COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2014
Date: 2013-05-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU waters, catch by species, catch quota, fishing rights, sea fish

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 30.5.2013  
COM(2013) 319 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2014 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2014 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

This  document  sets  out  the  initial  intentions  of  the  European  Commission  concerning  the 
fixing  of  total  allowable  catches  (TACs)  and  effort  levels  in  European  waters  and  for 
European fishers in 2014. Member States and Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) are invited 
to provide their views to the Commission for consideration before a final decision is taken on 
the Commission's proposals. 

The state of fish stocks in European Atlantic and nearby waters continues to improve. More 
stocks are exploited within their maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels. Knowledge about 
the state of stocks in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea is also improving. 

Overfishing  should  continue  to  be  phased  out.  The  main  instruments  to  do  this  are 
adjustments  in  levels  of  fishing  opportunities,  with  adaptations  to  the  permitted  structure  of 
fishing  gear  to  improve  selectivity.  Following  the  expected  adoption  of  the  reform  of  the 
Common  Fisheries  Policy,  based  on  a  proposal  from  the  Commission1,  it is anticipated that 
from 2014 obligations to land all fish caught will gradually come into force on a fishery-by-
fishery basis. This should also improve fish stock conservation. 

Ending  overfishing  will  mean  greatly  reducing  the  risk  of  commercial  fish  collapses, 
improving the profitability of fishing fleets, lowering carbon emissions and fuel consumption 
and ensuring a more stable and reliable supply of fish to consumers. It also means reducing 
the impact on the marine environment and on vulnerable species such as dolphins and corals. 
These actions will contribute to achieving good environmental status by 2020 as provided for 
by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive2. 

Ending  overfishing  is  also  part  of  the  solution  to  ending  discards  as  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. 

Given the benefits of MSY fishing, all efforts should be made to reach this condition as soon 
as  possible.  The  Commission  intends  to  follow  the  scientific  advice  of  the  International 
Council  for  the  Exploration  of  the  Sea  (ICES)  and  the  Scientific,  Technical  and  Economic 
Committee for Fisheries (STECF) on achieving MSY with low risk of stock depletion. This is 
the same basis for proposals for fishing opportunities as for the 2011-2013 fishing years. 

Where  biological  information  on  particular  fish  stocks  is  incomplete  and  no  quantified 
estimation of MSY is possible, the Commission will use assessments and qualitative advice 
made by the same scientific bodies using the available information as a basis for its proposals, 
applying the precautionary principle in a transparent and systematic way. For some stocks, no 
changes will be proposed to TACs unless there is new evidence that a change is needed. 

2. 

STATE OF STOCKS 

Recent  information  on  the  state  of  stocks  in  Atlantic  European  waters  (Annex  1a)  shows  a 
marked  improvement  in  the  proportion  of  stocks  for  which  scientific  advice  with  respect  to 
safe biological limits is available (Table 1). This has climbed from 35% for 2012 to 50% for 

1 
2 

COM(2011) 425 final. 
Directive 2008/56/EC, OJ L 164, 25.06.2008, p 19 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
                                                 
2013.  The  number  of  stocks  for  which  full  assessments  are  available  has  climbed  gradually 
from 29 in 2007 to 46 in 2013, showing an improvement in the science underlying the advice 
(Table 5). Implementation by ICES of new methodology in data-limited cases has resulted in 
an  increase  in  the  number  of  stocks  for  which  quantitiative  advice  was  available  from  47 
stocks to 77 stocks.  

There  is  a  continued  improvement  in  the  state  of  the  stocks  (Table  2).  The  number  of 
overfished  stocks  (where  the  most  recent  fishing  mortality  is  higher  than  that  which  will 
provide MSY) has fallen from 47% last year to 39% this year.  

