Ref. Ares(2018)4143673 - 07/08/2018
Ref. Ares(2019)2387732 - 04/04/2019
From:
Sent:
05 August 2018 13:01
To:
Cc:
Subject:
RE: Updatiing the South Western Waters group's joint recommendation
for a demersal discard plan in the light of STECF's advice
Attachments:
180803_Annexe_MT_dmHKE.docx
Dear Helen,
As Chair of the South Western Waters regional group, please find hereafter our feedback to your letter
of July, 24th.
It has been extremely complicated to reach a consensus due to the short time and the summer holydays.
We will put all together as soon as possible and will continue working with your services to find a
compromise that can satisfy everyone expectations on the complex challenge that the Landing
Obligations pose to all of us.
We are working on the next modifications of the JR, based on your assessment:
Skates and Rays
The SWW group can share the Commission´s concerns on the Cuckoo ray due to no data from 8 and 9.
Therefore, the group will maintain the Cuckoo ray in this high survivability exemption on a 1 year basis,
to be able to provide more data in the coming year and to prove the high survivability.
Hake caught with trawls in directed fisheries in 8 and 9
The group will change the exemption to grant it for vessels with mesh size over 80 mm and limit it on
vessels with mesh size below 79 mm
For vessels with a mesh size ranging 70-79 mm the de minimis will be for one year after that they will
have to adapt to one of the following technical measures (from 01.01.2020)
- T90
- ventral window with meshes turned 45 degrees, as specified in the annex;
- lobster grid, 13 mm spacing between round bars;
- codend mesh size of 80 mm or more;
- 45 degree turned mesh cylinder, as specified in the annex.to vessels using T90.
The groups considers that the fishermen should have time to adapt to this new measure.
Horse mackerel, mackerel, anchovy and boarfish caught by bottom trawlers
Taking into account that there is some evidence presented on difficulties in improving selectivity and
difficulties in handling, the SWW group wants to split the de minimis in 4 separate de minimis for each
species, and will summit additional information as soon as possible to show the cost and impact.
Catches of anglerfish, sole, turbot, red seabream, great forkbeard caught by trawlers in the gulf of
Cádiz (part of area 9a)
Taking into account that there is some evidence presented on difficulties in improving selectivity and
difficulties in handling, the SWW group wants to split the de minimis in 5 separate de minimis for each
species, and will summit additional information as soon as possible to show the cost and impact.
Catches of megrim, anglerfish, whiting and Pollack caught by trawlers in divisions 8 and 9
Taking into account that there is some evidence presented on difficulties in improving selectivity and
difficulties in handling, the SWW group wants to split the de minimis in 4 separate de minimis for each
species and reduce it to 5% with the provisions set in the hake for new technical measures to be adopted
before the01.01.2020, and will summit additional information as soon as possible to show the cost and
impact.
Catches of megrim, anglerfish, whiting and Pollack caught by gillnetters in divisions 8 and 9
Taking into account that there is some evidence presented on difficulties in improving selectivity and
difficulties in handling, the SWW group wants to split the de minimis in 4 separate de minimis for each
species and reduce the amount to 4%, and will summit additional information as soon as possible to
show the cost and impact.
Catches of horse mackerel, mackerel, anchovy and boarfish, caught by gillnetters in 8,9, 10 and CECAF
34
Taking into account that there is some evidence presented on difficulties in improving selectivity and
difficulties in handling, the SWW group wants to split the de minimis in 2 separate de minimis for horse
mackerel and mackerel, and will summit additional information as soon as possible to show the cost and
impact.
Catches of horse mackerel, mackerel, anchovy and boarfish, caught by longliners in 8, 9, 10 and CECAF
34
The group can accept this rejection.
Catches of all species regulated with TAC and quota caught by the artisanal fleet, in 8, 9, 10 and CECAF
34
Taking into account that there is some evidence presented on difficulties in improving selectivity and
difficulties in handling, the SWW group wants to underline that the application of the Landing Obligation
for the artisanal fleet is going to be a mayor challenge. We accept the Commission´s rejection,
nevertheless, the group will continue working to collect information and data on the impact and
difficulties to improve selectivity, in order to propose an alternative solution.
Thank you,
Kind regards,
Secretaría General de Pesca