COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy and Consultation on the Fishing Opportunities for 2020
Date: 2019-06-07
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, fishing area, fishing controls, fishing fleet, fishing rights, sea fish, sea fishing

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 7.6.2019  COM(2019) 274 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy and Consultation on the Fishing Opportunities for 2020  {SWD(2019) 205 final}  
 
 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 

on the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy and Consultation on the 
Fishing Opportunities for 2020 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

This  Communication  gives  an  overview  of  the  state  of  play  of  the  Common  Fisheries 
Policy  (CFP)  and  includes  the  main  orientations  for  the  shaping  of  Commission 
proposals on fishing opportunities for 2020.  

The principal  objective  of fisheries management under the CFP is  to  ensure high long-
term fishing  yields (Fmsy) for all stocks at the latest by 2020. Achieving this objective 
will  also  contribute  to  achieving  good  environmental  status  in  European  seas  by  20201 
and to minimising the negative impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems. 

2.  PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE CFP 

Steady progress in implementing the CFP continues to be made:  

  Pressure  on  fish  stocks  shows  an  overall  downward  trend  in  the  Northern 
Atlantic and adjacent areas. The number of total allowable catches (TACs) in 
line  with  the  maximum  sustainable  yield  exploitation  rate  (Fmsy)  further 
increased  to  59,  corresponding  to  3  additional  TACs  compared  to  2018, 
representing 78% of all TACs of Fmsy-assessed stocks.  

  The spawning stock biomass  continues to  increase in  these areas and is  now 
36% higher than in  2003. The number of stocks inside safe biological  limits 
has almost doubled, from 15 in 2003 to 29 in 2017.  

  Healthier stocks have also boosted the economic performance of the EU fleet, 

bringing in EUR 1.3 billion net profits in 2017. 

  However, further significant efforts are needed in order to make sure that CFP 
objectives are met, notably to ensure that all stock are rebuilt and managed at 
MSY levels.  

2.1. 

Progress in achieving Fmsy  

In the Northern Atlantic and adjacent areas, pressure on fish stocks (F/Fmsy) shows 
an overall downward trend over the period 2003-2017, with the median fishing mortality 
stabilised  at  1.0.  The  F/Fmsy  indicator  for  the  Mediterranean  and  Black  Seas  has 
remained at 2.2, i.e. the exploitation remains well above the Fmsy target.  

1 Directive 2008/56/EC, OJ L 164, 25/06/2008, p. 19-40. 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
TACs  are  one  of  the  main  fisheries  management  tools.  In  the  Northern  Atlantic  and 
adjacent areas, the Commission proposed TACs in line with or below Fmsy for 2019, 
for all the 76 TACs, for which Fmsy advice was available. This  was not  possible for 5 
TACs for which the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) gave 0 
TAC  advice,  because  doing  so  would  have  led  to  choke  situations  with  serious 
socioeconomic  impacts,  and  where  it  was  decided  to  maintain  by-catch  TACs  at  low 
levels.  The  Council  set  59  TACs  in  line  with  Fmsy,  which  corresponds  to  3  additional 
TACs compared to 2018. 

Of the expected landings in the Baltic Sea, 95% come from TACs set in line with Fmsy 
and 4% from TACs in line with precautionary advice. Of the expected landings (for the 
Fmsy-assessed  stocks  managed  by  the  EU  alone)  in  the  North  Sea,  Skagerrak  and 
Kattegat, 99.7% come from the TACs set in line with Fmsy; in the North Western and 
South Western Waters this figure is 94% and 90% respectively. 

For  deep-sea  stocks,  fishing  opportunities  were  set  in  November  2018  for  2019  and 
2020. They account for less than 1% of all landings in the EU. All deep-sea stocks are 
assessment-limited. The relevant Council decisions on deep-sea fishing opportunities are 
now more closely based on scientific advice than in previous years. 

