Danish Experiences with the Landing obligation in the Baltic Sea and industrial fisheries elsewhere DAG, London 25 November 2015
Presented by Kenn Skau Fischer Fisheries Policy advisor= lobbyist Danish Fishermen PO Danish Fishermen is an organisation for all Danish fishermen. Membership is available for ship owners as well as employed fishermen. It is the nationwide organisation for about 50 local fishermen s organisations and so representing 700-800 vessels. The aim of DFPO is to manage the interests of the Danish fishermen where fishing is on the agenda no matter if it is on a local, national or international level.
The Baltic Sea Quotas set for: Herring (x4) Cod (x2) Plaice (x1) Sprat (x1) Salmon (x2)
Baltic Sea - Quotas 2016 (tonnes) 2015 2016 Ændring 2015-2016 TAC EU DK TAC EU DK TAC EU's DK TAC kvote TAC kvote rådigheds - kvote mængde Cod West (22-24) (1) 15.900 15.900 6.941 12.720 12.720 5.552-20,0% -20,0% -20,0% East (25-32) (EUfarvand) 51.429 11.814 41.143 9.451-20,0% -20,0% Herring West(22-24) 22.220 22.220 3.115 26.274 26.274 3.683 18,2% 18,2% 18,2% Østersø, (25-29, 28.2, 29+32) 163.451 3.596 177.505 3.905 8,6% 8,6% Sprat Østersøen (EU-farvand), IIIbcd 213.581 21.068 202.320 19.958-5,3% -5,3% Salmon (numbers) Østersøen (EU-farvand), IIIbcd (-32) 95.928 19.879 95.928 19.879 0,0% 0,0% Plaice Østersøen, IIIbcd (EUfarvand) 3.409 2.443 4.034 2.890 18,3% 18,3%
Gross revenue for Danish Vessels in the different waters in 2014 (1000 DKK) Kilde: NaturErhvervstyrelsen.
Landing Obligation from 1 Januar 2015 COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) No 1396/2014 of 20 October 2014 establishing a discard plan in the Baltic Sea
Implementing Joint Recommendation from BALTFISH: BALTFISH: Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden. BALTFISH submitted a joint recommendation to the Commission - after consulting the Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC).
JR BALTIC SEA: Landing obligation (LO) should from: 1 January 2015 cover all catches of herring, sprat, salmon, cod in fisheries in the Baltic Sea and 1 January 2017 cover all catches of plaice. Quota uplift for cod (+20 percent); reduction in MCRS for cod from 38 to 35 cm and minor exemptions from LO.
What have we learned?
Baltic Sea - Quotas 2015 (tonnes). Quota uplift drowned! TAC 2014 2015 Ændring 2014-2015 Danmark Danmark EU s TAC EU s TAC EU Danmarks TAC kvote TAC kvote TAC kvote COD Østersøen, vest (22-24) 17.037 17.037 7.436 15.900 15.900 6.941-6,7% -6,7% -6,7% Østersøen, øst (25-32) (EUfarvand) 65.934 15.147 51.429 11.814-22,0% -22,0% HERRING Østersøen, vest (22-24) 19.754 19.754 2.769 22.220 22.220 3.115 12,5% 12,5% 12.5% Østersø, (25-29, 28.2, 29+32) 112.725 2.480 163.451 3.596 45,0% 45,0% SPRAT Østersøen (EU-farvand), IIIbcd 239.979 23.672 213.581 21.068-11,0% -11,0% SALMON (numbers) Østersø, (22-31) 106.587 22.086 95.928 19.879-10,0% -10,0% PLAICE Østersøen, IIIbcd (EU-farvand) 3.409 2.443 3.409 2.443 0,0% 0,0%
Nobody was ready from day 1! Instructions/guidance from national authorities published 22 December 2014; meetings on practical issues in local ports and fisheries organisations etc; The Omnibus was not adopted until spring 2014 It takes TIME to get started. Pragmatism and flexibility needed
Furthermore: In 2014 Cod in the Baltic went from most analysed stock in ICES to science poor. ICES did not feel obliged to follow the management plan in their advice. Proposal for a regulation establishing a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks (tabled but. ). Prices for fish in the Baltic are low.
The Danish fisheries authorities has handled this quite well: Guidance and tuition (and not the stick) Information and involvement of DFPO when general (or specific) issues. Probably the same in all countries. The Danish pooling system However, to what degree is there compliance to the LO in general in all 8 countries?
Problems with data and use of observers? Highgrading, i.e. of eastern cod? Logbook registration and landing declaration? How to get rid of Discard fish? The cost of getting rid of discard fish? ACCEPTANCE/ Ownership is essential for COMPLIANCE.
LO in the Industrial fisheries (outside the Baltic Sea) Entered into force January 1 2015: COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) No 1395/2014 of 20 October 2014 establishing a discard plan for certain small pelagic fisheries and fisheries for industrial purposes in the North Sea
Fisheries for industrial purposes: Fishing for Sprat, Norway Pout and Sandeel in the North Sea, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat Mainly a Danish fishery (but also Swedish) Closely monitored and Therefore, implementing a LO was not regarded that difficult.
The challenge in the industrial fisheries is the level of by-catch of non target species.. (i.e. herring, whiting haddock, mackerel) - This has not changed with the LO!
How does it go? GREAT.. Fisheries has been good this year with fairly good prices Low fuel prices High abundance reduces by-catch National restrictions on by-catch stricter than previous (yellow and red card)
But we are not there yet. - So far only an Ad hoc/interim model for handling by-catch in the industrial fisheries - We have not yet a long term management model that works also when stocks of industrial species are low! - But we have learned that a LO works well when stocks are in abundant and TACs are high!
Commissioner Damanaki talking to BBC March 1 2011: "I consider discarding of fish unethical, a waste of natural resources and a waste of fishermen's effort," she said. "If we continue with our policy, then we will soon face a situation where the production capacity of marine ecosystems is at risk; [and] discarding will erode the economic basis of our fishermen and our coastal regions. Consumers, she warned, would then turn away from fish because it would be seen as a tainted product.
Commissioner Damanaki talking to BBC March 1 2011: "I consider discarding of fish unethical, a waste of natural resources and a waste of fishermen's effort," she said. "If we continue with our policy, then we will soon face a situation where the production capacity of marine ecosystems is at risk; [and] discarding will erode the economic basis of our fishermen and our coastal regions. Consumers, she warned, would then turn away from fish because it would be seen as a tainted product.
Thank you for your attention! Kenn Skau Fischer E-mail: ksf@dkfisk.dk