The Trawler December 2016

TTO OP PN NEEW WS S– –D DEECCEEM MB BE ER R2 2001166 COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES Monday, 5 December, 15:00-18:30 Room: Altiero Spinelli (ASP) A1G-2

H HIIG GH HLLIIG GH HTTS S ► Vote on the report on the “Sustainable management of external fishing fleets” ► Adoption of the opinion on “An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic” ► Debate on the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Cook Islands ► Discharge of the General budget of the EU 2015

C CO ON NTTE EN NTT Words from the Chair On-going dossiers Delegated & implementing acts Studies & briefing notes Fisheries news AC meetings International meetings & events Partnership agreements Committee on Fisheries Calendar of PECH meetings

A AG GE EN ND DA A Next Fisheries Committee meeting:

page 2 page 3

2017

page 4 page 5 page 6 page 11

Wednesday, 25 January, 15:00-18:30 and Thursday, 26 January, 9:00-12:30 Next hearing:

page 12 page 13 page 14 page 14

"Information on the state and development of the biomass of fish stocks managed by the CFP", 27 February 2017, 15.00 - 17.00

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W WO OR RD DS S FFR RO OM M TTH HE EC CH HA AIIR R

Alain CADEC Chair of Committee on Fisheries

Dear colleagues,

The Committee on Fisheries is one of the smallest standing Committees of the Parliament, and, consequently, some tend to consider it less relevant and important. However, unlike many of the larger committees, our Committee is responsible for, undoubtedly, the most integrated policy of the Union – the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

There are many aspects to the CFP. It concerns primarily an important economic sector that supplies our citizens with high quality food while creating many jobs and generating income in areas where other employment opportunities often are limited. At the same time, it also aims to preserve limited natural resources, manage maritime areas, etc.

The CFP brought great benefits to many European fishermen and coastal communities. Yet too often the CFP and particularly one of its cornerstones – the right of access to the fishing waters – are subject to wrong and undeserved accusations. For those seeking destruction of the EU, for a long time the CFP has been a favourite example supposedly proving just how flawed the Union is.

However, abolishing of the CFP or even attempting to dismantle it would undoubtedly cause great pains to thousands and thousands of fishermen all over Europe. We have to prove the doubters and naysayers wrong by helping to bring positive results. Even a possibility of weakening of the CFP would weaken the entire European project. The fact that the CFP and its various aspects get regularly mentioned in the early discussions on the possible effects of Brexit only confirms the important role that our committee is going to play as well as the complexity of the tasks that lie ahead of us.

Alain CADEC

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O ONNG GO OIIN NG GD DO OS SS SIIE ER RS S Reports Sustainable management of external fishing fleets 2015/0289(COD) Conservation of fishery resources and protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures 2016/0074(COD) Characteristics for fishing vessels. Recast 2016/0145 (COD) International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT): management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Convention Area 2016/0187(COD) Multi-annual plan for demersal stocks in the North sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks 2016/0238(COD) EU/Cook Islands Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and implementation Protocol 2016/0077(NLE) EU/Norway Agreement: reciprocal access to fishing in the Skagerrak for vessels flying the flag of Denmark, Norway and Sweden 2016/0192(NLE) Management of the fishing fleets in the outermost regions 2016/2016(INI) The role of fisheries-related tourism in the diversification of fisheries 2016/2035(INI) Status of fish stocks and socio-economic situation of the fishing sector in the Mediterranean 2016/2079 (INI) Reports adopted in PECH awaiting 1st/2nd reading agreements Fishing in the North-East Atlantic: specific conditions to fishing for deep-sea stocks, provisions for fishing in international waters 2012/0179(COD) Collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. Recast 2015/0133(COD) Opinions An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic JOIN(2016)0021 final

