EC: Commission proposal for Total Allowable Catches for 2010 October, 16th: The European Commission is proposing the new levels of total allowable catch (TAC) and fishing effort for fish stocks available to Community fishing vessels mainly in the Atlantic and the North Sea. This proposal is based on scientific advice about the quantities of fish that can be caught sustainably. The Commission has also discussed working methods with Member States and the fishing sectors, and as a result of their advice has in many cases limited reductions to no more than 15% since last year. The Commission remains committed to reducing discards, but fishers also have their part to play and should fish responsibly by returning to port once their quotas are used up, using selective fishing gear and avoiding concentrations of young fish. The Commission has started developing proposals to this end. Based on the proposal, Member States' Fisheries Ministers will decide on the levels of TACs for 2010 at their meeting of 14 and 15 December.