Press Release: Anchovy in the Bay of Biscay: Commission sets out conditions of experimental fishery

In a letter to the Fisheries Ministers of France and Spain sent on 17 April 2007, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg, set out the conditions governing the experimental fishery on anchovy in the Bay of Biscay. Commissioner Borg says that, "after exhaustive discussions with the two Member States concerned, including in the margins of the Council meeting yesterday, the Commission considers that the experimental fishery on anchovy in the Bay of Biscay should be conducted in the following manner: - France will immediately recall to port the vessels that have already gone out to fish for anchovy; - the consort fishery, by 10 vessels, will start on the 23rd of April, accompanying the research vessels that should start their campaign on that date; - for the remaining 18 vessels, the Commission will convene a meeting in the coming days with scientists from French and Spanish research institutes, in particular to determine the timing and the area coverage of the experimental fishery by those vessels. The Commission will be making the STECF report immediately available to the public.