Press Release: Endangered cod and hake stocks: Commission proposes long-term recovery package

A proposal for long term recovery plans to help rebuild cod and hake stocks was issued by the European Commission on 11 December 2001. The package would establish a procedure for setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) that would give a high probability of an annual increase in the number of mature fish in the stocks concerned. Limits would also be fixed on the fishing effort to ensure that these TACs are not overshot. The plans also include a provision to take rapid measures to temporarily close areas where young fish from the threatened stocks congregate in great numbers. Special control measures to ensure compliance with the new measures will be put in place. In order to reduce the fishing capacity of the fleets concerned, it is proposed to enhance the rates of aid available for the withdrawal of vessels and to restrict aid for modernisation of fishing vessels