European Commission Decides on Deductions of Fishing Quotas for 2012

This year, for the first time, deductions were increased by 50% for Member States that had repeatedly (in 2009, 2010 and 2011) overfished the same stock.

2 Aug 2012 --- The European Commission announced deductions from 2012 fishing quotas of those Member States that had exceeded their quotas in 2011. Through deductions the Commission can immediately address the damage done to the stocks overfished in the previous year and ensure a sustainable use by all Member States of a common fishing resource. This year, for the first time, deductions were increased by 50% for Member States that had repeatedly (in 2009, 2010 and 2011) overfished the same stock.

Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said: "Nobody should harbor illusions that overfishing will be tolerated. The rules which exist should apply to all in a systematic and professional manner. Indeed I intend to use deductions to help achieve the main goal of the Common Fisheries Policy: long-term sustainability of Europe's fisheries."

Deductions are operated on the basis of public guidelines applicable to all, on the same stocks that were overfished, which is the purpose of today's Regulation. However, if a Member State has no quotas available for the overfished stocks, the amounts can be deducted from the quotas available for other stocks in the same geographical area, taking into account the need to avoid discards (throwing overboard of valuable fish) in mixed fisheries. The Commission will present the regulation for deductions from other stocks later this year, after consulting with the Member States concerned.

The legal base for deductions is the Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. It mandates the Commission to operate deductions from future quotas of the member states that have overfished. Certain multiplying factors apply, as set out in Article 105(2) and (3) of the Regulation with a view to ensure the sustainability of the stocks.