Commission launches EU fisheries policy overhaul

The European commission has announced a three-year action plan to “simplify and streamline” EU fisheries legislation as part of its better regulation initiative. Among the promised measures are a longer-term approach to fish stock conservation and earlier and better consultation on annual total allowable catch (TAC) quotas. The TAC process will be differentiated into separate proposals for different fisheries, a pattern begun last month when proposed 2006 TACs for the Baltic sea were published in advance of those for other fisheries. Ministers meet on 20 December to discuss the quotas. See commission press release and action plan plus 2006 TAC proposals for the Baltic and other fisheries.