EU–Norway request to ICES on the 2014 TAC for cod in the North Sea

Reducing the cod TAC by 9% in 2014 relative to 2013 will likely result in increased cod discards, unless additional effort limitations or cod avoidance measures are implemented that will result in a reduction of the total catch of cod consistent with the reduction in the TAC.
ICES advises that a rollover TAC in 2014 can be considered precautionary if followed by implementation of the existing long term management plan and if sufficient additional measures are put in place that limit catches in 2014 to the levels specified in the short-term projection.
Within the timeframe for providing this advice, ICES has not been able to evaluate whether a 10% increase in the 2014 TAC relative to 2013 can be considered precautionary.
ICES concludes that TAC restrictions on landings alone are unlikely to be sufficient to achieve FMSY in 2015. However, in all three management scenarios considered for 2014 (i.e. 9% reduction in TAC, rollover, and 10% increase) F might be reduced to FMSY in 2015 if sufficient additional measures are put in place to limit catches to the levels specified in the short-term projections.