Joint EU–Norway request on TAC setting options for cod in the North Sea and Skagerrak

The current management plan is considered precautionary, assuming perfect implementation. The current plan implies further reductions in fishing mortality and catch advice in 2014, which will pose difficulties in a mixed fisheries context. Achieving such a reduction may require that additional effort reductions or equivalent cod avoidance measures are considered. In contrast, the new proposed harvest control rules (HCRs) would result in increased catch advice in 2014, but in lower medium-term catches than the current HCR.

ICES considers the new proposed HCRs not to be precautionary. Specifically, compared to the long-term phase of the current management plan they would delay the recovery of the SSB.