Date: Tuesday 27 June 2023
Time: 9am to 12pm BST / 10am to 1pm CEST
Venue: Brussels and digital (EU host)
Merchandise 1: Opening of the Specialised Committee and adoption of the agenda
The EU as host welcomed each Delegations to the fifth assembly of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries ( SCF ). In opening remarks, each Events recognised the significance of cooperation between the Events for sustainable administration of shares within the northeast Atlantic, and for making certain a easy working setting for vessels. The Events adopted the provisional agenda for the assembly.
Merchandise 2: Fisheries administration and conservation
The EU supplied an replace on its revision of the Management Regulation, the Motion Plan on defending and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries, the report on the Frequent fisheries coverage, and the Fee’s intention to conduct an analysis of the Touchdown Obligation.
The UK supplied an replace on its work on the primary tranche of Fisheries Administration Plans, reform of the Touchdown Obligation, distant digital monitoring (REM), and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Extremely Protected Marine Areas (HMPAs).
The Events exchanged views on these initiatives.
b) Mechanism for transfers of fishing alternatives
The Events recalled that Article 498(8) of the TCA units out that the Events shall arrange a mechanism for voluntary in-year transfers of fishing alternatives between the Events, to happen every year, and that the SCF shall determine on the small print of this mechanism. The Events famous constructive discussions between them with a view to adopting a Determination of the SCF establishing such a mechanism, based mostly on the rules on which swaps have taken place since 2021. The Events famous that the content material of such Determination was agreed at technical stage, pending completion of inner procedures on each side. The draft Determination is topic to adoption, in precept by way of written process.
c) Pointers on notifications below Article 496(3) of the TCA
The Events recalled that discussions on this matter have been happening because the first assembly of the SCF in July 2021. The Events knowledgeable that the content material of the draft Advice of the SCF setting out Pointers for Notifications was agreed at technical stage, pending completion of inner procedures on each side. The Advice is topic to adoption by the SCF in precept by way of written process.
d) TAC alignment
Lemon sole and witch, and turbot and brill
The Events recalled their obligation below Article 504 of the TCA to evaluate the alignment of administration areas and the evaluation models utilized by ICES for these shares. The Events acknowledged the constructive discussions on this matter, with a view to adopting a Advice of the SCF on TAC alignment of those shares. The Events famous that the content material of such Advice was agreed at technical stage, pending completion of inner procedures on each side, and that the draft Advice is topic to adoption by the SCF , in precept by way of written process.
Whiting (Celtic Sea) and plaice (English Channel)
The Events recalled their obligation below Article 504 of the TCA to evaluate the alignment of administration areas and the evaluation models utilized by ICES for these two additional shares. Following on from the discharge of the recommendation on the finish of March, each Events famous the significance of progressing discussions on this level and agreed to proceed discussions within the subsequent assembly of the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries.
e) Celtic Sea technical measures
The Events concurred on the significance of labor on this matter and famous the nice work up to now in 2023. The Events famous that the work on information collation has taken longer than anticipated as a result of its advanced and technical nature and famous the numerous effort by each side within the train. Each Events hope to complete this work within the coming weeks, with a view to evaluating candidate measures thereafter.
Merchandise 3: Fishing alternatives, together with scientific coordination
a) EU-UK annual consultations for 2023 – recap
As this was the primary SCF assembly of 2023, the Events famous the outcomes of the fisheries consultations between the UK and the European Union for 2023 (which additionally covers some shares for 2023 and 2024), which occurred pursuant to Article 498 of the TCA , and the Written Report of which is annexed to those minutes consistent with Article 508(2)(a).
b) Pointers for setting TACs for Particular Shares
Each Events famous constructive exchanges up to now on this matter. Each Events agreed on the significance of getting pointers, while acknowledging that use of any pointers stay a contingency. The Events agreed to proceed discussions to progress this work which needs to be carried out in full respect to their respective authorized frameworks.
