SGS Product & Process Certification - Marine Stewardship Council

The creation of Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) was one of the pillars of the 2002 reform of
the CFP, in response to the EU and stakeholders‘ desire to increase the latter‘s participation in
the CFP process. The RACs are made up of representatives of the fisheries sector and other
stakeholder groups affected by the CFP, while scientists are invited to participate in the
meetings of the RACs as experts. The Commission and regional and national representatives
of Member States may be present at the meetings as observers. The North Sea Demersal
RAC has greatly improved effective communication links between industry, NGO‘s, managers
and scientists. The sea bass fishery does not appear to have been discussed within the North
Sea RAC.
Scientific Advice
The scientific basis for the management of the sea bass fishery is the advice provided by the
ICES Advisory Committee (ACOM), which draws on the work of international scientists from
relevant research laboratories and institutions on fish stock biology and marine science.
The results of scientific research and assessments are co-ordinated, compiled and reported by
ICES Working Groups, in this case WGNEW, which ICES established in 2005 to provide the
EC with advice on stock status and management of so called MoU (Memorandum of
Understanding) species (including sea bass). Prior to this, sea bass had been covered by the
ICES Bass Study Group (2001– 2004). The reports are reviewed and evaluated by the ICES
Advisory Committee (ACOM), which then provides advice on the status of target and nontarget
stocks to the European Commission. ICES advice, via Commission proposals, informs
the annual EU Council of Ministers regulation establishing management measures, in particular
TACs and quotas.
Stock assessment and data gathering methodologies are regularly reviewed - at ICES level
and at the level of the contributing laboratories and research institutions. Within ICES, a
methods working group keeps methods for fish stock assessment under regular review, and
there are specific working groups dealing with various issues relevant to the fishery.
In The Netherlands and the UK, IMARES and CEFAS are the main institutes working in the
area of fisheries science and, specifically, sea bass. Their scientists are closely involved in the
stock assessment work of ICES, and contribute to WGNEW.
National Management Bodies
The Fisheries Directorate (DirectieVisserij) of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs,
Agriculture and Innovation (Ministerie van EconomischeZaken, Landbouw en Innovatie (EL&I)
is the main fisheries management body in The Netherlands.
5.4 Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
EU and national legislation is monitored and enforced in The Netherlands by the General
Inspection Service (AlgemeneInspectiedienst, AID) of the Ministry of EL&I. The AID is
responsible for enforcing fishery regulations and collecting information on fishing activity and
catches in ports and at sea within the nation state‘s fishery limits, and also monitors
compliance by the fishing industry. The AID also applies the EC satellite Vessel Monitoring
System (VMS) to track vessels over 15 m overall length. Fishing effort (days at sea) is also
monitored by the flag state through the VMS. Inspections at sea are carried out by the flag
state or the state with national jurisdiction over the area. At sea, gear (mesh size), logbooks
and content of fish holds are checked. National authorities are also responsible for aggregating
national fleet catches to a national total and policing other EC control requirements applicable
on landing and as the fish moves through the distribution chain. Given its small vessel size
Page 29 of 151