The Council today agreed on the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for certain deep-sea stocks in the EU and international waters in the North-East Atlantic, for 2019 and 2020. The fish stocks concerned are: deep sea sharks, black scabbardfish, alfonsino, roundnose grenadier and red seabream.

In view of the vulnerability of deep-sea species to human activity, and in order to prevent their over-exploitation, the Council decided to raise the TACs for the two stocks and to reduce the TACs for ten stocks as proposed by the Commission.

The sustainability of fish stocks and the viability of the EU's fisheries industry are key criteria when it comes to setting catch limits. Today we decided to make cuts to fishing opportunities for deep-sea stocks in 2019 and 2020. This move will protect our maritime environment and help our industry in the longer term. Elisabeth Köstinger, Austrian Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism and President of the Council

The Council confirmed the Commission proposal to increase quotas for red seabream around the Azores and roundnose grenadier in South Western waters over the next two years, in line with positive scientific advice. Given the small number of fish being caught and in line with the scientific advice, the TAC management system for greater forkbeard in the North-East Atlantic, roundnose grenadier in the North Sea and black scabbardfish in the North Sea and Skagerrak was cancelled.

Fishing for orange roughy remains prohibited.

Next steps

Following finalisation by the legal/linguistic experts, the agreement will be submitted for final adoption without discussion at a forthcoming Council meeting. The regulation will apply as from 1 January 2019.

Background

The proposed regulation on fishing opportunities for certain deep-sea stocks sets the catch limitations for EU fishing fleets for the commercially most important deep-sea species in the Union and international waters of the North-East Atlantic.

Deep-sea stocks are caught in waters beyond the main fishing grounds of continental shelves. They account for about 1% of all fish caught in the North-East Atlantic.

Fishing for deep-sea species has been regulated by the EU since 2003 through total allowable catches (TACs) per species and area, and maximum fishing effort deployable in the North-East Atlantic. The fishing opportunities for deep-sea species are decided every two years on the basis of scientific advice, and in line with regulation 1380/2013 on the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Scientific advice is provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which published its latest review of the biological status of deep-sea stocks on 7 June 2018.

Under the reformed CFP, fishing opportunities should also be fixed in accordance with the precautionary principle and aim at restoring and maintaining maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

Under article 43(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), it is for the Council to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities within the framework of the CFP.