The Events acknowledged their commitments within the 2023 Written Report to evaluate using inter-area, inter-stock, inter-species and intra-species flexibilities. The Events famous that as a primary step, an inventory of preliminary footnotes for evaluate needs to be finalised, and identification of information wanted to help such a evaluate. The Events agreed to proceed discussions on this matter on the subsequent assembly of the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries.
d) Skates and rays
The Events recalled the dedication in paragraph 1(m) of the Written Report of fisheries consultations between the UK and the European Union for 2021 (henceforth 2021 Written Report) that the Events would develop a joint methodology for the interpretation of ICES recommendation for skates and rays.
The Events acknowledged the technical work over the previous yr on this concern (knowledgeable by UKFSAP recommendation sheet on Skates and Rays and STECF-22-08 Skates and Rays Administration) and welcomed the tabled paper (annexed to minutes) arising from this work setting out a joint methodology for deciphering ICES recommendation for the skates and rays group TACs (SRX/07D, SRX/2AC-4, SRX/67AKXD, SRX/89-C). The Events additionally exchanged copies of scientific studies which knowledgeable their method to this work, each of that are annexed to those minutes.
The Events recalled their discussions on the final WG on the chance to develop a roadmap for future skates and rays administration, and which ought to contemplate potential medium to long run alternate options to the present use of skates and rays group TACs .
The Events additionally recalled the dedication in paragraph 5(e) of the Written Report of fisheries consultations between the UK and the European Union for 2021 (henceforth 2021 Written Report) to contemplate the method for scientific commentary information assortment programmes for small eyed ray in space 7e. The Events agreed to debate this merchandise on the subsequent assembly of the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries.
Whiting (Celtic Sea) and plaice (English Channel)
The Events famous the receipt of ICES recommendation for these requests of 27 March for whiting (Celtic Sea) and 30 March for plaice (English Channel). This recommendation will feed into the work referred to below merchandise 2(d)(i) of this assembly.
Horse mackerel
The Events famous the dedication below paragraph 1(o) of the 2023 Written Report to make a joint request to ICES for an inter-benchmark evaluation of the western horse mackerel inventory. The request was mentioned within the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries and ICES was consulted on the request thereafter. ICES suggested that it couldn’t take this request at that second and that the benchmark course of for the inventory is scheduled to be accomplished within the first half of 2024.
Ecosystems-based fisheries administration points for forage fish species
The Events famous the dedication below paragraph 6 of the Written Report of fisheries consultations between the Events about sandeel for 2023, through which they agreed to request ICES to supply additional data on how ecosystem concerns, notably predator-prey interactions and the rebuilding of delicate greater trophic stage species, and different ecosystems-based fisheries administration points, are factored into to the availability of the one inventory recommendation for forage fish species. Such a joint request has been submitted to ICES , from which the Events at the moment are awaiting a response.
Seabass allocation software
On again of commitments in paragraph 13(h) of the 2023 Written Information, the Events despatched a joint request to ICES to replace the seabass allocation software. The Events famous such a request was collectively made in 2022 and that ICES suggested it couldn’t undertake this work forward of the following benchmark on seabass. The Events agreed to follow-up with ICES to rearrange a gathering, as urged by ICES .
Shares with no recommendation (Celtic Sea saithe, and Western Channel and Bristol Channel herring)
Consistent with paragraph 5(h) of the 2021 Written Report, the Events made a joint request in 2022 to ICES in search of scientific recommendation for these shares. ICES was not in a position to positively reply to the request, largely as a result of lack of fundamental information and data on the shares wanted for such. The Events mirrored positively on ICES ’ provide to facilitate a workshop in 2024 to determine what work must be executed on these parts.
Discard survivability exemptions
Beneath paragraph 11(b) of the Written Report of fisheries consultations between the UK and the European Union for 2022 (henceforth ‘2022 Written Report’), the Events agreed to collectively request ICES to incorporate discard survival estimates of their recommendation for shared shares sooner or later. In 2022, the Events made such a joint request to ICES regarding a survivability roadmap for 8 shares, together with plaice, sole and turbot. ICES knowledgeable that this course of could be initiated with a remaining roadmap being out there after the ICES Advisory Committee (ACOM) assembly in March 2024.