For  stocks  subject  to  consultations  with  the  Coastal  States,2  only  the  blue  whiting 
TAC  for  2019  was  in  line  with  the  long-term  management  strategy  for  this  stock,  and 
with  ICES  Fmsy  advice.  The  EU-Norway  negotiations  led  to  a  less  ambitious  result  in 
terms of conservation, as only 9 out of 17 TACs were set in line with Fmsy – fewer than 
for 2018.  

In  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  35  out  of  the  40  stocks  assessed  were  exploited  beyond 
sustainable  levels  in  2017,  with,  on  average,  fishing  around  2.2  times  higher  than  their 
respective  Fmsy.  Recent  data  suggest  that  there  has  been  a  decreasing  trend  in  the 
average  F/Fmsy  rate  since  2011.  This  could  indicate  a  small  improvement  in 
exploitation3. In the Black Sea, 6 out of the 8 assessed shared stocks remain overfished, 
with the exception of sprat and rapa whelk.  

2.2.  Biomass trends 

In  the  Northern  Atlantic  and  adjacent  areas,  the  number  of  stocks  within  safe 
biological limits has almost doubled, from 15 in 2003 to 29 in 2017 (an increase of 2% 
from 2016), with the largest increase in the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian waters – from 
2 to 8 stocks within safe biological limits. The overall biomass volume has continued to 
develop positively, increasing by around 36%.  

In  the  Mediterranean  and  Black  Seas,  the  2016  spawning  stock  biomass  showed  no 
significant increase compared to 2003. The Black Sea turbot stock shows an increasing 
trend in biomass and a decrease in overfishing.  

2 Norway, Iceland and the Faeroe Islands.  
3  This  result  is  preliminary  and  subject  to  additional  scientific  monitoring  in  the  years  to  come  (source: 

STECF-Adhoc-19-01). 

2 

 
 
 
                                                 
2.3.  The state of the EU fleet 

The EU fleet capacity  continued to  decrease.  In December 2018, the EU fleet  register 
(including  outermost  regions)  contained  81,644  vessels,  with  an  overall  capacity  of 
1,533,180 in gross tonnage (GT) and 6,075,634 in kilowatts (kW). This is a decrease of 
1.32%  since  the  previous  year  in  terms  of  the  number  of  vessels,  GT  (2.46%)  and  kW 
2.61%.  However,  a  significant  number  of  fleet  segments  (190  out  of  the  255  assessed) 
continue not to be in balance with their fishing opportunities.  

That said, the economic performance of the EU fleet continued to register record-high 
net profits of EUR 1.3 billion in 2017. Continued improvements are mainly the result of 
high average fish prices (more value for fewer fish landed) and continued low fuel prices. 
The improvement in some important stocks, coupled with technological advances, have 
also  contributed  to  the  improvement  in  performance.  Although  the  figures  are  not  yet 
available for 2018 and 2019, similar results are expected, despite a slight increase in fuel 
prices. 

Positive  economic  trend  is  observed  in  a  number  of  fleets  targeting  stocks  exploited 
sustainably (such as haddock, megrim and plaice in the Irish Sea; herring, Northern hake 
and sole in the Eastern and Western English Channel; anglerfish in the Bay of Biscay), 
which  tend  to  improve  their  profitability  and  salaries.  Conversely,  fleets  targeting 
overexploited stocks tend to register poorer economic performance. 

Total employment in the EU fleet in full time equivalents (FTE) has been decreasing on 
average  1.3%  per  year  since  2008,  partly  due  to  the  decrease  in  the  fleet’s  capacity. 
However, the average FTE wage4 has been increasing 2.7% per year. The average annual 
FTE wage is EUR 24,800. Increase in employment in a number of fleets in the North Sea 
and Atlantic, as opposed to other regions, now seems to be consolidating.  

An important step in improving working conditions in the EU fleet was taken with the 
implementation  of  the  International  Labour  Organization  Work  in  Fishing  Convention 
C188 into EU law,5 as agreed by the EU social partners. Member States must obey the 
new  rules  by  15  November  2019.  Recently,  the  Commission  called  again  on  Member 
States to ratify the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (ratified so far by only 10 Member States).6 

2.4. 