Rapporteur

Type of procedure

PECH Committee vote

Plenary Session Vote

Engström

COD

05/12/2016

FEB I 2017

Mato

COD

22-23/03/2017

MAY I 2017

Kuhn

COD

05/12/2016

FEB II 2017

Mato

COD

30/05/2017

JUL 2017

Rodust

COD

21-22/06/2017

OCT II 2017

Ferreira

NLE

25-26/01/2017

FEB II 2017

Dohrmann

NLE

9-10/11/2016

DEC 2016

Rodust

INI

22-23/03/2017

APR II 2017

Briano

INI

24-25/04/2017

MAY II 2017

Affronte

INI

22-23/03/2017

APR I 2017

Rapporteur

Type of procedure

PECH Committee vote

Plenary Session Vote

Thomas

COD

05/12/2016

DEC 2016

Affronte

COD

TBC

Rapporteur

Type of procedure

PECH Committee vote

Commission

INI

05/12/2016

AFET (24/01/2017)

Wałęsa

3

TBC

Vote au Fond

Discharge 2015: European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) 2016/2181(DEC) 2015 discharge: EU general budget, European Commission 2016/2151(DEC) Financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union 2016/0282(COD)

Engström

DEC

27-28/02/2017

CONT (23/03/2017)

Cadec

DEC

25-26/01/2017

CONT (22/03/2017)

Iturgaiz

COD

27-28/02/2017

BUDG (TBC)

*Note on procedures: COD: Ordinary legislative procedure; CNS: Consultation; INI: Own-Initiative; NLE: Non-legislative (incl. consent to international agreements); DEC: Discharge; BUD: Budget

D DEELLEEG GA ATTE ED DA AN ND D IIM MP PLLE EM ME EN NTTIIN NG GA AC CTTS S Procedure

Legal basis

Delegated act

C(2016)6444 final

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 - Article 15(6) and Articles 18(1) and (3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 12.10.2016 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in South-Western waters

12.12.2016 Briefing note available

C(2016)6439 final

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 - Article 15(6) and Articles 18(1) and (3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 12.10.2016 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in North-Western waters

12.12.2016 Briefing note available

C(2016)6482 final

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 - Articles 15(1)(d) and 15(6) and Articles 18(1) and (3) Regulation No 1967/2006 - Article 15a and 29a

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 13.10.2016 establishing a discard plan for mollusc bivalve Venus spp. in the Italian territorial waters

13.12.2016 Briefing note available

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 - Article 15(6) and Articles 18(1) and (3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 14.10.2016 amending Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1394/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in South-Western waters

14.12.2016 Briefing note available

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 20.10.2016 establishing a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea

20.12.2016 Briefing note available

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 - Articles 15(1)(d) and 15(6) and Articles 18(1) and (3) Regulation No 1967/2006 - Article 15a and 29a

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 20.10.2016 establishing a discard plan for turbot fisheries in the Black Sea

20.12.2016 Briefing note available

Regulation (EU) n° 1380/2013 - Articles 11(2) and 18(1) (3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 5.9.2016 establishing fisheries conservation measures for the protection of the marine environment in the North Sea

C(2016)6500 final

(2016)6606 final

C(2016)6618 final

C(2016) 5549 final

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 - Articles 15(1)(d) and 15(6) and Articles 18(1) and (3) Regulation No 1967/2006 - Article 15a and 29a

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Deadline to object / request an extension

05.01.2017 Briefing note available Extension of the deadline from 05.11.2016 to 05.01.2017

R REESSEEAARRCCHH FFRRO OM M TTH HE EP PO OLLIIC CY YD DEEPPAARRTTM ME EN NTT ‘‘B B’’:: REQUESTED:     

Regional ocean governance in Europe: the role of fisheries Sustainable blue growth in the EU and opportunities for small-scale fisheries Consequences of Brexit for the Common Fisheries Policy Training of fishers Landing obligation and choke species in mixed fisheries

