Protection of the hake and the sole.

The European Commission has just presented two proposals relative to measures intended to favour the reconstruction of the stocks of sole in Occidental English channel and in the Bay of Gascoigne, as well as stocks of southern hake and lobster in Cantabrian sea and in the Occidental waters of the Iberic peninsula.

These propositions are in compliance with the new approach adopted in 2002 within the framework of the reorganization of fishing, which outlines the renunciation of short-term measures in favour of multiannual strategies in order to encourage the reconstruction of the stocks of fishes and to maintain them within the limits of bio safety.

A similar plan had been already adopted during the council of December, 2003 and a political agreement had been concluded on a background for the hake of the North. Besides, the council emphasized the necessity of adopting this year, the proposed plans for the sole, the southern hake and the lobster. These propositions are complying with a strategy which objective is to get back the stocks in question to their levels of bio safety over a period from five to ten years. The foreseen means are multiple: reduction of the possibilities of fishing, limitation of the effort of fishing and introduction of the specific control measures.

However, additional proposals will be presented to incorporate into the existing plans of reconstructing stocks in danger of collapse. It is notably about the cod and about the flounder in Celtic sea, about the whiting in Sea of Ireland as well as the flounder in the Northern Sea. To prepare these proposals, it is planned to engage a consultation with regional consultative councils during the next meetings.