Joint NGO response to the Commission consultation on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2023 under the CFP

This joint NGO response to the Commission’s consultation on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2023 was co-signed by ClientEarth, BUND, Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Ecologistas en Acción, The Fisheries Secretariat, France Nature Environnement, De Nederlandse Elasmobranchen Vereniging, Stichting De Noordzee, Oceana, Our Fish, Sciaena, Seas At Risk and WWF. In this response, we jointly call on the Commission to propose fishing opportunities for 2023 in line with the requirements and objectives of the CFP, in order to restore and maintain fish populations above biomass levels capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

Since most of the issues we have previously raised remain valid, we continue to highlight the following key recommendations that need to be followed in order to ensure that all TACs proposed and set for 2023 meet the objectives of the CFP:

• Acknowledge the real level of overfishing
• End overfishing to act on climate and biodiversity crises
• Apply an ecosystem-based approach
• Manage data-limited stocks in line with the CFP’s requirements
• Use science-based catch limits rather than relying on ‘last resort’ measures
• Implement the landing obligation and address the widespread lack of compliance

Since the CFP’s legal MSY deadline for ending overfishing by 2020 has passed, the fishing opportunities agreed this year for 2023 must respect this deadline, and the broader objective of maintaining and restoring all stocks above levels capable of producing MSY.

Related links:

Find other files produced or co-signed by ClientEarth related to the annual negotiations on fishing opportunities from 2015 onwards here.