More stocks are under an advice to reduce catches to the lowest possible level (Table 3).These 
are cod and sole in the Irish Sea; herring in the Celtic Sea, prawns (Pandalus) in the northern 
North Sea and whiting to the west of Scotland. Norway pout have moved out of this category 
for 2013. 
Since 2011 TACs for 6 stocks have been fixed by individual Member States3. This has been 
done – subject to safeguards concerning good management - in cases where only one Member 
State  has  an  interest  in  the  fishery.  It  is  a  cause  for  concern  that  Member  States  have  been 
unable to comply fully with the reporting requirements, in most cases due to lack of technical 
basis for a full assessment of the state of the stocks concerned and for allowing the fixing of 
precise MSY targets for these resources. It is difficult to assess how far the TACs adopted are 
consistent  with  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy  in  respect  of  sustainability.  The  Commission 
will further review this topic during 2013. 

In  the  December  2012  Council  Denmark,  Germany,  the  Netherlands,  Sweden  and  the  UK 
agreed  that  reducing  fishing  mortality  for  cod  stocks  has  to  remain  a  priority  and  that  the 
Member  States  will  develop  discard  reduction  and  cod-avoidance  measures  and  implement 
cod avoidance plans in 2013. 
Current knowledge on the state of fish stocks is described below on a regional basis4.  

Northeast  Atlantic  Pelagic  stocks:  Most  stocks  of  herring  (North  Sea,  west  of  Scotland, 
western Baltic, Bothnian Sea, Irish Sea and Celtic Sea) and Baltic Sea sprat are now fished at 
or within MSY fishing rates. TACs corresponding to MSY have been set for 2013 in all cases 
except  for  the  Bothnian  Sea  herring.  The  situation  has  deteriorated  for  some  other  pelagic 
stocks: western horse mackerel, herring northwest of Ireland, in the Gulf of Riga and in the 
Baltic main basin are all overfished.  

Mackerel is a particular concern. The Union continues to seek the agreement of Iceland and 
the Faroe Islands to join Norway and the EU in the sustainable management of mackerel. This 
has not been forthcoming. The total of the TACs fixed by the EU, Norway, Faroe Islands and 
Iceland in 2013 was again 36% above the scientific advice (excluding Russian catches). The 
rate of fishing is still outside sustainable limits and the stock will decline in the coming year. 
Within ICES further work is underway to assess the state of the mackerel stock.  

North  Sea,  Skagerrak  and  Kattegat:  Saithe,  plaice,  haddock  and  herring  are  fished  at  a 
level consistent with MSY, as are Nephrops in the Skagerrak and on the Fladen grounds. All 
other  stocks  including  sole  are  either  overfished,  or  there  is  insufficient  information  to 
evaluate their status.  

3 
4 

1 Article 6 of Council Regulation (EU) No 39/2013, O.J. L23, 25.01.2013.  
A table of European quotas and relevant "traffic lights" can be read at 
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/documentation/publications. A full analysis of the state of fish stocks can 
be found at www.ices.dk and https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Serious  concerns  remain  about  North  Sea  cod.  Despite  recent  increases  in  stock  size  and 
reductions in fishing mortality, the stock is close to the limit biomass and less than half the 
precautionary  level. Discard rates have been declining but are still around 25% of landings. 
Fishing  mortality  rates  are  well  above  MSY  levels  and  increasingly  higher  than  the  rates 
intended in the long-term plan. The actions taken to date have not been sufficient. More needs 
to  be  done.  In  the  Kattegat,  cod  is  at  an  extremely  low  level  and  further  measures  such  as 
closed areas are needed to protect this stock. 

Discards of plaice and of whiting are also still very high at around 40% and 56% of catches 
respectively. 

However, following the agreement with Norway to implement the discard ban, new gear with 
improved selectivity was introduced in the Skagerrak in 2013. Work on further improvements 
in selectivity in the North Sea is also underway. 

Baltic Sea: Sprat, the eastern cod, western herring, and Bothnian Sea herring are all fished at 
levels  consistent  with  MSY.  In  2012  TACs  in  the  Baltic  Sea  were  discussed  at  a  regional 
forum  of  national  fisheries  Directorates  (“BALTFISH”).  A  very  responsible  agreement  was 
reached  concerning  the  setting  of  TACs  for  2013  in  line  with  scientific  advice,  and  the 
Commission could agree with Council on the TACs agreed at BALTFISH. This an excellent 
example  of  implementation  of  a  regionalised  approach  that  should  also  be  followed  by 
Member States in other areas. 

Member  States  have  also  reached  agreement  on  implementing  the  discard  ban.  New 
selectivity  measures  in  cod  fisheries  are  in  preparation  by  scientists  in  cooperation  with  the 
Baltic  Sea  RAC.  This  is  intended  to  deliver  a  smooth  transition  to  implementation  of  the 
discard ban. 

West  of  Scotland,  Irish  Sea  and  Celtic  Sea:  Whitefish  (cod,  haddock  and  whiting)in  the 
Irish Sea and the West of Scotland remain a concern. Advice for cod and whiting in the West 
of  Scotland  and  Irish  Sea  was  that  catches  should  be  reduced  to  the  lowest  level. 
Improvements  in  the  haddock  stock  in  the  West  of  Scotland  were  identified  as  being  over-
estimated. For the Celtic Sea some recruitment concerns were identified and the assessments 
continue  to  highlight  the  need  for  selective  measures.  The  MSY  advice  for  the  Celtic  Sea 
haddock  was  a  55%  reduction.  Discards  of  whitefish  remain  very  high  and  threaten  the 
viability  of  these  stocks.  At  the  Council  of  December  2012,  the  UK  and  the  Commission 
committed to engaging with other Member States active in the West of Scotland fisheries with 
the  aim  of  reducing  unwanted  catches  and  eliminating  discards.  For  the  Celtic  Sea  the 
Commission,  France,  Ireland  and  UK  agreed  to  review  selective  gear  measures  in  2013  to 
identify  necessary  improvements  in  2013  after  discussion  with  stakeholders.  Based  on  the 
conclusions, the Member States will agree to further selectivity measures to reduce discards in 
the mixed whitefish fishery by the end of 2013.  

Of 18 stocks where MSY assessments could be made, 10 were fished at MSY levels in 2011. 
For 12 of these stocks the recommendation was often for substantial reductions. An increase 
was recommended for 8 stocks.  

For  Norway  lobster  improved  surveys  have  allowed  the  estimation  of  MSY  to  all  but  one 
functional  unit.  The  improved  information  has  alllowed  for  a  shorter  closed  season  on  the 
Porcupine Bank. 

Measures have been introduced in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and West of Scotland to address 
discarding and to reduce cod mortality. Many of these were implemented only in October so 
impacts remain to be determined. These measures have been based on industry inputs. 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
NWWRAC have continued their "Data deficiency initiative" and have had their third annual 
joint  working  group  with  ICES  to  try  to  bridge  the  gap  in  scientific  knowledge  for  certain 
stocks  in  the  Celtic  Sea.  This  has  been  useful  and  a  suggestion  has  been  made  to  rebuild 
historic data for the Irish Sea in 2013. 

Few  assessments  are  available  for  the  Bay  of  Biscay  and  Iberian-Atlantic  Seas.  Southern 
hake are abundant due to good recruitment, but the stock is still overfished andthe long-term 
sustainability  of  this  stock  is  at  risk.  The  catch  and  effort  registration  systems  of  Atlantic 
Member  States  have  been  audited  by  the  Commission  in  2012  and  follow-up  actions  have 
been  decided.  With  the  implementation  of  corrective  measures  throughout  2012  and  2013, 
progress  made  will  improve  the  control  systems  of  the  Member  States  concerned.  Norway 
lobster in the Cantabrian Sea are still subject to an advice to stop fishing. Discards of hake are 
assessed as around 6% of total catches. 

