Ref. Ares(2018)3916726 - 24/07/2018
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/ER/vr/Ares(2018)
Ms
Chair North Western Waters MS
Group
Subject:
Updating the North 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 North
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 a temporary exemption for
one to 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 time limit in the annexed table the
exemption is granted for a three year period. However, where STECF reports that the
request was not sustained by adequate evidence, we consider the exemption can 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 exemptions.
As a consequence, I would like to ask the North Western Waters Member States 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
1 Reference STECF PLEN 18-02
1
swiftly with the adoption process. For the sake of completeness, we would also ask you
to send us a consolidated 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 North Western Waters enters into force on 1 January 2019.
I would appreciate very much your cooperation in addressing our comments on your joint
recommendations. 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:
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