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A new agreement between Germany and Denmark will allow the Danish to fish for other than palice in the German zone of the Baltic Sea
The Danish Fisheries Association PO has long worked to open up fishing for species other than plaice in German waters in the Baltic Sea. This opens a new agreement between Germany and Denmark now.
Denmark and Germany have entered into an agreement on fishing for flatfish species other than plaice for Danish registered vessels in German waters in the Baltic Sea in areas 22 and 24. The agreement applies to fishing within 3-12 nautical miles from Germany’s baseline.
The agreement has come to fruition after a major preparation from the Danish Fisheries Association PO, which for many years has drawn attention to the problem both nationally and internationally. Among other things, it is a good network of contacts for the German sister organization that has helped pave the way for the recently concluded agreement between Germany and Denmark. The Danish Fisheries Association PO is very positive about the ministry’s work to get the agreement in place.
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“It is a good deal in many ways and one we have been working to get through for a long time. Now the Danish fishermen can catch species other than plaice in German territory without the danger that they will be forced to throw the catch out again and then later catch the fish in Danish waters. It is well seen from the fish stocks, and it is well seen from an environmental perspective. We are very pleased that the ministry has now entered into an agreement with the Germans,” says Kim Kær Hansen, chairman of Klintholmhavn Fiskeriforening.
Disagreement now settled
Since the EU Basic Regulation in 2013, Germany and Denmark have had different interpretations of Appendix 1. The Germans have perceived it as if Danish fishermen are only allowed to catch plaice, while from the Danish side it has been seen as possible to fish other species than plaice . This has meant that the German fisheries control has so far forced Danish fishermen to discard flatfish other than plaice. The new agreement will now put an end to that.
“It has really been a waste of resources, and given that a landing obligation has been introduced, it makes no sense that Danish fishermen have been forced to throw good, healthy food into the sea again, because the countries have interpreted the Basic Regulation differently . So we are very pleased that the Minister and his officials have now succeeded in reaching an agreement with the Germans,” says Allan Buch, chairman of the Belt Fisheries Association.
Initially, the agreement is limited in time to one year from the permit being granted. The executive order is currently being consulted. There are some technical specifications that must fall into place, but it is expected that it can enter into force on 24 October 2020, after which fishermen can apply for a permit from the Danish Fisheries Agency.
