ministers Fishing of the European Union Negotiations are currently ongoing on the European Commission’s proposal for the distribution of fishing quotas. Fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea by 2024 In addition to the proposal for 2025 and 2026 for some stocks, there is also an offer for fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas for 2024.
What complicated the deal Tuesday morning after a night of negotiations, industry sources told Europa Press. French and Italian claims to efforts in the Mediterranean.
Like this, Commission remains “flexible” in proposal to reduce fishing days by 9.5%Both countries are trying to compensate for this cut by increasing compensation days.
In the case of Spain, which assumes the role of Council presidency on this occasion, the priorities in the Atlantic are the maintenance of quotas for haddock, sole and crayfish, as well as the increase of southern hake, monkfish and roosterfish. .
Although negotiations at Twenty-Seven continue, the EU Already managed to sign agreements with the United Kingdom and Norway As confirmed by diplomatic sources, a statement was made on fishing opportunities in 2024 for the first time since Brexit.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas also pointed out that a fact that “overshadowed” the meeting of the Twenty-Seven was the decision of the Court of Justice – scheduled for January – regarding the margins of maneuver used by Ireland. , because “it may indicate the degree of the Council’s decision-making capacity on Brussels proposals.
“This is one of the Council’s biggest challenges,” he acknowledged, while assuring that ministers wanted “to reach a legal agreement that will be permanent over time and cannot be subject to annulment objections.”
Planas noted that the EU Chief Prosecutor had stated in scientific advice that “there is no room for maneuver in political decisions” when TAC is 0, which he disagreed with: “If we want selectivity and we want to avoid suffocation when hunting an animal, we need room to maneuver.”
In this context, the Spanish presidency has published a draft declaration, which will also be the subject of discussion among ministers and which Planas hopes to adopt together with the conclusions of the Council.
Agreements with the United Kingdom and Norway
HE I agree with him United Kingdom It covers a total of 85 permitted catches in the North-East Atlantic and guarantees fishing opportunities of approximately 388,000 tonnes for the EU fleet; This amount is estimated to be worth approximately €1 billion based on historical wholesale prices adjusted for inflation.
Also, a The tripartite agreement between the EU, Norway and england The report on jointly managed fish stocks in the North Sea for 2024 forecasts a total allowable catch of more than 915,000 tonnes, covering a quota of approximately 415,000 tonnes of cod, haddock, saithe, whiting, halibut and herring.
Finally, The EU and Norway held bilateral consultations on joint North Sea and Skagerrak stocks. as well as quota changes. The three bilateral agreements concern the exchange of quotas, mutual access to fishing in each other’s waters, and the establishment of quotas in the Skagerrak and Kattegat.
Both sides maintained an assertive balance in exchanges. Fishing opportunities of great economic importance The EU will receive 9,983 tonnes of Arctic cod and transfer 48,000 tonnes of blue whiting to Norway by 2024, among other stocks.