1. EU work in the Black Sea Christos Maravelias
Unit D1 – Fisheries Management Mediterranean & Black Sea
DG MARE, European Commission
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

2. "Bucharest declaration"
At the High Level discussions there was full agreement on the common responsibility of all parties to ensure sustainable development of the Black Sea and work together in a coherent and collaborative manner for that purpose.
At the request of the European Commission it was agreed that GFCM will evaluate in 2 years the implementation of the "Bucharest declaration" with the aim of organising a follow up Conference in 2018 on the Black Sea fisheries Governance.
GFCM also got support from all parties to launch a dedicated project in the area, the BlackSea4Fish project
funding of this project will be covered partly from the EU additional grant to GFCM
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

3. "BlackSea4fish project"
This cooperative regional project for the Black Sea was created under the umbrella of the GFCM and with the aim of supporting the work of the Working group of the Black Sea (WGBS)
The project’s long-term objective is to contribute to the management of fisheries in the Black Sea, thereby supporting national economies and protecting the livelihoods of those dependent on the fisheries
Target groups of the project will be decision-makers, managers and fishers
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

4. EU MS contribution to total catches
Bulgaria + Romania (%)
Anchovy
< 1-2
Horse mackerel
Rapana
~ 25
Sprat
~ 9–13
Turbot
~ 10
Piked dogfish
~ 40
Source: Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – Black Sea assessments (STECF-15-16) Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, EUR EN, JRC 98095, 284 pp.
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

5. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
Additional commitments (turbot) in the frame of the Regulation fixing for 2017 the fishing opportunities :
keep at 2016 levels the fishing authorisations for Turbot
keep at 2016 level their respective number of designated ports for landings
to continue the strict policy adopted in 2016 for the recording of all catches, including below 50 kg, in the LB, LD and SN
to increase by 20%, as compared to 2016, the number of market inspections and inspections at sea, including during the closed season
to increase by 20% joint inspection actions under the coordination of EFCA
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

6. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
to establish during 2017 a pilot project on evaluation of discards in the Rapana whelk fishery, in order to evaluate the impact on juveniles of turbot and dogfish
to ensure that all static gears are properly marked and identified in accordance with European Union rules and to take all necessary follow-up actions
to put in place new public awareness actions to inform the public about the technical conditions and closed season applying to Turbot fishing activities
to work with the Commission and the EFCA in implementing Recommendation GFCM/40/2016/6, the possible preparation of a proposal for a GFCM multi-annual plan for turbot and fight against IUU
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

7. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
Additional commitments (picked dogfish) in the frame of the Regulation fixing for 2017 the fishing opportunities :
to limit their respective catches of in 2017 to the 2015 level of their catches and to inform the Commission on a quarterly basis of the actions taken to meet this objective
to continue implementing the strict policy adopted in 2016 for the recording of all catches, including below 50 kg, in corresponding logbooks, landing declarations and sales notes of all authorised vessels as well as vessels having by-catches of dogfish
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

8. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
Control issues in support of sustainable fisheries
To address the misreporting and IUU fishery of turbot in the Black Sea, the implementation of control and monitoring measures established since 2012 should be continued.
The EU will seek to ensure that GFCM pay particular attention to the full compliance of its members and Cooperating non-Members of GFCM to implement the actions established in the roadmap for fighting against IUU in the Black Sea as adopted in 2013 and to implement the mid-term strategy adopted by GFCM in 2016.
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

9. EFCA - BLACK SEA WORKPLAN 2015 - 2018
EFCA provides assistance to BG and RO since This support is mainly based on:
the preparation of joint actions within the annual plan of control in turbot fisheries in the Black Sea,
the development of a risk assessment methodology and
the organization of training seminars for inspectors on regional and national level.
Within the existing PACT (Partnership, Accountability, Cooperation and Transparency) BG and RO have requested assistance by EFCA in preparation and coordination of fishing control activities in Last January a meeting between MS and EFCA was organized and within the issues discussed was the schedule of joint missions for 2017 Black Sea.
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

10. EU instruments towards fisheries sustainability in the Black Sea - CFP
Black Sea Advisory Council (BlSAC) – some activities foreseen in the context of the Work programme
Implementation of the landing obligation in the Black Sea
Active role towards regional cooperation on conservation measures (article 18 of the Basic regulation) - regionalisation
Close cooperation with relevant bodies, e.g. EC, EP, GFCM, EFCA, Scientific bodies, other AC, other countries of the Black Sea basin
- Implementation of the Marine Strategy framework directive
Other topics relevant for BlSAC:
- Socio-economic and environmental factors related to rapana whelk and turbot
- Management of the maritime spatial planning
- Involvement on control and data collection actions
BlSAC, at EC request, set up a WG on Access to waters/resources to discuss:
their position on the evolution of the Rapana whelk catches,
access to waters of neighbouring countries (BG/RO)
the Natura 2000 recently defined zones.
Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, 7th June 2017, European Committee of the Regions

11. Conclusions
Urgent to implement the objectives of "Bucharest Declaration" notably the scientific advice, the development of a MAP for turbot and the fight against IUU.
EU and its Member States (Bulgaria and Romania) made a lot of effort to reduce the fishing effort and the IUU activities in order to achieve the objective of MSY of the fisheries stocks in the Black Sea.
Nevertheless the EU catches of turbot represent less than 10% and we need the same commitments by the other riparian countries.
All the Parties involved in the fisheries in the Black Sea to live up with their commitment and to implement ASAP concrete actions to ensure the sustainable development of the fisheries in the area.

12. Thank you for your attention
Christos Maravelias, Contact: