Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, At the beginning of the week, we stated that it was aimed at determining the European Commission’s proposal in November. total allowable catches (TACs) and 2024 quotas. However, yesterday Brussels announced its initial approach to the negotiations, which traditionally take place in the first half of December. The Gran Sol’s quotas are affected by the UK leaving the EU and Negotiated with the British sideDepartment headed by the Lithuanian commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius The proposal focused on species that directly affect Spain, namely those living in Iberian waters. If we have to change compared to other years, the numbers are positive. Brussels is determined to increase quotas for hake, monkfish, rapante (or rooster) and horse mackerel; the only negative note is the Cantabrian crayfish..
Thus, in line with the good predictions put forward by scientists International Council for the Study of the Sea (ICES)The Commission recommends: good 10% increase in hake fishing opportunities In regions VIIIc and IXa, that is, between the Gulf of Cadiz and the Basque Country. This change is a total 17,445 tonswe will have to add increases of 11% and 7% in the case of rapante and monkfish.What they will have for the next year, respectively, 3,622 and 4,650 tons.
Regarding IXa southwards from Fisterra only, tuna Although catch is low due to the absence of the species along the Galicia coast, it will increase again. The EC sees a possible increase of 5 percent, which would leave a large sum 173,873 tons. As data, in the first nine months of the year Galician markets sold 8,218 tons; This represents a decrease of 31.5% compared to the same period in 2022.
The negative note is once again on the crayfish. Brussels is proposing its proposal only for functional units 31 and 25 (UF, areas into which the stockpile in the Cantabrian Sea is divided). In the first case, there was a 27 percent decrease to 12.4 tons. In the second, the capture is proposed to be left at 0 for both 2024 and 2025.
The European Commission also sets a limit for recreational fishing. Especially for catching perch in zones VIIIa and b, that is, in the French waters of the Bay of Biscay. Only one fish per day can be caught in line with the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of the species.
multi-year
As the European Commission communication warns, “For the first time” it is proposed to set a quota for more than one yearJust like Spain advocated. Thus, a total of nine TACs will become “multi-year” according to ICES recommendations. With this, they aim to provide “more predictability” to the fleet.
Of course, for now, the decision affects species that are less likely to be caught by Spanish-flagged vessels. These are flounder (western Ireland and Iberian waters), haddock and haddock (in the Bay of Biscay), sole (Irish waters and Iberian waters) or UF 25’s own crayfish.
This suggests that a situation may arise where Gran Sol quotas, for which there is no information yet, will be valid until 2026. As a result, these quotas remain subject to negotiations with the British side for now. of Brexit.
“This offer Consultations continue with Norway and the United Kingdom and after the integration of decisions taken in various regional fisheries management organisations,” he explains from Brussels.
The Council will discuss the Commission’s proposal Negotiations are planned to be held on December 11 and 12.