In the early morning of the 13th of December, the Council of the EU came to an agreement regarding sea bass management in EU waters.
Given the very poor condition of the stock, the European Commission had proposed a complete ban on angling for the first half of the year and no retention of sea bass in the second half of the year. The EU fisheries Ministers finally agreed on an all year round catch & release fishery in the Northern waters while anglers in the Bay of Biscay will be allowed to keep three bass per day.
However, after the ICES benchmark exercise (March 2018), the Commission will consider if there is a basis for reviewing the measures in place for sea bass and allowing for any landings of sea bass in recreational fisheries. So, a bag limit might be allowed for recreational anglers during some months of 2018.
EAA, the European Anglers Alliance
EFTTA, the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association