PUBLISHED (SINCE 2014): CFP and fisheries management  The management of the fishing fleets in the outermost regions  Seafood Industry Integration in the EU  Socioeconomic role and environmental impact of recreational, subsistence, small-scale and other fisheries in European Union  Impact of fisheries partnership agreements in the development of employment in the EU and in Third countries  Markets of fisheries and aquaculture products: The added value chain and the role of promotion, labelling and consumer information  The discard ban and its impact on the MSY objective on Fisheries  Options of handling choke species in view of the EU landing obligation - the Baltic plaice example  Social and Economic impact of the penalty point system  A new technical measures framework for the new CFP (Workshop)  The landing obligation and its implications on the control of fisheries  The obligation to land all catches - consequences for the Mediterranean  Future of the “Almadraba” sector. Traditional and sustainable tuna fishing methods in the EU  Small scale fisheries and the zero discard target  Best practice on the use of rights based management to reduce discards in mixed fisheries  Infringement procedures and imposed sanctions throughout the EU  Criteria for allocating access to fishing in the EU  Alternative solutions for driftnet fisheries  The conflict between static gear and mobile gear in inshore fisheries  Inland fisheries and the CFP  IUU fishing and sanctions in the EU Ecologic Impact  Sardine fisheries: resource assessment and social and economic situation  Long-term economic and ecologic impact of larger sustainable aquaculture  The impact of oil and gas drilling accidents on EU fisheries  The use of FADs in tuna fisheries Stocks    

Situation of the clam (Tapes spp) fisheries sector in the EU Pelagic fisheries and the canning industry in Outermost Regions Sea bass stocks and conservation measures in the EU Characteristics of multi-specific fisheries in the EU

Structural Policy  Prospects for the development of tourism activities related to fishing External dimension  Fisheries management and the Arctic in the context of climate change Mission briefings  Fisheries in Thailand (mission 2016)  Fisheries in Norway (mission 2016)  Fisheries in Poland (mission 2016)  Fisheries in Galicia (mission 2016)  Fisheries in Azores/Réunion (missions 2015)  Fisheries in Germany (delegation 2014)

@ You can access the studies and other documents via this link

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FFIISSHHEERRIIEESS N NEEW WS S IIN NB BRRIIEEFF Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), by applying the obligation to land all catches in full.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Landing obligation and calculation of fishing effort MEPs removed the rule for calculating fishing effort – i.e. power of each vessel in kW plus the number of days it is present within a given area as this led fishermen to discard unwanted catches by hampering further adaptation of fishing patterns, such as the choice of area and gear.

News - Press service

PECH Committee delegation attends the 20th ICCAT Special Meeting in Portugal A five-member delegation of the Committee on Fisheries attended the 20th Special Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) from 14 to 21 November in Vilamoura, Portugal.

The delegation headed by Vice-Chair Werner Kuhn (EPP) with Renata Briano (S&D), Gabriel Mato (EPP), Antonio Marinho e Pinto (ALDE) and Izaskun Bilbao (ALDE) attended the technical meetings on 'Control and Compliance' to tackle Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing (IUU) and meetings on the management of bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, sharks and swordfish. ICCAT adopted 19 new recommendations and 5 resolutions related to bluefin tuna and other tropical tunas (albacore, yellow-fin, big-eye) as well as swordfish, sharks and sailfish stocks. For the first time, ICCAT also agreed on catch limits for the Mediterranean swordfish and the Atlantic blue shark.

Under the new rule, fishermen will face no obstacles to landing all their catches as they will no longer be subject to time limits. The landing obligation and the discard ban are key elements of the new CFP. Cod stock sustainability The long-term cod plan aims to “maintain the cod stocks above levels which can produce maximum sustainable yield” (MSY).

Next steps The new regulation will enter into force on the fourth day following its publication in the EU Official Journal of the EU and will apply from 1 January 2017.

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

This annual meeting - which also commemorated ICCAT’s 50th anniversary - was attended by over 600 delegates representing 46 out of 51 “Contracting Parties” and three “Cooperating nonContracting Parties”, confirming the increasing relevance of ICCAT as a world reference in the field of sustainable management and conservation of fisheries resources.

2016 Annual ICCAT Meeting Press Release

News - Press service Agriculture and Fisheries Council (14-15/11/2016) Press release The Council reached a political agreement on the fishing opportunities for deep sea stocks for 2017 and 2018.

North Sea cod fisheries: MEPs end timeat-sea limits (22/11/2016) North Sea cod fishermen will be able to land every catch – not just cod – more easily following Parliament’s green light on Tuesday.

The updated regulation will remove limits on the number of days a vessel can spend in a fishing area and thus remove all obstacles to complying with the landing obligation in full.