Roundnose grenadier
Pursuant to paragraph 5(g)(ii) of the 2021 Written Report, in early 2023, the Events made two requests to ICES on this species, one a non-recurrent technical service request on approaches to apportioning the inventory recommendation into the 2 TAC administration areas, and the opposite a particular advisory request on inventory characterisation.
ICES has issued recommendation for the non-recurrent technical service request, which can inform future administration discussions between the Events.
ICES suggested it was not ready to supply recommendation based mostly for the particular advisory request, as roundnose grenadier is without doubt one of the data-limited shares and requesting data on the spatial construction of the fishery, sturdy projections of the inventory and parts wanted for a sturdy evaluation framework just isn’t possible given the restricted information availability.
Blended fisheries science
In 2022, the EU and UK submitted a joint request to ICES in regards to the underlying modelling assumptions used to generate the combined fisheries situations. This request was revised following technical discussions with ICES . The Events at the moment are awaiting a response from ICES on the revised request.
Merchandise 4: Non-quota shares
a) Multi-year technique for Channel king scallops
The Events recalled the settlement within the SCF assembly of 21 October 2022 to start work on a multi-year technique for Channel king scallops in 2023. The Events reconfirmed this shared goal and famous the significance of kicking off work on this matter. On this context, the Events agreed to debate the matter on the subsequent assembly of the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries.
b) Seabass shore-netting
The Events recalled that below Article 13(f)(ii) of the 2021 Written Report, they agreed that shore-based business netting needs to be faraway from the scope of the final seabass fishing prohibition with sure circumstances, and that they agreed to introduce catch reporting for shore-based netting actions and to replace one another on progress within the SCF . The Events agreed that the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries could be the suitable discussion board for such discussions and agreed to take the matter up there.
Merchandise 5: Landings information exchanges
Each Events famous the progress made in technical discussions and the nice working relationships on making certain the robustness of exchanged landings information. Each Events famous that up to date landings information for non-quota shares for the interval 1 January to 31 December 2022 was supplied within the annex to the Written Report of fisheries consultations between the Events about sandeel for 2023.
Merchandise 6: Management and enforcement
The Events welcomed constructive technical discussions on management and enforcement cooperation, and acknowledged you will need to formalise management and enforcement preparations on the SCF . The Events agreed to proceed talks in view of the following assembly of the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries.
Merchandise 7: Subsequent steps
A gathering of the EU-UK Working Group on Fisheries is foreseen for July and one other assembly of the SCF is foreseen for September.
Merchandise 8: Some other enterprise ( AOB )
Beneath AOB , the Events welcomed the implementation of albacore entry preparations, as dedicated to below paragraph 5 of the 2023 Written Report.
Merchandise 9: Closure
[Approved by the Joint Secretariat of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries]
Annex 1: Record of members within the sixth assembly of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries
EU delegation
EU Co-Chair of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries
European Fee Officers
Delegation of the European Union to the UK Official
Representatives of EU Member States
UK delegation
UK Co-Chair of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries
UK Authorities Officers from DEFRA and FCDO
Scottish Authorities Officers
Northern Eire Govt Officers
Welsh Authorities Officers
Isle of Man Authorities Officers
Authorities of Jersey Officers
States of Guernsey Officers
Marine Administration Organisation Officers
UK Mission to the European Union Officers
Annex 2: Technique for interpretation of ICES recommendation for skates and rays
Desk 1
TAC administration unit ICES subarea Ecoregion SRX/2AC4-C (North Sea) 2a, 4 North Sea SRX/7D (Jap Channel) 7d North Sea SRX/67AKXD (Western) 6, 7a-c, e-k Celtic SRX/89-C (Southern) 8, 9c Iberian
1. For every ecoregion, recommendation for implied landings for particular person shares not topic to prohibitions is summed:
(a) Shares outlined inside every ecoregion are listed in Desk 2.
