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Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2013 for fish stocks under
international agreements
The European Commission today presented its proposal for next year's
(2013) fishing opportunities for fish stocks which are jointly managed with
third parties, such as Norway or Regional Fisheries Management Organisations
(RFMOs) throughout the world.
International negotiations for many of the stocks concerned are still
on-going.
The proposal therefore includes relatively few figures at this stage.It
will be completed once negotiations with third parties and organisations have
taken place.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki, in charge of Maritime Affairs and
Fisheries, said:
"Today's proposal concerns those stocks that are managed jointly by the
EU with other countries and within RFMOs.
For many stocks, the Commission is still negotiating on behalf of the
EU Member States. In these negotiations, the Commission will do its utmost to
obtain the best outcome for our fishermen while also respecting scientific
advice.
I strongly hope that our partners and the international community will
also show their commitment to sustainable fisheries."
Today's proposal as well as an earlier proposal dated 23 October 2012
relating to fish stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea (IP/12/1148) will be
discussed at the Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels in December.
Background
For fish stocks shared with third countries, the European Commission
negotiates towards the end of each year with these countries (Norway, Faroe
Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Russia) the quantities of fish to be caught in the
following year, based on scientific advice.
For the stocks in international waters and for highly migratory
species, such as tuna, the European Commission negotiates fishing opportunities
in the framework of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).
These must subsequently be transposed into EU law.