Fisheries Council, Brussels, 16-17 December 1999. Decision on Toal Allowable Catches 2000

The Commission adopted its proposals on total allowable catches for fish (TACs), and national quotas, for the year 2000, on 15 December 1999. These proposals were discussed and adopted, with some amendments, at the Fisheries Council, Brussels, 16-17 December 1999.

Background

The aim of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the European Union is to manage the fisheries sector of the EU Member States with the following objectives:

• To increase productivity
• To stabilise markets
• To ensure availability of supplies
• To ensure reasonable prices for the consumer

These objectives are currently being pursued under Council Regulation 3760/92: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/dat/1992/en_392R3760.html . This governs the CFP until 2002. The full range of adopted legislation in force governing fisheries can be accessed in EUR-LEX: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/ind/en_analytical_index_04.html The texts of relevant adopted legislation, plus proposed legislation and other official documents, can also be accessed on the European Commission's Directorate-General for Fisheries website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg14/doc_en.htm .

Further information on the objectives, instruments, development and structures of the CFP can be found in the European Parliament's Fact Sheets: http://www.europarl.eu.int/dg4/factsheets/en/4_2_1.htm . A further introductory guide 'The Common Fisheries Policy' from the Directorate General for Fisheries of the European Commission is useful: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg14/pcp/index_en.htm (compiled in 1998)

Total allowable catches (TACs)

Conserving declining fish stocks has become a major issue for the EU and other countries in the world with large fishing industries in the last few years. Each year the European Commission proposes a number of Total Allowable Catches for fish stocks in the Baltic and North-East Atlantic for the forthcoming year (in some cases in collaboration with Norway and the Baltic States), based upon the latest scientific advice available. The advice is made available by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES): http://www.ices.dk . This organisation is recognised by governments throughout Europe as the best source of objective, balanced and consensual advice on the state of fish stocks. Further background information on the ICES and the UK's role in ICES is provided on the website: http://www.marine.gov.uk/ICES.htm

The scientific recommendations of ICES are complemented by that of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF), which is an EU body made up of experts from a number of countries and disciplinary backgrounds, which advises the European Commission.

TACs for 2000

The Commission issued its proposals for TACs for 2000 on the 15 December 1999, which included suggestions for cuts in the TACs for a number of stocks, in particular for Irish Sea cod, and Bay of Biscay and Southern anchovy. The details are available in Press Release (Commission), IP/99/986 (15.12.99):

The EU Fisheries Ministers met in a FisheriesCouncil in Brussels on 16-17 December 1999 to make their decisions on the TACs for 2000 on the basis of the Commission's proposals. With certain adjustments they accepted the need for substantial cuts. Details can be seen in Press Release (Council), PRES/99/416 (17.12.99):

Reactions and further background information sources

The conservation organisation, the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), welcomed the decision on fishing quotas (Press Release (WWF), 17.12.99): http://www.panda.org/news/press/news.cfm?id=1804 . Further relevant information is provided in the WWF Endangered Seas Campaign site: http://www.panda.org/endangeredseas/index.htm

In the United Kingdom the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the government department responsible for fisheries issues. On its website it has information on the role of fishing in the UK, conservation issues, grants and financial assistance available etc: http://www.maff.gov.uk/fish/fishindx.htm . See also News Release (MAFF), No.453, 1999 (17.12.99): http://www.maff.gov.uk/inf/newsrel/1999/991217a.htm

The full text of the 1999 TACs can be seen on the Directorate-General for Fisheries website http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg14/tac99fr.pdf . In due course the details for 2000 will appear on this site.

A significant list of related sites with content about fisheries can be seen on DG XIV pages: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg14/site.htm