Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2004)640 - Rebuilding plan for Greenland halibut in the framework of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2004)640 - Rebuilding plan for Greenland halibut in the framework of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2004)640  |
| date | 07-10-2004 |
After the closure of the main groundfish fisheries in the early 1990's, the Greenland halibut fishery constitutes the main fishery for the EC fleet in NAFO waters. The EC is the major player in this fishery, holding 55 % of the quota in international NAFO waters.
In June 2003, the Scientific Council of NAFO advised that the Greenland halibut stock was in a poorer state than expected previously. Earlier good year classes had now been fished out and the expected poorer year classes in the short and medium term would require a substantial reduction of fishing effort in order to avoid a collapse of this stock in the future.
At its 2003 Annual Meeting, held in Halifax, Canada, the Fisheries Commission of NAFO adopted a 15 year rebuilding plan for Greenland halibut in NAFO Sub-area 2 and Divisions 3KLMNO. The objective of this rebuilding plan is to attain a level of exploitable biomass of five years and older of 140.000 tonnes on average, allowing a stable yield over the long term for this stock.
In order to obtain this goal, the rebuilding plan foresees a progressive reduction of the TAC: 42.000 tonnes in 2003, 20.000 tonnes in 2004, 19.000 tonnes in 2005, 18.500 tonnes in 2006 and 16.000 tonnes in 2007. The total allowable catch for subsequent years shall be established taking into account the progress made in the rebuilding of the stock and may be adjusted on the basis of the Scientific Council advice. The plan also foresees additional control measures to ensure the effectiveness of the plan.
The plan was implemented into Community law on a provisional basis by the Council in Regulation 2287/2003 of 19 December 2003 fixing for 2004 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required.
It is therefore necessary to implement this Plan by way of the adoption of a Council Regulation implementing multi-annual measures for Greenland halibut for the entire duration of this rebuilding plan.