Progress with decentralised fisheries management  

2.4.1.  Multiannual plans 

The Multiannual Plans (MAPs) are co-decided acts that provide, among other aspects, 
the timeline for the implementation of the MSY objective and some flexibility tools for 
managing the fisheries. 

The  recent  adoption  of  the  MAP  for  demersal  stocks  in  Western  Waters  is  a  key 
development  in  the  implementation  of  the  CFP  as  a  central  tool  for  fisheries 
management. It will help ensure sustainable fisheries in the long term, and completes the 

4 Gross wage (i.e. total remuneration before taxes and other deductions).  
5  Council  Directive  (EU)  2017/159  of  19  December  2016  implementing  the  Agreement  concerning  the 
implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 of the International Labour Organization. 

6 COM/2019/157 final.  

3 

 
                                                 
series  of  MAPs  for  the  North  Sea  and  the  Baltic  Sea.  This  year  the  Commission  will 
report on the implementation of the Baltic MAP. 

Another achievement is the adoption, in 2019, of the first Mediterranean Sea MAP. It 
applies  to  fisheries  exploiting  demersal  stocks  in  the  western  Mediterranean  and 
establishes a mandatory reduction of 10% of the fishing effort, which will apply from 1 
January  2020,  and  provides  that  Fmsy  should  be  achieved  in  the  area  by  2025  at  the 
latest. By contrast, there has been no progress on the MAP for small pelagic species in 
the Adriatic.  

2.4.2.  Delegated acts adopted in the context of regionalisation 

Regional  Groups  have  played  an  important  role  in  the  phasing-in  of  the  landing 
obligation,  by  submitting  joint  recommendations  to  the  Commission.  On  the  basis  of 
these recommendations, the Commission adopted 4 (new) discard plans before the end of 
2018.  

Delegated  acts  transposing  joint  recommendations  on  the  conservation  measures  for 
Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas, under Article 11 of Regulation 1380/2013, 
have  taken  longer  to  materialise  and  only  cover  certain  areas  in  the  North  Sea  and  the 
Baltic Sea. Additional joint recommendations are expected this year, but further progress 
is needed.  

2.4.3.  Stakeholder involvement 

Advisory  Councils  (ACs),  as  the  main  stakeholder  organisations  established  under  the 
CFP,  are  playing  a  greater  role  in  the  regionalisation  process.  In  2018,  the  10  existing 
ACs  submitted  73  recommendations  to  the  Commission,  compared  to  64  in  2017. 
Examples  of  how  their  recommendations  contributed  are  provided  in  the  staff  working 
document accompanying this Communication.  

2.5.  The landing obligation 

On  1  January  2019  the  landing  obligation  fully  entered  into  force.  The  Commission 
received reports from 18 Member States and the European Fisheries Control Agency, as 
well  as  letters  from  5  ACs  on  the  implementation  of  the  landing  obligation  in  2018.  It 
appears  that  the  stakeholders  acknowledge  the  importance  of  making  sure  everyone 
follows  the  rules  so  that  the  landing  obligation  is  properly  implemented.  However, 
reporting on discards is insufficient, which makes for a discrepancy between the discard 
estimates.  The  Commission  remains  fully  committed  to  addressing  these  shortcomings 
with the Member States and the ACs. 

In 2018, all regional groups looked into ways of addressing potential choke situations. 
The  Member  States,  the  Commission  and  other  stakeholders  have  worked  together  to 
come  up  with  possible  solutions,  which  will  be  tested  in  2019.  For  example, 
commitments  by  certain  Member  States  to  swap  certain  quotas,  or  agreements  on  by-
catch  only  TACs  accompanied  by  by-catch  reduction  measures.    The  Commission  will 
ask STECF to assess the measures proposed by Member States to further reduce discards 
and will follow up these cases from a control perspective. 

