ClientEarth's response to the Commission's Communication concerning a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2019 under the CFP

ClientEarth evaluates the European Commission's communication on 2019 fishing opportunities, welcoming the move toward FMSY targets and the use of ICES landings advice for the Baltic and North Sea. However, the organization expresses significant concerns regarding the use of FMSY ranges in multiannual plans, the lack of transparency in reporting, and the potential for lowering ambitions for stocks categorized as 'bycatch'. It specifically warns against the removal of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and the use of socio-economic arguments to delay the 2020 MSY deadline.

• ClientEarth supports the Commission's goal of making significant progress toward reaching Fishing Mortality by Maximum Sustainable Yield (FMSY) before the 2020 deadline, including setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) based on MSY exploitation rates.
• The organization criticizes the use of FMSY ranges in the Baltic and North Sea multiannual plans (MAPs) and the Western Waters MAP proposal, stating these risk setting TACs above the FMSY point value and jeopardizing MSY objectives.
• ClientEarth argues that categorizing stocks as 'target' or 'bycatch' leads to a lowering of ambition for bycatch stocks, which may be managed under a precautionary approach rather than MSY reference points, resulting in higher fishing pressure and lower biomass.
• The document identifies several shortcomings in the Commission's Article 50 report, including the use of a misleading average F/FMSY indicator and a lack of clear references for figures regarding TAC volumes 'in line with FMSY'.
• ClientEarth opposes the removal of TACs as a solution for 'choke species', asserting that removing a TAC removes a clear limit on fishing mortality and does not solve the discard problem.
• The organization warns that socio-economic arguments should not be used to delay the achievement of MSY-based exploitation rates unless there is a significant risk to the future of the fleet, and such delays must be accompanied by a clear plan to meet the 2020 deadline.
• ClientEarth welcomes the decision to base TACs for the Baltic and North Sea on ICES landings advice rather than total catch advice, as this is more cautious given the 2019 deadline for full implementation of the landing obligation.

APA

ClientEarth (2018). ClientEarth's response to the Commission's Communication concerning a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2019 under the CFP. https://www.clientearth.org/media/wewd5csk/clientearths-response-to-the-commissions-communication-concerning-a-consultation-on-fishing-opportunities-for-2019-under-the-cfp-ce-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. ClientEarth's response to the Commission's Communication concerning a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2019 under the CFP. 2018. https://www.clientearth.org/media/wewd5csk/clientearths-response-to-the-commissions-communication-concerning-a-consultation-on-fishing-opportunities-for-2019-under-the-cfp-ce-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=ClientEarth's response to the Commission's Communication concerning a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2019 under the CFP |date=August 2018 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/wewd5csk/clientearths-response-to-the-commissions-communication-concerning-a-consultation-on-fishing-opportunities-for-2019-under-the-cfp-ce-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2018clientearths, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{ClientEarth's response to the Commission's Communication concerning a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2019 under the CFP}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2018}, month = aug, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/wewd5csk/clientearths-response-to-the-commissions-communication-concerning-a-consultation-on-fishing-opportunities-for-2019-under-the-cfp-ce-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }