The NWWAC has issues its response to the Landing Obligation evaluation questionnaire issued by MRAG/Deloitte on behalf of the Commission
The North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) has published a comprehensive response to a questionnaire issued by Deloitte on behalf of the European Commission. This document aims to assess the effectiveness of the EU’s Landing Obligation (LO), which was fully implemented on 01 January 2019, as part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Background and Purpose
The Landing Obligation mandates that all catches of regulated fish stocks must be landed and not discarded at sea, thereby encouraging more selective fishing practices. The initiative seeks to minimise unwanted catches and eliminate discards, addressing a key environmental concern in European fisheries.
Key Findings
In their response, NWWAC highlights several critical insights into the current state of fisheries management and conservation measures. One of the main goals is to understand the trends in discard rates from 2014 to the present. The document outlines whether there have been substantial reductions in discard rates and identifies specific areas where these reductions have been most pronounced.
NWWAC notes significant progress in understanding and addressing choke species—species that limit fishing opportunities due to quota restrictions. This has involved technical gear modifications to improve selectivity and potential avoidance measures based on advanced knowledge of the spatial distributions of these species and unwanted catches.
Challenges and Recommendations
Despite these advancements, the NWWAC emphasises the need for further evaluation of the effectiveness of current measures before introducing new ones. This cautious approach aims to avoid increasing the complexity of the system unnecessarily.
Moreover, the NWWAC identifies several challenges in ensuring compliance with the LO. These include accurate reporting of all catches and documentation of discards at sea. The council stresses the importance of ongoing pilot projects to assess new fisheries control technologies, which could enhance monitoring and enforcement capabilities.
Looking Forward
The response will contribute to a broader evidence-based evaluation by the European Commission to determine whether the Landing Obligation continues to be justified and where improvements can be made. This evaluation will inform future actions and potential policy adjustments to better meet the objectives of the CFP.
The NWWAC’s detailed response underscores the collaborative effort between various stakeholders in the fisheries sector to achieve sustainable and responsible fishing practices in European waters.