Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that the European Commission has made insufficient progress in implementing the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), noting that 41 percent of analysed stocks remain overfished. The NGOs call for 2020 TAC proposals to strictly follow scientific advice, improve the implementation of the Landing Obligation (LO) through better monitoring like CCTV, and increase transparency in the TAC setting process.

The document urges EU Fisheries Ministers to set 2019 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) within scientifically advised levels to meet the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) goals by 2020. It recommends that TACs not exceed Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) or precautionary approach limits, calls for the correct implementation of the landing obligation through robust catch documentation like CCTV, and demands greater transparency in the TAC-setting process through public justification of any limits set above scientific advice.

The document outlines NGO recommendations for 2019 fishing opportunities in the Northeast Atlantic and North Sea, urging the Council to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) within scientifically advised levels to meet the Common Fisheries Policy's Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) objectives by 2020. It specifically addresses the risks of 'TAC rollovers', the implementation of the landing obligation, and the dangers of removing TACs or introducing 'bycatch TACs' for stocks with zero catch advice. The NGOs also call for increased transparency in the Council's decision-making process and the alignment of management areas with scientific assessment units.

ClientEarth urges the European Commission to set 2019 Northeast Atlantic TACs strictly according to scientific advice to meet the 2020 MSY deadline. The organization warns against the removal of TACs to solve 'choke issues' unless risks are low and safeguards are in place, and calls for greater transparency in the decision-making process and socio-economic justifications for any departures from scientific advice.

A joint statement from five NGOs urging EU Fisheries Ministers to set 2018 fishing quotas (TACs) within scientific limits to meet the 2020 legal deadline for maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The recommendations focus on adhering to scientific advice, correctly implementing the landing obligation, and increasing the transparency of the TAC-setting process.

The briefing urges the Council to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) within scientifically advised levels to meet the 2020 deadline for Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). It specifically calls for the removal of bycatch footnotes that exceed scientific advice, the introduction of measures for stocks without TACs—including adding European eel to the prohibited species list—and increased transparency in the decision-making process to address mismatches between management areas and scientific stock assessment units.

The document presents a series of TAC recommendations for 2018 for selected fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic and North Sea. The NGOs argue for limits that align with scientific advice from ICES, often recommending lower catches than the European Commission's proposals to prevent overexploitation, particularly for stocks not meeting Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) objectives.

The document identifies significant gaps in how the European Commission and other stakeholders report on fish stocks and TACs, noting that current methods often fail to track management progress toward MSY and rely on incomplete data. It recommends that the Commission's Article 50 report include direct comparisons between TACs and scientific advice, cover all harvested species regardless of data availability, and explicitly report on biomass levels alongside fishing mortality. The briefing also highlights the need for standardized labeling and clearer methodology across various reports to avoid ambiguous or misleading conclusions about whether stocks are 'fished sustainably'.

The document argues that mismatches between management units (TACs) and scientific advice units (ICES) make it difficult to monitor whether fishing levels comply with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Analysis of 112 comparisons shows that only about 28% are directly comparable, while the majority suffer from area or species mismatches that require additional, non-public data to resolve.

The document examines how the transition from regulating landings to regulating catches under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) landing obligation complicates the monitoring of TACs. It highlights that 'top-up' calculations—adding previously discarded amounts to landings advice—are hindered by missing scientific data on discards, a lack of transparency regarding the European Commission's methodology, and the absence of official records for proposed top-up quantities. The author argues that without accessible data on fleet-segment discards and clear methodology, civil society cannot verify if TACs align with scientific advice or the MSY objective.

The document argues that a lack of transparency and data mismatches hinder the ability of stakeholders to verify if EU fish quotas align with scientific advice and the legal requirements of the Common Fisheries Policy. It specifically highlights issues with spatial mismatches between management and advice units, the opacity of the Council of Ministers' decision-making, and the complexities introduced by the landing obligation's 'top-up' calculations. The author recommends that the European Commission publish its matching methodologies, create a centralised database for TACs shared with third countries, and improve the reporting of progress towards MSY.

ClientEarth critiques the European Commission's 2017 fishing opportunity proposals, asserting that using FMSY point values as targets rather than limits fails to meet the legal requirement to maintain fish populations 'above' levels capable of producing MSY. The organization highlights a decline in stocks within safe biological limits between 2013 and 2014 and criticizes the Commission's Article 50 report for being misleading and lacking data on biomass levels. Furthermore, ClientEarth warns that quota top-ups for the landing obligation could increase fishing mortality if not strictly based on validated discard data. The response calls for clearer quantitative criteria for socio-economic derogations and a more transparent, comprehensive reporting framework for the landing obligation.

The document argues that the EU is failing to meet its 2020 goal of ending overfishing due to Total Allowable Catches (TACs) being set above scientific advice, particularly by certain Member States. It recommends following scientific advice to achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), properly enforcing the landing obligation, increasing transparency in the TAC-setting process, and ensuring honest reporting on progress.