In  the  Mediterranean,  the  number  and  quality  of  assessments,  though  still  geographically 
unbalanced and not regular over time show a considerable improvement. 85 out of 113 stocks 
of EU interest, or in other words 75%, as analysed in 2010-2012 wese subject to overfishing. 
Seven out of the 10 stocks exploited sustainably are small pelagics. 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 deteriorated. Sprat is not now in good condition and is now 
subject  to  overfishing  while  turbot  mortality  appears  to  be  at  a  historical  high.  It  is  being 
exploited unsustainably. Though these assessments are compromised by the paucity of fishery 
independent information, scientists recommend that an international management plan for this 
stock  be  developed.  In  any  case,  2014  TACs  should  be  based  on  scientific  advice  and  be 
worked out together with other contracting parties within GFCM.  

3. 

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS  

The aggregate EU fishing fleet showed some signs of profitability in 2011 driven mainly by 
improvements in market prices. However, economic performance is poor in many segments 
of the fleet, particularly in the demersal sectors. STECF data suggests that around 45% of all 
EU fleet segments made losses in 2011. 

Analysis suggests two reasons for this poor economic performance.  

Despite  the  improvement  in  many  fish  stocks,  the  continued  poor  state  of  some  important 
stocks means that catch rates are lower and costs associated with fishing –notably fuel usage- 
have been higher than expected. 

Fuel  prices  have  continued  to  increase  in  2011,  which  reduced  the  profitability  of  the  fleet, 
particularly for fuel-intensive fishing gears such as beam, demersal and pelagic trawl. Some 
offset of this pressure could be achieved by changing to more fuel-efficient propulsion and by 
changing  fishing  behaviour  and  fishing  gear.  Total  fuel  consumption  by  the  EU  fleet 
decreased by 5% compared to 2010. Where these modifications have taken place, fleets have 
been able to achieve significant fuel savings. However, the phasing out of overfishing clearly 
makes the biggest contribution to economic efficiency and stability in the face of challenges 
from higher costs. 

The most recent figures from 2011 show that the ~130 000 fishermen were employed in the 
EU - a decrease of about 5% compared to 2010. Greece and Cyprus are not included in this 

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
analysis as they did not submit data. There continues to be a downward trend in employment 
in the sector.  
According to information received from Member States by 8th May 2013, data and indicators 
supporting these statements include the following: 

Income from fishing increased from ~€6.5 bn in 2010 to €7.1bn 
€324m in 2010 to €457m in 2011. 

in 2011 and net profit from 

Income  from  landings  increased  by  10%  in  2011.  The  value  of  landings  increased  by  7.5% 
while  the  volume  landed  decreased  by  7.6%.  The  increase  in  prices  was  greater  than  in 
volume  in  improving  profitability.  Although  the  landings  volume  fell,  increases  ocurred  for 
certain stocks, mainly pelagic species. 

Although  the  overall  EU  fleet  performance  improved  in  2011,  with  a  ~40%  increase  in  net 
profits, the number of fleet segments making losses increased. Around 45% of the EU fleet 
made  losses  in  2011  compared  to  42%  in  2010.  This  suggests  that  there  is  a  bigger  gap 
between profitable and non-profitable fleets. 

Energy costs increased in 2011 by about 21% compared to 2010. 

4. 

POLICY DIRECTIONS  

4.1. 

Developments in scientific advice for stocks where information is incomplete 

Concerns about lack of scientific advice for many stocks were raised in previous editions of 
this  Communication.  In  response,  ICES  introduced  a  new  advisory  methodology  in  2012, 
based  on  using  all  avalable  information.,  Where  gaps  exist  in  the  data  (and  quantified 
assessment cannot be calculated) then new procedures are used to draw inferences about the 
state of the stock using the available data. Information such as catch history, trends in surveys, 
biological information on growth and maturity can now be combined and used to provide an 
advice with respect to MSY or to precautionary criteria. This is less precise than that based on 
analytic assessments, but this may be acceptable in cases where the stocks are small, of low 
economic  importance  or  with  a  short  exploitation  history.  Advice  on  48  such  stocks  was 
provided by ICES in 2012. 