The update will amend the 2008 Regulation establishing a long-term-plan for cod stocks in the Kattegat, the North Sea, the Skagerrak and the eastern Channel, the west of Scotland and the Irish Sea, and fisheries exploiting those stocks.

This will make it fully compatible with the new

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The unanimous agreement concerns the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for fish stocks such as: deep sea sharks, black scabbardfish, roundnose grenadier and roughhead grenadier, alfonsino, red seabream and greater forkbeard.

The agreement will apply as from 1 January 2017.

Multi-annual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea Ministers had an exchange of views on the Commission proposal establishing a multiannual management plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea. Member states generally welcomed the proposal and acknowledged the quality of the scientific work behind it. Some delegations expressed

concerns about the complexity of the draft regulation. They underlined the importance of retaining some margin of discretion and flexibility, and not limiting it by setting targets stock by stock.

life. The establishment of CCAMLR was a response to the increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources (a keystone component of the Antarctic ecosystem) and to the history of over-exploitation of several other marine resources in the Southern Ocean. The EU is a member of CCAMLR.

The objective of the proposal is to guarantee the sustainable exploitation of demersal stocks in the North Sea, by ensuring respect for the principles of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the ecosystem approach to fisheries management.

The plan is also intended to address the issue of mixed fisheries.

Deep-sea fishing opportunities for 20172018: unanimous agreement on deep sea quotas for the next two years (15/11/2016) The EU fisheries ministers have agreed on the 2017 and 2018 fishing limits (or TACs) for 19 deep-sea stocks. For the first time in six years, a unanimous agreement was reached on deep sea TACs and quotas for the next two years. One of these will be fished in accordance with Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) for the very first time next year.

Next meeting:

Agriculture and Fisheries Council (12-13/12 /2016) LINK

EUROPEAN COMMISSION News - Press service

The agreement reduces the TACs of most stocks, as is the case for most stocks of black scabbardfish, all stocks of roundnose grenadier, most red seabream and greater forkbeard. The decision is justified by scientific advice and by the status of these stocks. A few other TACs are kept stable from 2016, as is the case for the red seabream in the Azores. Thanks to this agreement, roundnose grenadier in Northern areas will be fished at MSY in 2017. This is the only stock for which MSY advice is available.

Commission welcomes first major Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea as a landmark decision for the Antarctic (28/10/2016) The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) agreed to establish a marine protected area (MPA) in the Ross Sea Region – the first major MPA in the history of the Antarctic.

The Commission had proposed stronger cutbacks for some stocks, but the Council decided for more lenient reductions because of the socio-economic impact for some small-scale fleets and because some stocks are inevitably fished as bycatch in the demersal (whitefish) fishery. This is in line with the common fisheries policy, which stipulates that both biological and economic factors should be taken into account when setting fishing opportunities.

The CCAMLR annual meeting in Hobart, Australia, took several other important decisions, many of them on the basis of EU proposals.

In particular, members agreed to launch a second performance review. This will allow for the strengthening of the organisation in line with the objectives of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, notably the sustainable management of living marine resources.

Significant progress was also achieved in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Members strengthened the obligations related to vessel authorisation and tightened the rules of the IUU listing procedures.

Members also agreed to facilitate scientific research and exploration of marine areas that have become exposed following the retreat or collapse of ice shelves around the Antarctic Peninsula.

The agreement adds orange roughy to the list of prohibited species.

For Northern red seabream the fishing limits were reduced, and can only be used to cover bycatches. This is done in order to protect the stock, which is at a historically low level and near collapse.

A new element of the agreement is that it contains 3 small, scientific TACs for deep-sea sharks.

These are caught as unavoidable bycatch in fisheries that use selective longlines targeting black scabbardfish. As the sharks are dead when hauled on board, and since we still lack proper

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was established by an international convention in 1982 with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine

7

data on deep-sea sharks, the Commission proposed to allow landing the bycatches on a trial basis, which lets us improve the management framework for the black scabbard fishery on one hand and obtain data on deep-sea sharks on the other.

Progress made on Fisheries Partnership

NEAFC agrees EU proposals for more sustainable North-East Atlantic fisheries (21/11/2016) Important conservation and management measures for 2017 were adopted, most of them at the initiative of the EU, at the 35th Annual Meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC).

EU-Mauritania

The meeting, held in London on 14-18 November 2016, took a series of decisions to protect deepsea species. It also paved the way for a stronger fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

(17/11/2016) An extraordinary Joint Committee, held at the initiative of the EU, took place in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on 15-16 November in the framework of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mauritania. The Parties reviewed the implementation of EU support for the Mauritanian fisheries sector, introduced new fishing opportunities for EU trawlers, and discussed the MACAPEL investment project.

The decisions included conservation measures for blue whiting, herring, mackerel, redfish in the Irminger Sea and Rockall haddock.

At the initiative of the EU, participants agreed to ban directed fishing for deep-sea sharks, rays and chimaeras, and spurdogs. Bans on fisheries targeting basking shark and porbeagle remain in place.

The Parties noted with satisfaction the progress made in implementing the sectoral support funds and agreed to earmark 6 million euros to support infrastructure works in the artisanal fishing port of Tanit.

Participants also adopted the EU's proposed temporal and geographically specified ban on fishing with bottom gears for blue ling.

With scientific advice confirming the existence of a surplus and in accordance with the general principles of the EU Common Fisheries Policy, the Parties also agreed to introduce new fishing opportunities for up to 6 EU demersal freezer trawlers targeting black hake. In exchange, the EU will pay 2.5 million euros on top of the 55 million euros already included in the Protocol.

IUU progress NEAFC parties took a major step in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by adopting the basis for an electronic reporting system. This system will start development over the coming year. It aims to significantly improve fisheries inspection operations in NEAFC waters.

Mauritania confirmed its interest in the MACAPEL project, a Mauritanian-Canary Island investment project aimed at transferring know-how and developing landing and processing infrastructure in the port of Nouadhibou. The Parties agreed to continue discussions on the project and to decide on further steps depending on progress made regarding funding of the project.

Background In addition, parties amended NEAFC’s control and enforcement scheme, with a view to improving compliance.

The Annual Meeting elected Mr Jacques Verborgh (EU), DG MARE-European Commission, as President of NEAFC for 20172018. He takes over from Mr Johán H. Williams (Norway). NEAFC is the international organisation responsible for fisheries management in international waters in the North-East Atlantic. Its Contracting Parties are Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation.

Report of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee to the EUGuinea Bissau Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (18/11/2016) 

Report (in EN and PT)

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regime for most of the Arctic high seas is in place, delegations from Canada, the People’s Republic of China, the Kingdom of Denmark (in respect of the Faroes Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Norway, the Russian Federation and the United States met on the Faroe Islands for the third round of negotiations. Delegations made good progress on the basis of a draft text for a legally binding agreement as a first step for possibly moving towards one or more additional regional fisheries management organisations or arrangements for the Central Arctic Ocean. The next, and possibly final, round of negotiations is to take place in the first quarter of 2017 and will be hosted by the government of Iceland.

L'UE s'engage pour pérenniser le travail des pêcheurs d'espadon (22/11/2016) Suite à la proposition de l'Union européenne, une série de mesures essentielles pour la conservation de l'espadon de Méditerranée ont été adoptées par la Commission internationale pour la conservation des thonidés de l’Atlantique (CICTA) au Portugal.

La flotte européenne est responsable de près de 80% des captures: il est donc essentiel pour l'UE de lutter contre la surpêche du stock Le nouveau plan prévoit de limiter les prises à 10 500 tonnes par an et de réduire ensuite les prises de 3 % par an entre 2018 et 2022. L'accord améliore également les mesures techniques et de contrôle, par exemple l'augmentation de la taille minimale pour protéger les juvéniles, l'enregistrement et la déclaration des captures, l'introduction d'un système d'inspections internationales, etc., tout en tenant compte des spécificités socioéconomiques des petites pêcheries autour de la mer Méditerranée. L'accord entrera en vigueur à partir de 2017 et s'appliquera à tous les opérateurs dans la mer Méditerranée y compris le sport et les loisirs. Le comité scientifique évaluera le plan ainsi que les éventuelles adaptations nécessaires en 2019. Les autres pays impliqués dans cette pêcherie sont la Tunisie, le Maroc, l'Algérie, la Turquie et la Libye.

