Source: European Parliament
While the coastal States agree that the total catches of mackerel should be set in line with the best available scientific advice, the lack of a comprehensive quota sharing agreement means that coastal States decide individually the level of their annual quotas, thereby collectively exceeding such advice.
Unilateral mackerel quota increases by some coastal States threaten the sustainability of shared stocks and undermine the efforts to manage fisheries responsibly.
This unsustainable exploitation not only threatens the long-term viability of the stock, but also negatively impacts the economic sustainability of the EU fleet, reducing profitability due to diminishing catch rates and potential regulatory constraints.
Coastal States consultations for a sharing arrangement are ongoing since 2022 with an active involvement from the EU, represented by the Commission, in close coordination with the Council.
The Commission’s focus in these consultations is to advocate for comprehensive arrangements that ensure a sustainable, equitable, and fair management of the mackerel stock.
Moreover, as regards trade, mackerel is currently no longer covered by the EU’s additional bilateral market access concessions to the European Economic Area (EEA) countries.
The Commission is determined to strengthen the EU’s sustainability tools. It has therefore adopted in September 2024 a proposal to clarify the application of Regulation 1026/2012[1] to address third country practices regarding non-sustainably fished stocks.
This proposal is currently under discussion in the European Parliament and the Council as part of the ordinary legislative procedure.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2024:407:FIN#:~:text=Regulation%20%28EU%29%201026%2F2012%20of%20the%20European%20Parliament%20and,to%20adopt%20certain%20measures%20regarding%20the%20fisheries-related%20act