The EU Baltic Sea Multiannual Plan (MAP) covers plaice as a bycatch species. According to the MAP, specific conservation measures should be adopted when scientific advice indicates that remedial measures are needed, such as limits on characteristics or use of gear (e.g. mesh size, depth); time/area closures; and minimum conservation reference sizes. There is no specific management plan for plaice in this area, and management areas do not match areas covered by the two stocks (western and eastern Baltic). However, Total Allowable Catches are split between the two stocks, and calculated based on the catch ratios in 2019 to maintain consistency with advice. Only Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany and Finland (traded quota from Sweden) have a TAC for landing plaice. Catches for this stock are smaller than the advice.
Landings (wanted catch) in 2019 was at the same level as in 2018 and about three times higher than in 2017 with about 1741 tonnes. Since 2017, the landings obligation is in place, resulting in an additional 17.4 tonnes of BMS landings (i.e. landings of plaice below the minimum conservation reference size of 25 cm) in 2019, which accounted for 0.74% of the total catch. The trawl fishery targeting cod in part of the stock area may also have a 100% discard rate of plaice throughout the year.
The UK is due to leave the EU on 31st December 2020, and new UK Fisheries legislation is being developed during 2020. MCS will update ratings with new management information when new legislation comes into force.
In the European Union (EU), EU fishing vessels can fish up to 12 nautical miles of any Member State coast, and closer by agreement. There is overarching fisheries legislation for all Member States, but implementation varies between fisheries, Member States and sea basins.
The EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the primary overarching policy. Its key environmental objectives are to restore and maintain harvested species at healthy levels (above BMSY), and apply the precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management. To achieve the MSY objective, the MSY exploitation rate is supposed to be achieved by 2020, but this seems unlikely to happen.
The CFP also introduced a Landing Obligation (LO) which bans the discarding at sea of species which are subject to catch limits. Some exemptions apply to species with high post-capture survival, and where avoiding unwanted catches is very difficult. These exemptions are outlined in regional discard plans. Despite quota 'uplift' being granted to fleets under the LO, available evidence suggests there has been widespread non-compliance with the policy, and illegal and unreported discarding is likely occurring.
Multi-Annual Plans (MAPs) are a tool for implementing the CFP regionally, with one in place or being developed for each sea basin. They specify fishing mortality targets and ranges for the main targeted species, as well as lower biomass reference points. If populations drop below these points it should trigger a management response. The MAPs also empower Member States to jointly apply measures such as closures, gear or capacity limits, and bycatch limits. There is concern however that the MAPs do not provide adequate safeguards to maintain all stocks at healthy levels.
The EU Technical Measures regulation addresses how, where and when fishing can take place in order to limit unwanted catches and ecosystem impacts. There are common measures that apply to all EU sea basins, and regional measures that vary between sea basins. Measures include Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS, previously Minimum Landing Sizes, MLS), gear specifications, mesh sizes, closed areas, and bycatch limits.
The Control Regulation, which is being revised in 2019, addresses application of and compliance with the above, e.g. keeping catches within limits, recording and sharing data, and satellite tracking of vessels over 12 metres (VMS).