Sound stewardship of the high seas parts of the Central Arctic Ocean has a prominent place in the EU’s Arctic policy as well as under the EU’s Ocean Governance initiative. This includes a responsible approach towards Arctic marine resources, whilst respecting the rights of indigenous peoples. Since 2009, the EU has maintained that no commercial fisheries should commence on the Arctic high seas before a science-based and precautionary management regime is in place. In particular, EU would support a multilateral agreement that prevents unregulated high seas fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean until a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation or Arrangement is in place.

The EU engages in the third round of negotiations to prevent unregulated fishing in the Arctic high seas (02/12/2016)

A new partnership starts between the EU and the Cook Islands

The European Union participated in the third round of international negotiations on measures to prevent unregulated fishing in the Arctic high seas. The meeting took place between 29 November and 1 December 2016 in Tórshavn on the Faroe Islands.

Rarotonga, 30/11/2016 - The EU and the Cook Islands have agreed on all the elements of their brand-new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement, giving the go ahead to fishing operations for EU vessels.

(02/12/2016)

On 29 November, the first Joint Committee in the framework of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Cook Islands came to a successful end. The parties defined the financial support to be granted by the EU for the development of the Cook Islands’ fisheries sector and discussed fisheries matters to allow for the start of fishing operations.

The new Agreement will allow up to four Union vessels to fish for max 7 000 tonnes of tunas per year and other highly migratory species in the Cook Islands’ fishing area. In return, the EU will pay the Cook Islands 2.87 million euros, 1.47

While no commercial fisheries currently take place in the Arctic high seas, the Arctic region is warming at almost twice the global average rate.

As the Arctic sea ice cover reduces, high seas areas may become attractive for commercial fisheries in the mid- and long-term. An increased productivity in fish stocks and changes in spatial distributions may occur, both in the exclusive economic zones of Arctic coastal states as well as the high seas area of the Central Arctic Ocean.

Faced with this likeliness and aware that no international conservation and management

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million of which are in exchange for access to the resources, while the rest is specifically earmarked for the local fishing sector. Over the next four years the Cook Islands will be able to invest these 1.4 million euros on improving the living standard of small-scale fishermen, reinforcing control and surveillance operations, strengthening the food safety authority and sharpening the sustainability of their fisheries policies.

The Joint Committee also reviewed the procedures for issuing fishing authorisations and catch reporting, as well as the boundaries of the fishing area accessible to Union vessels. In addition to the monitoring, control and surveillance measures prescribed by the fisheries agreement and the competent regional fisheries management organisation, Union vessels will implement an electronic observer scheme on board on a voluntary basis.

In the margins of the Joint Committee, the Cook Islands’ fisheries administration held a public hearing in which EU officials presented principles and content of the fisheries agreement and of our Common Fisheries Policy to the public at large.

The new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Cook Islands is a completely new partnership. It is an opportunity for both parties to strengthen their cooperation at multilateral level (within the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission or WCPFC) and, being our only active Agreement in the Pacific Ocean, it strengthens the position of the EU in the region.

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M MEEEETTIINNG GS SO OFF TTH HE EA ADDVVIISSO OR RY YC CO OU UN NC CIILLS S RAC

DATE

BS AC BS AC NS AC PEL AC NS AC BS AC

15/12/2016 31/01/2017 07/02/2017 28/02/2017 08/03/2017 09/03/2016

PLACE Copenhagen Warsaw Paris The Hague The Hague Hamburg

TYPE WG ExCom WG WG I and II, ExCom Ex Com BSAC-BALTFISHEFCA Workshop

Main issues Technical measures Demersal

Implementation of the Landing Obligation

Abbreviations:

