Statement on the outcome of the Fisheries Council (25-26 October 2010)

The Commission is satisfied that - as a result of the good cooperation with the Belgian Presidency and the member states - agreement has been reached on several important Baltic Sea fish stocks, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to EC.

For the first time, a coherent result has been achieved, which respects the commitment to reach the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2015 while also achieving reduction in fishing mortality for all stocks but one. The Commission regrets that it was not possible to achieve this for sprat, a stock which is of great importance for the Baltic fisheries and processing industry.

The Commission did not cross its red line about reducing fishing mortality and will maintain this stance for future proposals and negotiations.