Advice and Recommendations

The letter from the Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) addresses concerns regarding the implementation of a bycatch Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for North Sea horse mackerel, following ICES advice recommending zero catch due to the stock’s poor condition. It highlights challenges and inconsistencies in the implementation of the bycatch TAC across European Member States and emphasizes the need for harmonization to ensure a level playing field. Additionally, PelAC welcomes the Commission’s request to ICES for advice on establishing a monitoring TAC to gather sufficient data for future stock assessments.

The Pelagic Advisory Council’s response to the European Oceans Pact emphasizes the need for a unified framework to enhance coherence and inclusivity among all ocean-related sectors, particularly focusing on fisheries. It highlights the importance of aligning the Oceans Pact with the ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to address governance changes and ensure stakeholder involvement in decision-making processes.

The letter from the Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) to the European Commission discusses concerns about the environmental impacts of offshore renewable energy (ORE) deployment on marine ecosystems. It highlights the lack of comprehensive understanding and assessment of these impacts, particularly on spawning habitats of key pelagic species, and emphasizes the need for better coordination and adherence to scientific advice from ICES to ensure sustainable and environmentally responsible ORE development.

With this letter the Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) confirmed their support of the proposal being prepared for submission to EU-funding under the EMFAF programme on ‘Implementing More and Better Use of ICES Survey data’ (IMBUS) and expressed willingness to take part in the project’s stakeholder advisory board.

The NWWAC and PelAC wrote to the North Western Waters Member States Group that they as representative and legitimate EU fisheries stakeholder bodies which are legally recognised as organisations pursuing an aim of general European interest, strongly believe that they should be included in the consultation processes.

In this letter the Long Distance Advisory Council (LDAC), Mediterranean AC (MEDAC), Outermost Regions AC (CCRUP), North Sea AC (NSAC), North Western Waters AC (NWWAC), Pelagic AC (PelAC) and South Western Waters AC (SWWAC) highlighted some considerations regarding stakeholder involvement in STECF processes as observers and suggest ways to enhance the valuable contributions ACs can make to these processes.

The PelAC sent the 2025 fishing opportunities recommendation for herring in 6a North, herring in 6a South and 7bc and Irish Sea herring to the Commission.

The NWWAC and PelAC sent a letter to the Irish Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, to reiterated their request for inclusion in the relevant stakeholder discussion forums, and in particular the Seafood/ORE Group.

The AC Chairs and Vice-Chairs were invited for a pre-council meeting on 3 December 2024 in Brussels. Please find the PelAC statement prepared for this meeting here.

The PelAC invited the new Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Mr. Costas Kadis, to join the PelAC Executive Committee meeting on 3 April 2025.