Whereas in 2009 57 stocks subject to TACs in the northeast Atlantic were without scientific advice, a drastic improvement in 2012 to possibly as little as 10 to 12 stocks is expected.

‘document’ means shall mean any data content whatever its medium (written on paper or stored in electronic form or as a sound, visual or audiovisual recording) drawn-up by an institution and formally transmitted to one or more recipients or otherwise registered, or received by an institution; data concerning a matter falling within the sphere of responsibility of a Union institution, body, office or agency.

The situation for North Sea cod took a turn for the worse in 2008, when a greater proportion of the stock was caught than in any year since 1999.

For stocks for which no advice is available, the Commission generally proposes a TAC equal to that adopted for the previous year, where the reported landings indicate that the quota is being taken up.

For hake the decline in stocks has been less dramatic, but stocks are thought to be around only half of their 1980 levels.

The main amendments to Regulation (EEC) No 2057/82 concern : 1) extension of the Member States' duties with regard to enforcement, requiring them to inspect not only Member States vessels but also those of non-member countries and to inspect and control all other activities (e.g. auction sales) connected with compliance with the conservation regulations; 2) the introduction of an obligation for the Member States to keep on file documents reporting landings, so that the national systems for recording and notifying catches can be verified; 3) clarification of the Commission's right to stop fishing on exhaustion of the Community's fishing possibilities (TAC) in a given fish stock, even whe ...[+++]re all the Member States quota have not yet been exhausted; 4) improvements in the Commission's right to state when, where and how it will carry out its inspection missions, thus curbing the scope available to the Member States to organize and orientate these missions. the Member States are responsible for the implementation of the measures while the Commission ensures that the Member States comply with their obligations, but has no right to take action in this field against ordinary citizens.