Highlights

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European citizens, companies and other interested parties are invited to give their opinions and comments on the Commission's plan for improving the current system of allocating fishing quotas and "total allowable catches" – the tools designed to manage fish stocks and at the same time ensure the livelihoods of fishermen – for the year 2012.

The primary aim of this plan for 2012 is to accelerate the phasing out of overfishing in European waters. Overfishing is mainly the result of fleets that are too large fishing for stocks that are too small.

The current fisheries management system has helped to reduce the proportion of overfished stocks in the Atlantic from 94 % to 63 %, but the problem persists in the Mediterranean, where 82 % of known stocks are still being overfished. Overfishing is harmful not only for fish species, but also for fishing companies, because it means that often too much expensive fuel and effort is being used for nothing.

It is therefore proposed that the methods used to link the allocation of quotas to scientific advice should be simplified, and that allowable catches should be reduced by 25 % where there is no scientific advice on a particular stock.

In addition, the intention is to adapt the current multi-annual fish stock management plans, so that they are more oriented towards the management of fish stocks in general rather than towards the recovery of depleted fish stocks, which was their original purpose.

It is also proposed that the Council should take its yearly decisions on the main allocation of quotas for individual member states and total allowable catches across European and international waters in two parts instead of all at once, which would allow for more consideration and fine-tuning.

Citizens and organisations should submit their opinions and proposals online (the link is given below) or by other means by 20 July 2011. The EU member states have already expressed their opinions on this document at the Council meeting on 28 June in Luxembourg.

The consultation is part of a wider effort to initiate the reform of the current common fisheries policy (CFP). The first proposal on the reform of the CFP is due to be presented to the Council at the next Fisheries Council.

More information:
Consultation page
Press release (pdf)
Press conference webcast