Conservation of fishery resources: cod stocks in the Baltic Sea, multi-annual plan; aligning the Regulation with the TFEU

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Jarosław Leszek WAŁĘSA (EPP, PL) on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks.

The committee recommends that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure, should amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:

Objective and targets: according to Members, the management plan to ensure the sustainable exploitation of the cod stocks should indicate a maximum fishing mortality, not a minimum fishing mortality as proposed by the Commission. The plan shall maintain the fishing mortality rates at levels no lower than 0.25 on ages 3 to 6 years for the cod stock in Area A (according to the advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)).

New target rate: Members propose replacing the word “minimum” with “target” throughout the text to better define the fishing mortality values.

Procedure for determining the periods during which it is permitted to fish with certain types of gear: an amendment stipulates that, by way of derogation, fishing vessels with an overall length of less than 12 metres shall be permitted to fish with static gear in the area up to 10 nautical miles measured from the baselines. The immersion time of the said static gears shall not exceed 48 hours.

Members consider that this amendment will allow small-scale fisheries to fish cod during closed season, particularly during summer months with no negative effect on pre-spawning and spawning concentrations, which take place on the Baltic Deeps, away from coastal areas.

Evaluation of the plan: for the purpose of this evaluation, the Commission shall seek the advice of STECF and of the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council. Where necessary, the Commission shall make appropriate proposals, for adoption in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, for the amendment of the multi-annual plan.

Revision of minimum fishing mortality rates: where the Commission finds that the minimum fishing mortality rates are no longer appropriate to achieve the objectives of the management plan, the Commission shall, on the basis of advice from STECF and after consulting the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council and relevant stakeholders, make a proposal, for adoption in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, for the revision of the target fishing mortality rates.

Delegated acts: the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts with regard to setting periods when fishing with certain types of gear is allowed in respect of certain geographical areas. The power to adopt delegated acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of three years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations with the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council and relevant stakeholders during its preparatory work, including at expert level.

The Commission shall no longer be empowered to adopt implementing acts under the Regulation.