-

NWW AC: North Western Waters Advisory Council (link) PEL AC: Pelagic Advisory Council (link) NS AC: North Sea Advisory Council (link) MED AC: Advisory Council for the Mediterranean (link) SWW AC: South Western Waters Advisory Council (link) LD AC: Long Distance Fleet Advisory Council (link) BS AC: Baltic Sea Advisory Council (link) MIRAC: ICES/AC meeting (link) GA: General Assembly, ExCom: Executive Committee, WG: Working Group, FG: Focus Group

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M MAAIINN IINNTTEERRNNAATTIIO ON NA ALL M MEEEETTIINNG GS SA AN ND DE EVVEENNTTSS

Last update from October 2016

NORWAY/COASTAL STATES/NEAFC/RUSSIAN FEDERATION Date December 2016 06-07/12/2016

Organisation

EU-Faroe Islands Consultations for 2017

Type of meeting

Venue

Bilateral

Brussels

REGIONAL FISHERIES ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS Date

Organisation

Type of meeting

Venue

December 2016 5-9/12/2016

Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)

Annual meeting

Fidji

South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation

Technical and compliance committee and Annual Meeting

Adelaide

Ministerial Conference on sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean

Malta

BBNJ: Preparatory Committee established by General Assembly resolution 69/292:

New York

January 2017 14 - 22/01/2017

(SPRFMO)

February 2017 March 2017 TBD

EU+GFCM

TBC

UN: Informal consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement UN

27/03 - 7/04/2017

Development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction: Third session

12

FFIISSHHEERRIIEESS P PAARRTTNNEERRSSHHIIPP A AG GR RE EE EM ME EN NTTS S COUNTRY

INDIAN OCEAN

WEST AFRICA

MIXED AGREEMENTS

Mauritania

JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING Date 15-17/11/2016 extraordinary JC Second half 2017 Q1 2017

Morocco Senegal Guinea Bissau Greenland

14/07/2018 19/11/2019 23/11/2017 31/12/2020

21-25/11/2016

Cape Verde Ivory Coast

22/12/2018 30/06/2018

Gabon

23/07/2016

MAR/APR 2017 NOV/DEC 2016 (TBC) End 2016/early 2017 (TBC)

Ghana

N.A.

Liberia Equatorial Guinea São Tomé and Principe Comoros

8/12/2020 N.A.

Madagascar

31/12/2018

Mauritius

21/01/2017

Mozambique

No protocol in force

Seychelles

17/01/2020

Mayotte

19/05/2020

MAY 2017 (TBC)

Location Nouakchott

NEGOTIATIONS SESSIONS FORECAST

Date

Location

Bruxelles Dakar Q1 2017

TBC

End 2016/ early 2017 (TBC) 1st half 2017 (TBC)

Libreville

Q4 2016 (TBC) End 2016/ early 2017 (TBC)

Brussels

Q4 2016 (TBC) Q4 2016

Brussels (TBC)

Brussels

Abidjan

TBC

Brussels

23/05/2018 31/12/2016 JAN/FEB 2017

DEC 2016 (TBC) extraordinary JC JUN 2017

TBD

Seychelles Seychelles

(Access agreement for Seychelles flagged vessels in EU waters)

Tanzania Kenya

PACIFIC

EXPIRATION DATE OF CURRENT PROTOCOL 15/11/2019

Cook Islands

No agreement / protocol No agreement / protocol New Agreement/ Protocol initialled

29/11/2016

Rarotonga

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C CO OM MP PO OS SIITTIIO ON NO OFF TTHHEE C CO OM MM MIITTTTE EE EO ONN FFIISSHHEERRIIEESS BUREAU Chair 1st Vice-Chair 2nd Vice-Chair

Mr Alain CADEC Ms Linnéa ENGSTRÖM Mr Jarosław Leszek WAŁĘSA

3rd Vice-Chair 4th Vice-Chair

Mr Werner KUHN Mrs Renata BRIANO

COORDINATORS EPP S&D ALDE Greens/EFA

ECR GUE/NGL EFDD

MATO ADROVER Gabriel RODUST Ulrike MARINHO E PINTO António

VAN DALEN Peter

FERREIRA João FINCH Raymond

ENGSTRÖM Linnéa

COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES FULL MEMBERS

COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS

AFFRONTE Marco

IT

EFDD

BILBAO BARANDICA Izaskun

ES

ALDE

AGUILERA GARCÍA Clara Eugenia

ES

S&D

BLANCO LÓPEZ José

ES

S&D

BRIANO Renata

IT

S&D

CAPUTO Nicola

IT

S&D

CADEC Alain

FR

EPP

CHRISTENSEN Ole

DK

S&D

COBURN David

GB

EFDD

DOHRMANN Jørn

DK

ECR

CORBETT Richard

GB

S&D

DUNCAN Ian

GB

ECR

DODDS Diane

GB

NI

GIESEKE Jens

DE

EPP

ENGSTRÖM Linnéa

SE

Greens/EFA

HAZEKAMP Anja

NL

GUE/NGL

FERREIRA João

PT

GUE/NGL

HEUBUCH Maria

DE

Greens/EFA

FINCH Raymond

GB

EFDD

HOC Czesław

PL

ECR

HUDGHTON Ian

GB

Greens/EFA

HOOKEM Mike

GB

EFDD

ITURGAIZ Angulo

ES

EPP

JADOT Yannick

FR

Greens/EFA

KUHN Werner

DE

EPP

LOPE FONTAGNÉ Verónica

ES

EPP

LE PEN Jean-Marie

FR

NI

MCAVAN Linda

GB

S&D

MARINHO E PINTO António

PT

ALDE

MILLÁN MON Francisco José

ES

EPP

MATO ADROVER Gabriel

ES

EPP

MONTEIRO DE AGUIAR Cláudia

PT

EPP

NI RIADA Liadh

IE

GUE/NGL

PAKSAS Rolandas

LT

EFDD

NICOLAI Norica

RO

ALDE

PEDICINI Piernicola

IT

EFDD

RODUST Ulrike

DE

S&D

SÂRBU Daciana Octavia

SERNAGIOTTO Remo

IT

ECR

SERRÃO SANTOS Ricardo

PT

THOMAS Isabelle

RO

S&D

SASSOLI David-Maria

IT

S&D

S&D

SCHREIJER-PIERIK Annie

NL

EPP

FR

S&D

SENRA RODRÍGUEZ María Lidia

ES

GUE/NGL

TOMAŠIĆ Ruža

HR

ECR

TORVALDS Nils

FI

ALDE

VAN DALEN Peter

NL

ECR

WAŁĘSA Jarosław Leszek

PL

EPP

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N NEEXXTT FFIISSHHEERRIIEESS C CO OM MM MIITTTTE EE EM MEEEETTIINNG GS S 2017  Wednesday, 25 January, 15:00-18:30  Thursday, 26 January, 9:00-12:30  Monday, 27 February, 15:00-18:30  Tuesday, 28 February, 9:00-12:30  Wednesday, 22 March, 9:00-12:30  Wednesday, 22 March, 15:00-18:30  Thursday, 23 March, 9:00-12:30  Monday, 24 April, 15:00-18:30  Tuesday, 25 April, 9:00-12:30  Tuesday, 25 April, 15:00-18:30  Tuesday, 30 May, 15:00-18:30  Wednesday, 21 June, 9:00-12:30  Wednesday, 21 June, 15:00-18:30  Thursday, 22 June, 9:00-12:30  Wednesday, 12 July, 9:00-12:30  Wednesday, 12 July, 15:00-18:30  Thursday, 13 July, 9:00-12:30  Monday, 4 September, 15:00-18:30  Monday, 25 September, 15:00-18:30  Monday, 9 October, 15:00-18:30  Tuesday, 10 October, 9:00-12:30  Tuesday, 10 October, 15:00-18:30  Monday, 20 November, 15:00-18:30  Tuesday, 21 November, 9:00-12:30  Tuesday, 21 November, 15:00-18:30  Tuesday, 28 November, 9:00-12:30  Tuesday, 28 November, 15:00-18:30

USEFUL LINKS @ EP Committee on Fisheries link @ DG MARE (European Commission) link @ Slovak Presidency of the Council link @ FAO Fishery and Aquaculture link @ ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea link

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