Communication concerning a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2015 under the Common Fisheries Policy

Fishing opportunities for 2015 will be fixed for the first time under the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Setting fishing opportunities must contribute to achieving the objectives of the new CFP. Fishing opportunities set in line with the maximum sustainable yield objective, in combination with the other management instruments set out in the new CFP, should ensure that fishing activities are environmentally sustainable in the long run and are managed consistently to achieve economic, social and employment benefits and contribute to the availability of food supplies.

Fishing opportunities must be set according to Article 2(2) of the CFP, and with the objective of progressively restoring and maintaining populations of fish stocks above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The MSY objective is to be achieved by 2015 where possible and on a progressive, incremental basis at the latest by 2020 for all stocks. This objective will also contribute to achieving good environmental status by 2020 as provided for by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the CFP.

In order to achieve this objective, the Commission's proposals will be based on bringing the impact of the fishing fleets on the stocks (fishing mortality) in the shortest feasible time-frame to the levels required to allow the stocks to rebuild to biomass levels that produce maximum sustainable yield. When that has been achieved the Commission will, as appropriate, propose measures to enable further rebuilding.

2015 will also be the year in which the landing obligation for certain fisheries comes into force. Fishing opportunities for stocks falling under the landing obligation are to be fixed taking into account the change to fishing opportunities that reflect catches rather than landings, on the understanding that that should not jeopardise the MSY objective or result in an increase of fishing mortality in the fishery.

The Commission will base its proposals for the fishing opportunities on the best available scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) on achieving MSY. For stocks where such advice is not available, the Commission proposals will apply the precautionary approach in line with Article 2(2) of the CFP. On request from the Commission ICES has prepared an advice for a framework for the evaluation of good environmental status (GES) for commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks (Descriptor 3 of MSFD). Further work will be carried out to show how MSY contibutes to achieving GES and thereby ensure coherence between CFP and MSFD implementation.

This Communication sets out the principles for the Commission proposals for fishing opportunities for 2015. Stakeholders are invited to present their views to the Commission by 30.09.2014.

Article 50 of the CFP sets out that the Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament and to the Council on the progress in achieving maximum sustainable yield and on the situation of fish stocks. This Communication is also intended to provide that information.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Fish stocks in Northeast Atlantic recover, whilst serious overfishing in Mediterranean: Commission sets out plans for 2015 fishing opportunities http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-fish-stocks-in-northeast-atlantic-recover-whilst-serious-overfishing-in-mediterranean-commission-sets-out-plans-for-2015-fishing-opportunities/

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)388: Follow the progress of this communication through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:388:FIN

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