Advice and Recommendations

The PelAC submitted in annex the detaild report of the PelAC FG meeting on Northeast Atlantic Mackerel (12 Sept 2024) , which summarized the discussions on preparing for the ICES data call scheduled for the end of 2024.

The PelAC emphasized the importance of ensuring high-quality ICES advice on mackerel and the need to further investigate stock assessement.

The PelAC requested the Commission to ask ICES to carry out as a matter of urgency a combined benchmark of the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea stock assessments to address the aforementioned issues and to conduct a retrospective analysis on the impact of the inappropriate assessment of Irish Sea herring and the provision of inflated advice for the past seven years.

The PelAC reiterated to the European Commission the critical importance of immediate action following the publication of the recent ICES advice regarding the Northeast Atlantic mackerel stock, which recommended a 22% reduction in catches.

The Pelagic AC provides recommendations on TACs in 2025 for stocks under its remit.

The PelAC expressed their concerns and requested a full coordination of work on all horse mackerel stocks following the recent benmark assessment.

The PelAC calls for the European Commission and ICES to coordinate efforts to harmonise the assessment and management of all horse mackerel stocks. Addressing the highlighted data deficiencies, improving survey efforts, and integrating ecosystem considerations are crucial steps toward sustainable fisheries management.

The PelAC expressed their serious concern regarding the persistent risk of parties setting escessive unilateral quotas. The PelAC urges all Coastal States to continue negotiations on a comprehensive sharing arrangement that reflects genuine, sustainable track records and interests.

The NWWAC and PelAC joined in this call for increased policy coherence between environment and fisheries dimensions. They recommend that mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that direct and indirect cumulative environmental effects of activities of the Blue Economy do not add to the pressure from climate change on the ocean or adversely impact one specific sector, for example fisheries, their value chains, and on-shore activities.

They also recommend that regular coordination between expert groups (MSFD Group, Marine Expert Group, etc) is essential for the Blue Economy to become truly sustainable from an environmental, economic and social perspective, but they should also taking into consideration cultural and heritage aspects.

The PelAC joined the multi-AC letter and expressed their support of the “Fishers of the Future” initiative, but that doubts have been raised in relation to the methodology developed by the project consultants as well as the results of a survey of fishers carried out as part of the project as presented at the workshop held on 19 March.

The participated ACs feel it is essential that the diversity of the entire EU fleet is considered and represented in this important project, ensuring the relevance, and added value of the results.

The NWWAC and PelAC jointely invited the Commission for a more detailed exchange on the new Control Regulation and suggested to hold a joint workshop later in 2024 specifically focussing on the implementation, as well as clarification regarding the timelines for the delegated and implementing acts and the consultation process envisaged by the Commission on these acts for the Advisory Councils.

With this letter the PelAC responded to the reply received from the Commission on the PelAC letter on the emergency measures taken by France to limit cetacean by-catches in the Bay of Biscay. The PelAC, once more, wanted to draw the attention of the Commission to the fact that there was no consultation of relevant Advisory Councils on the planned measures.