In  general,  the  number  of  projects  funded  by  the  European  Maritime  and  Fisheries 
Fund  (EMFF)  has  increased.  Member  States  have  spent  EUR  40  million  of  EMFF 

4 

 
support (of the total  amount of  EUR 89 million committed, an increase  on the planned 
potential  commitment  of  EUR  49  million7)  on  the  implementation  of  the  landing 
obligation.8  However,  overall  support  remains  low,  with  EUR  89  million  committed 
compared to EUR 1.5 billion available under Union Priority 1.9  

Concerning market outlets for unwanted catches, operators reported that industrial (i.e. 
non-food) uses are not adequate outlets for undersized fish. The small quantities landed, 
and their unpredictability, do not fit the non-food industries’ business model, coupled by 
the  disproportionate  logistical  costs  of  collection.  Any  development  of  alternative  food 
outlets can only be envisaged provided they do not create a market incentive or benefits 
for  the  supply  chain  operators.  Various  alternative  outlets,  of  which  donations  to  food 
banks are one possibility, continue to be considered.  

Regarding  control  and  enforcement,  compliance  with  the  landing  obligation  remains 
weak.  Member  States  have  a  responsibility  to  ensure  the  control,  enforcement  and 
inspection  of  all  CFP-related  activities,  including  the  landing  obligation.  Commission 
audits and other EFCA initiatives indicate a general lack of compliance, compounded by 
difficulties  in  effectively  controlling  compliance  by  conventional  means.  Innovative 
control  tools  based  on  remote  electronic  monitoring  (REM)  systems  would  help,  as  set 
out  in  the  Commission’s  proposal  for  a  new  fisheries  control  system.10  In  addition,  in 
January  2019,  new  Specific  Control  and  Inspection  Programmes11  entered  into  force, 
covering all fisheries subject to the landing obligation. The Commission will continue to 
pay close attention to proper implementation and enforcement of the landing obligation 
by the Member States and promote the use of REM systems.12  

2.6. 

Specific efforts to address the situation in the Mediterranean and Black 
Seas 

The  EU,  on  its  own  and  with  its  international  partners,  has  done  a  lot  to  improve  the 
situation of stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.  

At  EU  level,  significant  progress  is  expected  in  2019,  with  the  implementation  of  the 
MAP  for  demersal  stocks  in  the  western  Mediterranean  and  the  STECF  review  of 
existing national management plans, to ensure compliance with the CFP objectives. 

At international level, taking into account the shared nature of most fish stocks, the EU 
has  done  a  lot  to  promote  multilateral  cooperation  in  the  competent  regional  fisheries 
management  organisations  (RFMOs),  the  General  Fisheries  Commission  for  the 
Mediterranean  (GFCM)  and  the  International  Commission  for  the  Conservation  of 
Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). With the adoption of the MedFish4Ever (March 2017)13 and the 

7 FAME Support Unit, AT01.2 ad-hoc consultancy Landing Obligation Final Report (AT1.2 5/5), Version 

1.0, February 2018. 

8 EMFF Infosys database. Reference period 1-1-2015 to 31-12-2018. 
9 Union Priority 1: Promoting environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient, innovative, competitive and 

knowledge-based fisheries. 

10 COM/2018/368 final.  
11 Commission Implementing Decision (EU) No 2018/1986 OJ L 317, 14.12.2018, p. 29. 
12  Technical  guidelines  and  specifications  for  the  implementation  of  REM  in  EU  fisheries,  EFCA,  2019, 
https://www.efca.europa.eu/sites/default/files/Technical%20guidelines%20and%20specifications%20f
or%20the%20implementation%20of%20Remote%20Electronic%20Monitoring%20%28REM%29%2
0in%20EU%20fisheries.pdf.  

13https://www.actu-environnement.com/media/pdf/news-28756-declaration-malte-surpeche-

mediterranee.pdf  

5 

 
                                                 
Sofia  (June  2018)  Declarations,  there  is  a  detailed  work  plan  to  rebuild  Mediterranean 
fish  stocks,  in  close  collaboration  with  the  Barcelona  Convention,  and  Black  Sea  fish 
stocks, to protect the region’s ecological and economic wealth and boost the sustainable 
development of aquaculture for the next 10 years. This is complemented by the regional 
plan of action for sustainable small-scale fisheries (September 2018).14  

In 2018, the  GFCM adopted 11 recommendations15 proposed by the EU. Further work 
will be required in 2019 to strengthen these actions. The High-Level Conference in June 
in Morocco, to assess progress made in implementing the Medfish4Ever Declaration, will 
give impetus to this.  

ICCAT  has  endorsed  the  EU-led  plan  to  manage  bluefin  tuna  now  that  the  stock  has 
recovered, thanks to 10 years of recovery measures. The plan facilitates access of coastal 
vessels  (excluded  for  more  than  a  decade  from  the  fishery)  and  reinforces  control 
measures  to  further  strengthen  traceability,  in  particular  of  farmed  live  bluefin  tuna. 
Given the alarming situation of the stock, at the EU's behest, ICCAT adopted a recovery 
plan for Mediterranean swordfish, which applies until 2031.  

2.7. 

International ocean governance  

Since it was adopted in 2016,16 the 50 actions in the ocean governance agenda are being 
implemented,17 with some of them already being completed. 

Key  achievements  in  improving  the  international  ocean  governance  framework  include 
the endorsement of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the marking of fishing gear (July 
2018)18  and  the  signature  of  the  Agreement  to  prevent  unregulated  fishing  in  the  High 
Seas  of  the  Central  Arctic  Ocean  (October  2018).19  The  EU  took  a  leading  role 
throughout these processes.  

The EU promotes the CFP principles in its work with partner countries and RFMOs.  It 
has  signed/reached  agreement  on  ocean  partnerships  with  China  (June  2018)20  and 
Canada.21 Under Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, EU fleets access external 
fishing  grounds  in  11  partner  countries  under  controlled  and  sustainable  conditions. 
Structural  support  provided  under  these  agreements  reinforces  the  governance  of 
fisheries in those countries, including through support for scientific and control capacities 
as well as for the artisanal fisheries sector. The EU continues to play a prominent role in 
RFMOs,22  crucial  governance  tools  to  promote  the  sustainability  of  stocks  and  the 
ecosystem-based  approach,  underpin  sound  scientific  advice,  uphold  the  adoption  of 
relevant  monitoring,  control  and  surveillance  measures,  support  regular  performance 

14 www.fao.org/gfcm/meetings/ssf2018/rpoassf/en/  
15 They concern further emergency measures on small pelagic species in the Adriatic, a multi-annual plan 
for eel, two multi-annual plans for deep-water shrimps in the Ionian and the Levant Seas and further joint 
control and inspection plans covering the entire Mediterranean and the Black Seas.  

16  Joint  Communication  International  ocean  governance:  an  agenda  for  the  future  of  our  oceans, 

SWD(2016) 352 final.  

17 Joint report Improving International Ocean Governance – Two years of progress, JOIN/2019/4 final.  
18 www.fao.org/3/MX136EN/mx136en.pdf  
19https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/eu-and-arctic-partners-enter-historic-agreement-prevent-unregulated-
fishing-high-seas-–-frequently_en  
20 Also covers cooperation on IUU fisheries. 
21 Expected to be signed in the course of 2019.  
22 The  EU, represented by the Commission, plays an active role in 6 tuna organisations and 11 non-tuna 

organisations across all oceans. 

6 

 
                                                 
reviews and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In this context, the 
Commission will propose and defend EU positions to ensure the management of relevant 
stocks corresponds to the Fmsy objective. 

The Commission lifted its  IUU yellow card in January 2019 for Thailand, because the 
country upgraded its fisheries governance in line with its international commitments. The 
IT system (CATCH) was launched in May 2019, to support the effective implementation 
of the EU IUU Catch Certification Scheme.  

To tackle the marine litter problem, the EU has passed the Single Use Plastics Directive 
and the new Port Reception Facilities Directive. In this context, the Commission proposal 
for a new fisheries control system envisages establishing an EU-wide mandatory digital 
reporting system to help retrieve lost gears.  

3.  PROPOSALS FOR 2020 FISHING OPPORTUNITIES  

2020 will be the first year when all stocks are to be managed in line with the maximum 
sustainable yield target, as set out in the Basic Regulation.23 It will also be the first time 
most  stocks  covered  by  the  Fishing  Opportunities  Regulation  fall  under  a  MAP.  If  the 
UK leaves the EU without an agreement on 31 October 2019, or before, as agreed by the 
European  Council,24  the  EU  and  the  UK  will  have  to  consult  each  other  on  the  joint 
management of the stocks they share.  

3.1.  Overall objectives of the fishing opportunities proposals for 2020 

The main objective of the Commission’s proposals  will be to  reach  Fmsy  for all  Fmsy 
assessed-stocks by 2020. The proposals will also continue to look at ways of facilitating 
the effective implementation of the landing obligation. 

While the poor status of some stocks is also the result of environmental factors (such as 
pollution  and  degradation  of  water  quality),  which  need  to  be  addressed  separately,  it 
continues to be necessary to limit fishing pressure on such stocks too. 

3.2.  Key steps towards setting the next fishing opportunities 

The  basis  for  the  Commission's  proposals  for  fishing  opportunities  will  be  ICES 
scientific  advice,  issued  in  several  parts.  The  Commission  intends  to  cover  as  many 
stocks as possible in its initial proposals. However, because ICES issues its advice late in 
the year, from October to December, the North Sea and Atlantic proposal will continue to 
contain fishing opportunities in pro memoria (pm) for the late advice stocks.  

The Commission invites Member States and stakeholders to start working early, based 
on  the  publicly  available  scientific  advice,  instead  of  waiting  for  the  Commission 
proposals.  Stakeholders  will  also  have  the  opportunity  to  make  recommendations  on 
fishing opportunities through their respective AC and Member States.  

23 Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on 
the  CFP,  amending  Council  Regulations  (EC)  No  1954/2003  and  (EC)  No  1224/2009 and  repealing 
Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC 
(OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22). 

7 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
Taking the above consultations into account, the Commission will draw up 3 proposals: 1 
for the Baltic Sea (August), 1 for the Mediterranean and Black Seas (September) and 1 
for  the  Atlantic  and  North  Seas  (October).  They  will  be  discussed  in  separate  Council 
meetings  –  the  October  Council  for  the  Baltic  Sea  and  the  December  Council  for  the 
other 2 proposals.  

The  implications  of  the  UK’s  withdrawal  for  setting  fishing  opportunities  will  be 
reviewed in the light of the latest developments. 

3.3. Setting fishing opportunities for different sea basins 

Fishing opportunities for stocks in the Baltic and North Seas and Western Waters will 
be  set  on  the  basis  of  the  relevant  MAPs,  which  define  Fmsy  ranges  of  mortality  and 
therefore offer a degree of flexibility under specific conditions. ICES is requested to give 
advice  that  makes  it  possible  to  assess  the  need  for  and  possibility  of  using  this 
flexibility. The upper range of Fmsy values can be used to propose TACs only if, based 
on  scientific  advice,  the  setting  of  fishing  opportunities  in  accordance  with  the  Fmsy 
ranges would be either necessary to achieve the objectives set out in the relevant MAP in 
the case of mixed fisheries, or to avoid serious harm to a stock caused by intra- or inter-
species stock dynamics, or to limit high fluctuations between the years. 

In  the  context  of  the  full  implementation  of  the  landing  obligation,  the  Commission 
intends to propose the fishing opportunities for the Baltic, Western Waters and the North 
Sea  in  accordance  with  ICES  catch  advice,  while  deducting  the  de  minimis  or  high 
survivability allowances where appropriate.  

