The European Commission proposes setting the southern hake catch limit at 13,956 tonnes in 2027, a 20% reduction. It also suggests cutting sole and increasing monkfish.
The European Commission has proposed a limit of 13,956 tonnes for southern hake, which is fished in the waters of the Cantabrian Sea, representing a 20% cut for 2027. This is reported by El Correo in its coverage of the draft fishing quotas for the upcoming year.
Limits are set according to the status of each species. The proposal was presented this Thursday and will serve as the basis for negotiations between member states and the Commission at the December fishing council. Hake is one of the most valuable species for the fleet and is highly regarded by consumers.
The catch possibilities for northern hake have yet to be determined. The European Union must finalize these with the United Kingdom, and they are expected to be known in the coming weeks.
In the case of sole, Brussels proposes a 15% cut. Scientific data indicates that the biomass of this species has declined in recent years and is now considered "low". According to community reports, even with a maximum sustainable yield, which would involve a 9% reduction:
"this species may not recover"
Conversely, the proposal raises the fishing limit for monkfish to 6,563 tonnes, a 22% increase from this year.
For the anchovy in the Bay of Biscay and the langoustine in the Cantabrian Sea, the Commission has not yet issued catch recommendations, pending scientific data on their status.
For bass, Brussels proposes to maintain the current approach, whereby France and Spain set their quotas, and the same catch limit as last year, of 3,884 tonnes. Additionally, it proposes that France, Spain, and Portugal set national quotas for sardines in the Bay of Biscay and in Iberian waters.
Finally, due to the "critical state" of the European eel, the Commission maintains a six-month fishing closure and the prohibition of recreational fishing for this species in European and northeast Atlantic waters.
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