Ref. Ares(2018)3908330 - 23/07/2018
Ref. Ares(2019)2387732 - 04/04/2019
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR MARITIME AFFAIRS AND FISHERIES
Fisheries Policy Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic and Outermost Regions
Structural Support Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic and Outermost Regions
Director
Brussels,
MARE.C1
vr/Ares(2018)
Ms
Chair of the South Western Waters
Member States Group
Subject:
Updating the South Western Waters group’s joint recommendation
for a demersal discard plan in the light of STECF’s advice
Dear Chair,
I would like to thank you for the joint recommendation submitted by your Member States
Group with respect to the adoption of a discard plan for demersal stocks in the South
Western Waters. The discard plans will help ensure a proper implementation of the
landing obligation and contribute significantly to the overarching goal of the CFP,
namely the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks.
In accordance with the rules in force, the Commission asked the STECF to examine the
joint recommendations submitted by the Member States. Their report is available on their
website https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reports/plenary1.
My services have analysed the report and it appears that, while certain requests for
exemptions were adequately supported by scientific evidence, certain others were poorly
so or not at all. Where STECF considers that appropriate evidence was provided, we can
accept to grant the exemption. Where STECF indicates that additional data should be
submitted to fully justify the request, we could accept to grant temporary exemptions for
three years. In all cases where we grant an exemption we invite the Chair of the Member
States group to send an annual report to the Commission on the progress achieved by 1
May of the year thereafter, starting with 1 May 2019. For all cases where we grant an
exemption without mentioning a date in the annexed table the exemption is granted for a
3 year period.
However, where STECF reports that the request was not sustained by adequate evidence,
we consider the exemption may not be granted. You will find in the annex to this letter
our analysis of STECF’s advice and our positions as regards the respective requests for
exemption.
1 Reference STECF PLEN 18-02
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
As a consequence, I would like to ask the South Western Waters Group to reconsider
their position and accept removing some of the requested exemptions as indicated in the
enclosed table. Should you accept these changes via email by 5 August, we will reflect
such changes directly in the Delegated Act under preparation and proceed swiftly with
the adoption process. For the sake of completeness, we would also ask you to send us a
revised Joint Recommendation by 15 August, which reflects the changes accepted by e-
mail.
This will ensure the necessary procedures are completed in time and the discard plan for
demersal stocks in the South Western Waters enters into force on 1 January 2019.
I would appreciate very much your cooperation in addressing our comments on your r
joint recommendation. Aligning your Member States Group's position with the scientific
advice would help avoid the proposal for a discard plan be rejected entirely, because of
certain problematic elements. It is in our common interest to ensure that the Delegated
Acts approving the discards plans are sufficiently underpinned by scientific advice to
guarantee their support by the co-legislators.
Yours sincerely,
Hélène CLARK
Enclosure:
Annex
Cc
2