This category currently also includes some valuable and important stocks, notably anglerfish. 
Further improvements in data collection and analysis are still needed. The Commission will 
continue to pursue such improvements through the introduction of a replacement for the “Data 
Collection  Framework”5.  In  case  of  continued  lack  of  data,  the  precautionary  approach  will 
need to be strengthened.  

4.2. 

Obligation to land all catches 

It is anticipated that the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy will be adopted during 2013 
and that an obligation to land all catches will come into force on 1 January 2015 concerning 
fisheries for: 

small pelagic fish (mackerel, herring, horse mackerel, blue whiting, boarfish, anchovy, 
argentine, sardine, sprat); 

large pelagic fish (bluefin tuna, swordfish, albacore tuna, bigeye tuna, blue and white marlin); 

5 

Council Regulation (EC) no 199/2008. O.J. L60, 5.3.2008, p.1-12 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
                                                 
industrial purposes, i.a. fisheries for capelin, sandeel and Norway pout; 

Concerning fisheries for salmon in the Baltic Sea, it is expected that an obligation to land all 
catches will come into force on 1 January 2014. 

During  2013  the  Commission  is  asking  ICES,  STECF  and  GFCM  to  prepare  for  the 
evaluation of the quantities of these stocks that have been discarded in order that adjustments 
may be made, where necessary, to the setting of fishing opportunities. These adjustments may 
involve  increases  in  TACs  depending  on  the  extent  of  previous  discarding.  The  principle  is 
that the total out-take, including fish that would previously have been discarded, should not 
prejudice the attainment of the CFP objectives, and in particular the attainment of Fmsy. Prior 
to  this  evaluation,  Member  States  are  being  requested  to  provide  up-to-date  information  to 
these advisory bodies. The relevant Regional Advisory Committees are also being consulted. 
It is essential that discard data be subject to scientific scrutiny by these bodies prior to their 
consideration for TAC adjustment purposes.  

The Commission's future proposals concerning fishing opportunities for these species will be 
drafted  having  regard  to  the  implications  for  the  appropriate  levels  of  fishing  opportunities 
with  estimates  of  discards  included  in  the  scientific  advice.  As  noted  above,  any  such 
adaptations shall be without prejudice to the attainment of the conservation goals of the CFP 
and notably the objective to bring stocks to MSY and to maintain them in that state thereafter. 

4.3. 

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  measure  used  in 
several long-term 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. 

Effort decreases are greatest for the western Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Kattegat, the Irish 
Sea, and the west of Scotland but slightly less in the Western channel, where effort has been 
stable in the last three years. Only small decreases occurred in the Iberian-Atlantic area up to 
2009. Data for 2010 and later are missing and Member States are requested to send complete 
effort data so as to have a better picture of the effort trend, particularly in the framework of 
the  southern  hake  effort  regime  and  in  accordance  with  several  “Fishing  Opportunities” 
Regulations. Effort appears to be increasing since 2009 in the central Baltic Sea. Beam-trawl 
effort also increased in the western Channel from 2010 to 2011. From 2010 to 2011 effort was 
nearly unchanged in the Irish Sea and in the western channel, but fell markedly to the west of 
Scotland. 

In contrast to the trend in other areas, there is no evidence that measures to reduce effort in the 
Iberian-Atlantic area have yet been effective.  

5. 

MANAGEMENT BY MULTI-ANNUAL PLANS 

The  implementation  of  long-term  plans  has  made  a  determining  contribution  to  the 
improvements  in  the  state  of  fish  stocks  that  have  taken  place  since  the  mid  2000s.  It  is 
necessary  to  continue  the  implementation  of  existing  plans  according  to  scientific  advice  in 
order to provide more stability for the industry and to achieve healthier fish stocks. 

The  Commission  has  started  preparations  to  replace  current  single-stock-based  plans  with 
multi-stock management plans. The first proposal to be finalised will be a multi-species plan 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
for the Baltic Sea, which will take into account 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.  A  study  on  the  Celtic  Sea  fisheries  has  also  been  commissioned. 
Such approaches have to be developed further in the light of the requirements introduced by 
the  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive  to  manage  the  ecosystem  as  a  whole,  rather  than 
single stocks, towards good environmental status. 

