scheduled but will depend on the availability of data on the fisheries concerned.  

Plan  proposals  for  anchovy  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  Baltic  salmon  and  western  horse 
mackerel  have  been  adopted  by  the  Commission  between  2009  and  2011  and  are 
under discussion in Parliament and in Council. 

In the Mediterranean, effort will continue in consolidating the scientific advice on an 
increasing number of species and stocks to develop international long-term fisheries 
plans. According to the Mediterranean Regulation8, EU Member States should set up 
multiannual  plans  at  a  national  level.  Despite  important  delays,  there  has  recently 
been  progress  in  the  implementation  of  this  obligation,  which  is  being  closely 
monitored  and  supported.  To  further  speed  up  this  process,  the  Commission  has 
already  started  precontentious  procedures  against  several  Member  States,  and  this 
action  will  be  further  developed  in  2012.  Follow-up  is  also  planned  at  the  General 
Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean concerning shared stocks.  

8 

Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 

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These  actions  are  expected  to  improve  decision–making  for  the  establishment  of 
international multiannual plans.  

6. 

WORKING METHOD FOR PROPOSING TACS 

The following principles should apply: 

Where  long-term  plans  governing  TACs  or  effort  limits  apply,  these  have  to  be 
followed.  The  Commission  will  also  propose  TACs  or  effort  limits  at  levels 
consistent wth Commission proposals for long-term management plans. 

Where TACs and other measures have been agreed with third countries, these have 
to be implemented. 

Where  scientific  advice  is  provided  based  on  comprehensive  data  and  quantitative 
analysis and forecasts according to the ICES "MSY framework" TACs should be set 
according  to  scientific  advice.  When  such  advice  is  available  it  should  be  directly 
used to fix levels of quotas or fishing effort, though a gradual implementation of this 
framework by 2015 could be accepted where this is compatible with the advice. 

Where  indicative  scientific  advice  is  provided  based  on  qualitiative  analysis  of 
available  information  (even  if  this  is  incomplete  or  incorporates  expert  judgement) 
this should be used as a basis for TAC decisions. 

Where there is no scientific advice at all there is a need to follow the precautionary 
approach.  

TACs  for  species  not  yet  subject  to  TACs  and  quotas  may  be  proposed  in  light  of 
scientific advice signaling a consistent increase in landings. Candidate species in this 
regard include sea bass and red mullet Guidelines for new and developing fisheries 
will  be  developed  in accordance with the statement in the minutes of the 2010 and 
2011  December  Councils.  Such  guidelines  will  follow  the  principles  and  best 
practices  and  international  standards  for  responsible  fisheries.  The  development  of 
allocation  keys  for  these  stocks  will  be  necessary,  based  on  track  records,  on  the 
condition  that  such  records  have  been  established  while  fishing  in  full  compliance 
with applicable (e.g. technical) conservation measures. 

It is necessary to ensure the best fit between TAC regulatory areas and stock identity 
in order for fishing opportunities to meet the conservation and management status of 
the  various  stocks.  The  management  of  Norway  lobster  by  functional  units  and  the 
management of the two stocks of plaice in the Channel require consideration in this 
respect  and  the  Commission  would  encourage  Member  States  to  support  the 
necessary  TAC  rearrangement  work  required  in  these  cases.  It  reserves  the  right  to 
include  such  arrangements  in  its  proposals  and  welcomes  feedback  from  Member 
States  and  stakeholders  specifically  on  this  issue.  In  order  to  lay  the  foundation  of 
stock-specific management for lemon sole, dab, flounder and witch in the North Sea, 
separate reporting of the landings of these species will be proposed. 

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7. 

DEEP SEA SPECIES IN THE NORTHEAST ATLANTIC 

The state of many deep-stocks cause concern. Stocks of orange roughy, certain deep-
sea sharks, red sea bream in the Bay of Biscay and roundnose grenadier are depleted. 
Advice for most stocks is that fisheries should either be reduced or not be allowed to 
expand unless they are known to be sustainable. In the case of faster-growing species 
such as tusk, ling, blue ling, red seabream and black scabbard, it may prove possible 
to  identify  reference  points  to  allow  management  of  the  stocks  on  a  long-term 
sustainable basis, but these are not presently available.. 

TACs  for  deep-sea  species  are  fixed  every  two  years,  most  recently  for  2011  and 
2012. The Commission will present a separate proposal concerning deep-sea fishing 
opportunities  for  the  period  2013-2014  based  on  the  working  method  described 
above. 

8. 

TACS FIXED BY MEMBER STATES 

Since  2011,  TACs  for  6  stocks  have  been  "delegated"  to  the  sole  Member  States 
fishing  each  of  these  stocks  (Article  6  of  Council  Regulation  No  57/2011  and  of 
Council Regulation 43/2012). This has been done – subject to safeguards concerning 
good  management  -  in  cases  where  only  one  Member  State  has  an  interest  in  the 
fishery.  Reporting  by  the  Member  States  concerned  under  Article  6  has  improved, 
though the quality of reports is uneven. In some cases, data on which to build advice 
on  appropriate  measures  to  manage  the  stocks  is  still  lacking,  and  for  these  stocks 
additional  caution  is  required.  The  Commission  intends  to  propose  the  continued 
delegation of these TACs. There will be specific follow-up with the relevant Member 
States concerned as regards stocks for which further efforts are required.  

9. 

SCHEDULE OF PROPOSALS 

The tentative timetable of work could be as follows:  

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Advice 
Available 

Commission 
Proposal 

Possible adoption 
by Council 

June 

mid-September 

October 

June 

September 

November 

October-
December 

November 

December 

Fishing 
Opportunities 
Regulation 

Deep-sea 2013-
2014 

EU stocks in 
Atlantic and 
North Sea (no 
international 
negotiations or 
agreements) 

International 
and joint stocks 
in Atlantic, 
North Sea, 
Antarctic and 
other areas 

Baltic Sea 

May 

Early September 

October 

Black Sea 

October 

November 

December 

10. 

CONCLUSION 

The  Commission  solicits  the  views  ofMember  States,  the  RACs  and  ACFA 
concerning the approach set out in this Communication.  

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ANNEX Ia –North-East Atlantic and adjacent waters 

Table 1. Scientific 
advice about the state 
of the stock 

Outside safe biological 
limits 
Inside safe biological 
limits 
% of stocks inside safe 
biological limits 
The state of the stock is 
unknown due to poor data 
% of stocks of known 
status 

Table 2. Scientific 
advice about 
overfishing 

The rate of fishing on the 
stock is known compared 
to maximum sustainable 
yield rate 

The stock is overfished 
The stock is fished at the 
maximum sustainable 
yield rate 

Number of fish stocks 

2003  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009  2010  2011  2012 Ave 
rage

30 

12 

29 

10 

26 

14 

26 

11 

26 

12 

28 

13 

27 

12 

22 

15 

19 

15 

14 

18 

25 

13 

29%  26%  35%  30%  32%  32%  31%  41%  44%  56%  35% 

48 

53 

53 

57 

58 

55 

57 

60 

61 

60 

56 

47%  42% 43% 39% 40% 43% 41%  38%  36%  35% 40% 

Number of fish stocks 

2003  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009  2010  2011  2012

Ave 
rage

34 

23 

32 

33 

35 

39 

35 

38 

34 

32 

21 

30 

29 

30 

28 

22 

18 

26 

2 

2 

2 

4 

5 

11 

13 

20 

7 

% of stocks overfished 

94% 91% 94% 88% 86%  72%  63%  47% 79% 

Table 3. "Emergency" 
scientific advice 

Scientific advice to stop 
fishing 

Table 4. Difference 
between TACs and 
sustainable catches 

Number of fish stocks 

2003  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009  2010  2011  2012

Ave 
rage

24 

13 

12 

14 

20 

18 

17 

14 

11 

8 

15 

Number of fish stocks 

2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  Ave 
rage 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
Excess of TAC over 
sustainable catch 
(%) 

Table 5. Summary 
of the scientific 
advice about 
fishing 
opportunities 

Stocks where stock 
size and fishing 
mortality can be 
forecast 
Stocks where a 
scientific advice 
concerning fishing 
opportunities is 
available 
Stocks where no 
scientific advice is 
available 

46% 

49% 

59% 47% 45% 51% 48% 34% 

23% 

11% 41% 

Number of fish stocks 

2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  Ave 
rage 

40 

34 

40

31

29

30

34

36 

36 

40

35 

59 

52 

54

65

61

62

63

55 

55 

47

57 

31 

40 

39

29

35

34

33

42 

40 

44

37 

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

counted twice 

 ANNEX Ib –Mediterranean and Black Seas  
Scientific advice about overfishing for the Mediterranean and Black Sea 
demersal and small pelagic stocks 

no. 

% 

Stocks classified according to criteria (reference point agreed) 
Other stocks not included due to poor data (reference point not yet agreed) 

Stocks taken into account (out of 27species) 
Classified stocks: 
The stock is overfished (above Fmsy or proxy) 
The stock is fished at or below the Fmsy or its proxy 

Total stocks

65 
38 

103 

52 
13 
65 

63,0  
37,0

100  

80,0
20,0
100  

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANNEX II –Fishing Effort  
regulated under multi-annual plans, as reported by Member States to STECF 

(information provided by the Joint Research Centre) 

12000000

10000000

8000000

6000000

4000000

2000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

0
2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year

Figure 1. Regulated fishing effort in the western Baltic Sea  

18000000

16000000

14000000

12000000

10000000

8000000

6000000

4000000

2000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

0
2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year

Figure 2. Regulated fishing effort in the central Baltic Sea  

Demersal seines ≥ 90mm

Gillnets ≥ 90mm

Demersal trawls ≥ 90mm

Total

Gillnets ≥ 90mm

Bottom longlines

Demersal trawls ≥ 90mm

Pelagic trawls ≥ 90mm

Total

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
 
 
Figure 3. Regulated fishing effort in Kattegat  

160000000

140000000

120000000

100000000

80000000

60000000

40000000

20000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

Beam trawls  ≥ 120mm

Beam trawls  ≥ 80mm <120
mm
Demersal trawls ≥ 100mm

Demersal trawls ≥ 70mm
<100 mm
Gill nets

0
2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year

Figure 4. Regulated fishing effort in North Sea, Skagerrak and Eastern Channel. 

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
 
 
12000000

10000000

8000000

6000000

4000000

2000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

0
2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year

Figure 5. Regulated fishing effort in the Irish Sea. 

25000000

20000000

15000000

10000000

5000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

Beam trawls  ≥ 80mm <120 mm

Demersal trawls ≥ 100mm

Demersal trawls ≥ 70mm <100
mm

Total

Demersal trawls ≥ 100mm

Demersal trawls ≥ 70mm
<100 mm

Gill nets

Bottom longlines

Total

0
2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year

Figure 6. Regulated fishing effort in the west of Scotland. 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
 
6000000

5000000

4000000

3000000

2000000

1000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

0
2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year

Figure 7. Regulated fishing effort in the western Channel. 

40000000

35000000

30000000

25000000

20000000

15000000

10000000

5000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

Beam trawls  ≥ 80mm 

Static nets <220 mm

Total

Demersal trawls ≥ 32mm

Gillnets ≥ 60 mm

Bottom longlines

Total

0
2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Year

Figure 8. Regulated fishing effort in the Iberian-Atlantic waters.  
Note: The different trend compared to last year is mainly due to improved data from Portugal. 
Spain has not submitted data for 2010, hence the data are only plotted to 2009.  

EN 

17 

   EN