Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2018/120 as regards certain fishing opportunities

Background and further information:

Council Regulation (EU) No 2018/120 fixes for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Union waters and, for Union vessels, in certain non-Union waters. These fishing opportunities are usually amended several times during the period in which they are in effect.

In 2017 the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in its advice and following the 2016 benchmark amended the sandeel management areas. Sandeel is a short-lived species and the scientific advice became available in the second half of February, while the fishery starts in April. In Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120 the total allowable catch (TAC) limits were set at zero. Therefore, they should be amended in line with the latest scientific advice from ICES, issued on 23 February 2018.