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  to  increase  the  number  of  stocks  under  scientific 
advice  and  to  develop  international  long-term  plans.  According  to  the  Mediterranean 
Regulation6, 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.  To  further  speed  up  this  process  the  Commission  has 
started precontentious procedures against several Member States, and necessary infringement 
action  will  be  further  developed  in  2013.  Actions  are  being  undertaken  at  GFCM  level  in 
order  to  improve  the  management  framework  at  sub-regional  level.  These  actions  are 
expected  to  improve  decision–making  for  the  establishment  of  international  multiannual 
plans. As a result a proposal to establish an international management plan for small pelagic 
stocks in the Adriatic is expected to be tabled in the 37th Session of GFCM. In the Black Sea 
the  first  steps  towards  the  establishment  of  an  international  management  plan  for  turbot  are 
also being undertaken. 

6. 

METHOD FOR PROPOSING TACS 

6.1. 

Principles for setting TACs 

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  with  Commission 
proposals  for  long-term  plans.  Where  plans  developed  by  the  Regional  Advisory  Councils 
have  been  assessed  by  ICES  and  STECF  as  conforming  to  MSY  standards,  such  plans  will 
also  be  followed.  However,  where  plans  have  achieved  their  recovery  objectives  and  where 
they  no  longer  provide  for  the  setting  of  annual  fishing  opportunities,  the  Commission  will 
make proposals according to scientific advice about reaching MSY fishing mortality rates by 
2015. 

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 in order the attain compliance with MSY fishing rates by 2015. Where 
scientific  advice  permits  the  setting  of  TACs  at  a  level  that  will  permit  MSY  rates  to  be 
attained  before  2015  with  no  or  small  decrease  in  TAC,  the  Commission  will  make  such  a 
proposal. 

6 

Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006. O/J. L 196, 28.7.2011, p.42 

EN 

8 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Where  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. Specific issues in these cases are further addressed in section 6.2. 

Where there is no scientific advice at all there is a need to follow the precautionary principle 
in a systematic, predefined and transparent way (as set out in Communication COM(2000) 1 
final).  

6.2. 

Procedure for selected data-limited stocks 

In  a  joint  statement  with  the  Council  in  December  2012,  the  Commission  stated  that  it 
considers it desirable (where possible in the light of forthcoming scientific advice) to maintain 
TACs concerning the stocks listed in Annex III at levels fixed for 2013. These are stocks for 
which there is limited information on stock status and are of low economic importance, taken 
only as by-catches or with low levels of quota uptake.  

DEEP SEA SPECIES  

7. 
TACs for deep-sea species have been fixed for 20147 and no alterations are foreseen. 

8. 

SCHEDULE  

The  planned  timetable  of  work  is  as  follows.  As  per  usual  practise,  the  Commission  will 
present separate proposals to Council concerning fishing opportunities for short lived species 
as appropriate throughout the year.  

Fishing 
Opportunities 
Regulation 

Stocks in 
Atlantic, North 
Sea, Antarctic 
and other areas 

Advice 
Available 

Commission 
Proposal 

Possible adoption 
by Council 

July to 
December 

October 

December 

Baltic Sea 

Early June 

Mid September 

October 

Black Sea 

Late 
October 

November 

December 

7 

Council Regulation (EU) No 1262/2012 OJ L 356, 22.12.2012, p. 22–33  

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
 
                                                 
ANNEX Ia –Summary of Scientific Advice concerning stocks in the 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 