(b) Shares that straddle between ecoregions are listed in Desk 3.
(c) For recommendation models for which the ICES recommendation sheet doesn’t embrace a headline determine for implied landings a mean of the previous three years of mixed UK and EU landings is used[footnote 1]. These three-year averages don’t embrace catches of prohibited shares. Affected shares are marked with ‘(*)’ in Desk 2.
(d) The place a inventory definition straddles a number of ecoregions, it’s cut up between them based mostly on the very best out there proof. Affected shares are marked with ‘(**)’ in Desk 2. Within the first occasion this might be based mostly on the common ratio of complete landings between the 2 ecoregions for the inventory over the mounted interval between 2017 and 2021.Within the absence of this information the apportionment splits in Desk 3 needs to be used.
(e) The place this calculation reveals lower than 0.5% of catch as being made in an ecoregion, no share might be assigned to that ecoregion. Affected shares are marked with ‘(***)’ in Desk 3.
2. The Celtic and Iberian ecoregions sums correspond on to the Western and Southern TAC administration models.
3. The North Sea ecoregion sum is cut up between the 2 TAC administration models (North Sea and Jap Channel) in response to the historic TAC ratio as utilized in 2021 (Desk 4).
Desk 2. Shares outlined inside every ecoregion
Ecoregion Shares North Sea Different skates and rays in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and seven.d (*)
Thornback ray in Subarea 4, and Divisions 3.a and seven.d
Blonde ray in Divisions 4.c and seven.d
Cuckoo ray in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a
Noticed ray in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and seven.d
Small-eyed ray in Divisions 7.d-e (*)
Blonde ray in Subarea 6 and Division 4.a (*)
Sandy ray in 6–7 (*)
Shagreen ray in 6–7 (*) Celtic Different skates and rays in 6–7.a-c,e-k (*)
Frequent skate advanced in 6–7.a-c,e-k (*)
Thornback ray in 6
Thornback ray in 7.a, f–g
Thornback ray in 7.e
Small-eyed ray in 7.f-g
Blonde ray in 7.a, f–g
Blonde ray in 7.e
Noticed ray in 6, 7.b, j
Noticed ray in 7a,e-h
Undulate ray in 7.b, j
Small-eyed ray in Divisions 7.d-e (*)
Blonde ray in Subarea 6 and Division 4.a (*)
Cuckoo ray in 6, 7, 8.a-b, 8.d (*)
Sandy ray in 6–7 (*)
Shagreen ray in 6–7 (**) Iberian Different skates and rays in Subarea 8 and Division 9.a (*)
Thornback ray in 8abd
Thornback ray in 8c
Thornback ray in 9a
Blonde ray in Division 9.a
Noticed ray in Subarea 8
Noticed ray in Subarea 9.a
Noticed ray in Subarea 4, and Divisions 3.a and seven.d
Cuckoo ray in Division 8.c
Cuckoo ray in Division 9.a
Undulate ray in divisions 8.a–b
Undulate ray in division 9.a
Cuckoo ray in 6, 7, 8.a-b, 8.d (**)
(*) signifies the applying of (1)(c).
(**) signifies the applying of (1)(d).
Desk 3. Shares outlined throughout a number of ecoregions (% apportionment to ecoregion)
Inventory North Sea Celtic Iberian Small-eyed ray in Divisions 7.d-e 50.00% 50.00% 0 Blonde ray in Subarea 6 and Division 4.a ten.00% 90.00% 0 Cuckoo ray in 6, 7, 8.a-b, 8.d 0 67.60% 32.40% Sandy ray in 6–7 (***) 0 100% 0 Shagreen ray in 6–7 (***) 0 100% 0
(***) signifies the applying of (1)(e).
Desk 4: historic TAC cut up for North Sea ecoregion
