Question to the EC: Subject: Black scabbardfish in Madeira

See Francisco Guerreiro’s question to the European Commission and the written answer on black scabbardfish in Madeira.

Subject: Black scabbardfish in Madeira 

In 2018, the Council decided that the total allowable catch (TAC) for black scabbardfish in CECAF (Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic) area 34.1.2 was to be determined by Portugal (1). It also decided that the TAC had to be consistent with the principles and rules of the common fisheries policy and result in the exploitation of the stock being consistent with the maximum sustainable yield from 2019 onwards, if an analytical assessment were available, or in the exploitation of the stock being consistent with the precautionary approach to fisheries management if an analytical assessment were unavailable or incomplete. 

Council Regulation (EU) 2018/2025 also states that by 15 March of each year of the application of the regulation, Portugal must submit the following information to the Commission: a) the TAC adopted; b) the collected data on which the adopted TAC is based, and c) details on how the adopted TAC complies with the requirements set out above. 

1. Has the Commission received the information set out in Article 4(3) of Council Regulation (EU) 2018/2025 for 2019 and 2020 related to the setting by Portugal of a TAC for black scabbardfish in CECAF area 34.1.2? 

2. If so, when will this information be made publicly available?

(1)       Council Regulation (EU) 2018/2025 of 17 December 2018 on fixing for 2019 and 2020 the fishing opportunities for Union fishing vessels for certain deep-sea fish stocks.

Written answer:

Black scabbardfish in the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) area 34.1.2. is a stock that is delegated to Portugal.

Portugal has informed the Commission in accordance with Article 4(3) of Council Regulation (EU) 2018/2025 that the total allowable catch (TAC) for 2019 and 2020 was established at 2189 tonnes.

According to the Portuguese authorities, the scientific basis for this delegated TAC are the scientific reports of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) working group on biology and assessment of deep-sea fisheries resources (WGDEEP), which reflected a certain stability in the last decade in both landings and fishing effort.

Therefore, the Portuguese authorities considered that, despite some slight increase in the landings in recent years, a roll-over of the TAC would still be in line with the precautionary approach.

Moreover, Portugal indicated that it would undertake additional efforts in order to develop an analytical assessment of the stock. The Commission intends to continue discussions with Portugal in order to ensure full support for this scientific effort, which will better clarify the stock’s situation.

The current legal framework does not foresee the publication of the information received from Portugal.

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