To continue facilitating the full implementation of the landing obligation, it is important 
to  use  all  mitigation  tools  available,  including  any  ICES  advice  on  the  mixed  fisheries 
approach  where appropriate.  In this context,  progress  made by the Member States  with 
regard  to  the  by-catch  reduction  measures  (commitment  undertaken  by  the  relevant 
Member  States  in  the  context  of  the  solutions  for  2019  for  the  5  stocks  with  0  TAC 
advice) will be evaluated.  

For  Fmsy-assessed  stocks  subject  to  consultations  with  non-EU  countries,  the 
Commission will aim for an agreement in line with the long-term management strategies 
and Fmsy advice. 

For RFMO-managed stocks, the Commission will set fishing opportunities based on the 
decisions of RFMOs.  

According  to  the  recently  adopted  Western  Mediterranean  Sea  MAP,  for  2020  the 
Council  shall  set  a  maximum  allowable  fishing  effort  corresponding  to  a  reduction  of 
10% compared to the baseline, based on the data to be provided by the Member States. 
Based on the scientific advice available, fishing opportunities for the Mediterranean Sea 
will  also  include  GFCM  measures  already  in  force  (small  pelagic  species  and  eel)  and 
other measures to be adopted at the annual sessions in 2019.  

The  outcome  of  the  negotiations  for  establishing  a  regional  (GFCM)  permanent  quota 
allocation scheme for Black Sea turbot will be transposed into the fishing opportunities. 
For sprat, the Commission will again propose autonomous quotas.  

8 

 
 
 
 
 
4.  CONCLUSION 

Progress  in  implementing  the  CFP  continues,  with  fishing  pressure  in  the  Northern 
Atlantic and adjacent areas continuing to decline and the number of TACs set in line with 
Fmsy increasing. Healthy stocks have helped boost the economic performance of the EU 
fleet, with record profits recorded in 2017.  

Many  stocks  remain  overfished  and/or  outside  safe  biological  limits  and it  is  clear  that 
efforts  by  all  actors  will  need  to  be  intensified  to  meet  CFP  objectives,  considering  in 
particular that 2020 is the first year when all stocks with an Fmsy assessment should be 
managed at Fmsy.  

The situation in the Mediterranean and Black Seas remains worrying.  Further concerted 
efforts  are  required  to  achieve  the  2020  Fmsy  objective  in  the  context  of  the  GFCM 
Strategy and the 2018 Sofia Ministerial Declaration. The Commission will work closely 
with all stakeholders for prompt implementation of the Western Mediterranean MAP. 

The  effective  control  and  enforcement  of  the  landing  obligation  is  of  paramount 
importance.  To  complement  Member  States’  efforts,  the  Commission  will  continue 
working  closely  with  the  co-legislators  in  order  to  reach  an  agreement  as  swiftly  as 
possible on the proposal for a new fisheries control system. 

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PLANNED WORK SCHEDULE

25  

When 

What 

May/June/October  Stock advice from ICES 

June-September 

Public consultation on the Communication 

End August 

Commission adoption of the fishing opportunities proposals for the 
Baltic Sea 

Mid-September 

Commission adoption of the fishing opportunities proposal for the 
Mediterranean and Black Seas 

October 

Council meeting on the fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea 

End October 

December 

Commission adoption of the fishing opportunities proposal for the 
Atlantic/North Sea  

Council  meeting  on  the  fishing  opportunities  proposal  for  the 
Atlantic/North Sea 

Council  meeting  on  the  fishing  opportunities  proposal  for  the 
Mediterranean and Black Seas 

25 For RFMO-managed stocks in EU waters and certain non-EU waters, fishing opportunities are adopted 
after the annual meeting of the RFMOs, through periodic revisions of the Council regulation setting the 
fishing opportunities for certain fish  stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in EU waters and, for 
EU fishing vessels, in certain non-EU waters. 

10