“Maritime sector – a green post-COVID future” Roadmap | In response to Commission consultation for a new approach for a sustainable Blue Economy, the members of the LDAC, MAC, MEDAC, NSAC, NWWAC, and PelAC have joined forces to submit a joint advice. The new approach to a sustainable Blue Economy is shaped by the Commission together with stakeholders and will also be implemented in collaboration. Therefore, the ACs collectively provided input by addressing challenges and opportunities related to the Commission’s new Blue Economy approach based on their relevant expertise in fisheries, aquaculture, seafood processing, trading, and retailing. The sector is highly regulated, and its members persistently strive to address the balance between the three pillars of sustainability through individual, national or trans-national initiatives. The stakeholders of the different ACs look forward to a future opportunity to discuss the new approach to a Blue economy further with the Commission. | 2020 | Multi-AC advice on the "Maritime sector - a green post-COVID future" Roadma (letter) Multi-AC advice on the “Maritime sector – a green post-COVID future” Roadmap (attachment) Commission response |
Deductions in North Sea and Western horse mackerel 2020 TACs | Pelagic AC is surprised and confused about the deductions in TAC applied to North Sea and Western horse mackerel (for 2020). The landing obligation became effective from the 1st January 2019 for all TACs and quotas species, and demersal discards plans for the North Sea, North Western Waters and South Western Waters contain small quantities of horse mackerel that could be discarded under the de-minimis exemptions. The Pelagic AC would therefore appreciate further clarification from the Commission on the methodology that was applied for the deductions in the 2020 TACs for North Sea and Western horse mackerel and on the methodology that will continue to be applied in the future. | 2020 | Deductions in NS and Western horse mackerel 2020 TACs Annex explanatory note Commission response |
Release full report evaluation of compliance with the landing obligation mackerel in NS and NWW 2015 | Following a joint PelAC-EFCA workshop on the implementation of the landing obligation in March 2020, the PelAC became aware of the publication of a summary of the evaluation of compliance with the landing obligation report for the mackerel fishery, on the EFCA website. This summary makes allegations of non-compliance in the mackerel fishery, the basis of which cannot be verified through the executive summary. To this date, after numerous requests to relevant Member State groups and directly to the agency, EFCA has refused to disclose the full report containing the data and methodology behind the conclusions presented in the summary. The Pelagic AC has escalated this plea to the level of the Commission and asked for the release the report as a matter of urgency – or to ask for the executive summary to be removed from the EFCA website altogether. More generally, the PelAC requested the Commission to work with EFCA to increase transparency in the work of the agency. In addition, the PelAC has put forward a request for disclosure through a Freedom of Information request. Regrettably, the Commission was unable to assist the PelAC in this matter. The Pelagic AC will invite to newly appointed Director of EFCA to a future Executive Committee meeting to further discuss this issue and try to come to a status quo that is acceptable to PelAC members. | 2020 | Letter to North Sea Member State Group on EFCA compliance evaluation report Letter to North Western Waters Member State Group on EFCA compliance evaluation report Letter to South Western Waters Member State Group on EFCA compliance evaluation report NWW Member State group response NS Member State group response Letter to Commission on follow-up Letter to South Western Waters Member State Group on follow-up SWW Member State group response Commission response (16 February 2021) Commission response (25 February 2021) |
Functioning of the Advisory Councils | In light of the letter addressed to the Commission from a number of NGOs, dated 22 July 2020, regarding the ‘Participation of NGOs in Advisory Councils’, the Pelagic AC wished to share on behalf of its members some commentary on the subject of the functioning of the European Advisory Councils. The PelAC acknowledges that the letter to the Commission outlined that even well-functioning Advisory Councils should consider ways in which the best practices already in existence can be further, and more formally, enshrined within procedures and statutes. With this in mind, and having received detailed recommendations from PelAC OIG members, which will be considered by the full membership, the PelAC intends to undertake a third-party performance review of its functioning in 2021. This is an exercise that will be carried out in parallel with the important task of re-defining the PelAC’s future in the post-Brexit landscape – and, as a result, is likely to take place in the second half of the year. | 2020 | Letter to Commission on functioning of the Advisory Councils |
Fishing opportunities for 2021 | The Pelagic AC provides recommendations on TACs in 2021 for stocks under its remit. | 2020 | Fishing opportunities 2021 |
Inclusion density dependence component to ICES workshop on a Research Roadmap for Mackerel (WKRRMAC) | Pelagic AC requests to include the density dependence compenent to the ICES workshop because the WKRRMAC is intended to look forward and build a roadmap for future science in relation to mackerel. | 2019 | 1819PAC68 Request inclusion DD in WKRRMAC |
Inclusion of pelagic chapter in future STECF Annual Economic Reports on the EU fishing fleet | The Pelagic AC firmly believes the inclusion of a specific pelagic chapter in the STECF fleet report is needed for the report to fully reflect the correct fleet structure in Europe. The inclusion of such a chapter would present the sector proportionally relative to the demersal fleet and highlight its importance in Europe in terms of economic performance. | 2019 | 1819PAC16 to COM PELAC chapter STECF fleet report 1819ref05 Response COM to inclusion pelagics in STECF report |
Commission representation at PELAC meetings | The PELAC urges the Commission to attend the most important meetings, e.g. when TAC advice is being discussed to reinstate a good working relationship with the PELAC. | 2018 | 1718 PAC135 COM representation at PELAC meetings 1718ref14 COM response representation at PELAC meetings |
Editorial rights to stakeholder information | The Pelagic AC requests clarification from ICES regarding the editorial rights to information provided by stakeholders. | 2017 | 1617PAC97 editorial rights 1617ref15 response ICES on editorial rights stakeholders |
Notification of intent to collect data suitable for advice | The Pelagic AC informs the Advisory Committee of ICES on its intention to collect data suitable to be used as a basis for ICES advice. | 2017 | 1617PAC90 data collection |