News

Following the first General Assembly of the North Sea RAC in November 2004, meetings have been held with the European Commission during December and January.  The future work programme of the RAC has been discussed, in the light of the Commission's own future plans.  Arrangements for coordinating the work of the RAC with the Commission's own programme have also been discussed. Now, plans are under way for the First Executive Committee Meeting of the NSRAC, which will take place at the Chamber of Commerce, Boulogne sur Mer, France, on 31st January and 1st February.  The agenda for this meeting includes:

 Administrative Matters
  * The NSRAC Company.  
  * Composition of Executive Committee.  
  * Working Procedures for the Executive Committee
  * Funding.  
  * Additional support from Member States

Meetings with the Commission (8th December, 19th January)

Communication with: 
* Fisheries Council
* European Commission
* European Parliament Fisheries Committee

Working Group Reports
* Flatfish WG. 
* Demersal WG. 
* Working Group Procedures & Terms of Reference

Annual Work Plan 2005 & Calendar
* Fisheries negotiations during 2005. 
* The proposed move from the current precautionary approach towards the attainment of maximum sustainable yield, to fulfill the Johannesburg commitment. 
* Reducing discards within the mixed fisheries. 
* Proposed dialogue on technical measures
* Spatial management,
* The revision of closed boxes. 
* Green Paper from the Commission on an EU Marine Strategy

New Working Groups

Organisations wishing to be present as observers during the meeting should contact the Secretary Ann Bell at ann.bell@aberdeenshire.gov.uk