Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2008)539 - Fixing of the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2009 - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2008)539 - Fixing of the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2008)539  |
| date | 08-09-2008 |
110
- Objectives of the proposal
The objective of this proposal is to fix, for the commercially most important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, the fishing opportunities for Member States for 2009.
120
- General context
In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy, the CFP seeks to ensure that living aquatic resources are exploited under sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. One important tool in this respect is the annual fixing of fisheries opportunities in the form of total allowable catches (TACs), quotas and fishing effort limits.
With a view to simplification and clarification, fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea were fixed for the first time by a separate Regulation for 2006:, Council Regulation (EC) No 52/2006 of 22 December 2005 fixing the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2006.
The scientific advice on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea in 2009 was delivered by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in May 2008 and by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) in July 2008.
The proposal contains three sections of importance for the management of the Baltic fisheries in 2009: one section fixing the TACs and quotas, a second limiting the fishing effort, and a third laying down associated technical measures.
- 130 Existing provisions in the area of the proposal
Fishing opportunities and the way they are allocated to Member States are regulated annually. The latest is Council Regulation (EC) No 1404/2007 of 26 November 2007 fixing the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2008.
Of relevance to fisheries management in the Baltic Sea is also Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 of 21 December 2005 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound, amending Regulation (EC) No 1434/98 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 88/98.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 779/97 outlines the control and monitoring measures for rebuilding the cod stocks in question. It also lays down the rules for setting the TACs for the Western and the Eastern cod stocks and the associated fishing effort limitations.
- Consistency with other policies and objectives of the EU
The proposed measures are in accordance with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy and are consistent with the Community’s policy on sustainable development.
- Collection and use of expertise
Main organisations/experts consulted
The scientific organisations consulted were the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
The Community asks ICES and STECF each year for scientific advice on the state of important fish stocks. The advice received covers all Baltic stocks for which TACs are proposed except plaice for which no advice is given this year. The proposed TACs are based on the advice but do not necessarily follow the advice to the letter. Given the Commission's intention to ensure the sustainable use of fishery resources while maintaining stable fishing opportunities, changes in TACs are limited to no more than 15% from one year to the next unless the status of a stock requires stronger measures. Where a stock is subject to a management plan the proposed TAC is in accordance with the plan.
For cod stocks the proposed TACs reflect the gradual approach applied in the multi-annual plan for cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks. The central element of the plan is a gradual reduction in fishing effort to long-term sustainable levels that will ensure recovery of the stocks and provide high and stable yields.
With regard to salmon stocks in the Baltic Sea, additional management measures in marine and inland waters are required in order to facilitate efficient recovery of the stocks where necessary. It is therefore intended to develop a salmon management plan in 2008.
- Consultation of interested parties
The sections on limiting the fishing effort and on laying down associated technical measures are in accordance with the decisions taken in the Council in December 2006 on Council Regulation (EC) No 1941/2006 of 11 December 2006 fixing the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2007, and Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks. Both regulations have been subject to consultations with stakeholders: the fishing industry, NGO's dealing with fisheries issues, and Member States concerned in 2005 and 2006.
The Baltic RAC was consulted at its Joint Working Group meeting and its Executive Committee meeting in June 2008 on the basis of the policy statement by the Commission on fishing opportunities for 2009. The scientific basis for the proposal was provided by ICES and STECF. DG MARE presented the rules it would follow for setting TACs and quotas for 2009 on the basis of the policy statement. The preliminary views expressed during these meetings and the subsequent written recommendations on all fish stocks concerned, were considered and taken into account as appropriate in the proposal.
- