FDBusiness.com

The EU fisheries ministers have agreed on fishing limits (or Total Allowable Catches) for 19 deep-sea stocks for 2017 and 2018. It is the first time in six years that a unanimous agreement was reached on deep sea quotas.

One of the TACs agreed, the roundnose grenadier in Northern areas, will be fished for the very first time in accordance with Maximum Sustainable Yield levels, i.e. levels that allow the fishing industry to take the highest amount of fish from the sea, while keeping fish stocks healthy.

Deep sea fish are by nature special and vulnerable species. They grow slowly and can reproduce only as of 20 or 30 years of age. Therefore long-term sustainable management is necessary for these stocks. Furthermore, a new element in the agreement is the addition 3 small, scientific TACs for deep-sea sharks.

Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella comments: “For the first time we will have one deep-sea stock fished at MSY in 2017, which is good progress. For those stocks for which scientists are unable to give us MSY advice, our comprise recognises that we need to manage these sensitive stocks with caution, as we know little about them and as they recover very slowly. Combined with all this, the new element on sharks makes me feel confident that we have taken another important step for both our stocks and our fishermen.”