% of stocks 
overfished 

 Table 3. 
"Emergency" 
scientific advice

Scientific advice to 
stop fishing

Number of fish stocks

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

30

12

29

10

26

14

26

11

26

12

28

13

27

12

22

15

19

15

14

18

17

24

29% 26% 35% 30% 32% 32% 31% 41% 44% 56% 59%

48

53

53

57

58

55

57

60

61

60

41

47% 42% 43% 39% 40% 43% 41% 38% 36% 35% 50%

Number of fish stocks 

2003  2004  2005

2006  2007 2008 2009 2010  2011  2012 2013

34 

23 

32 

33 

35 

39 

35 

38 

41 

32 

21 

30 

29 

30 

28 

22 

18 

16 

2 

2 

2 

4 

5 

11 

13 

20 

25 

94% 91% 94% 88% 86% 72%  63%  47% 39%

Number of fish stocks

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

24

13

12

14

20

18

17

14

11

8

11

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
Table 4. Difference 
between TACs and 
sustainable catches

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

Number of fish stocks

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

46% 49% 59% 47% 45% 51% 48% 34% 23% 11% 29%

Number of fish stocks

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

40

34

40

31

29

30

34

36

36

40

46

59

52

54

65

61

62

63

55

55

47

77

31

40

39

29

35

34

33

42

40

44

9

Not included in the analysis : 
    - Deep sea species, including ling and tusk; 
    - TACs for herring by-catches; 
    - TACs which are linked to another decision (e.g. Plaice in Kattegat, Saithe West Scotland) 
    - TACs representing exchanges of fishing oportunities with third countries 
    - TACs outside the NE Atlantic area.  
    - TACs where an unregulated fishery exists on the same stock (blue whiting prior to 2006, Rockall 
haddock) 

    - TACs where the primary management tool is effort management (e.g. sandeel) 

Where a TAC covers two species for which there is an assessment (e.g. Megrims, Anglerfish, VII and 
VIII) the analysis refers to the more abundant of the two species covered by the TAC. 

EN 

11 

   EN 

 
 
 
     
 
 
ANNEX Ib –Summary of Advice concerning stocks in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea 

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 

85 
28

75  
25 

113 

100  

75

10

88 

12 

Total stocks

85 

100  

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANNEX II –Fishing Effort regulated under multi-annual plans, as reported by Member States 
to STECF (provided by the Joint Research Centre) 

Figure 1. Regulated fishing effort in the western Baltic Sea  

Figure 2. Regulated fishing effort in the central Baltic Sea  

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
 
 
Figure 3. Regulated fishing effort in Kattegat  

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

EN 

14 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
Figure 5. Regulated fishing effort in the Irish Sea. 

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

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
 
 
Figure 7. Regulated fishing effort in the western Channel. 

40000000

35000000

30000000

25000000

20000000

15000000

10000000

5000000

s
y
a
d
*
W
k

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.  
 Spain has not submitted data for 2010 nor 2011, hence the data are only plotted to 2009.  

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
 
ANNEX III. Stocks where TAC levels are to be kept at those fixed for 2013, unless the state of these 
stocks changes significantly. 

Common name 

TAC Unit 

Blue Ling 

Blue Ling 

Cod 

Common sole 

Common sole 

Herring 

Greater silver smelt 

Greater silver smelt 

Ling  

Ling  

Plaice 

Plaice  

Plaice 

Pollack 

Pollack 

Saithe 

Sole 

Sprat  

Tusk  

Tusk  

Tusk  

EU and intl. waters of II and IV 

EU and intl. waters of III 

VIb (Rockall subunit) 

VI, Vb, intl. waters of XII and XIV 

VIIbc 

VIIef 

EU and intl. waters of I and II 

EU and intl. waters of III and IV 

EU and intl. waters of I and II 

EU and intl. waters of V 

Vb(EU waters), VI, XII, XIV 

VIIbc 

VIII, IX, X and CECAF 34.1.1 

Vb(EU waters), VI, XII and XIV 

IX, X, CECAF 34.1.1 (EU) 

VII, VIII, IX, X, CECAF 34.1.1 (EC) 

VIIIcde, IX, X, CECAF (EU) 

VIIde 

IIIa and EU 22-23 

EU I, II, XIV 

EU waters of IV 

EN 

17 

   EN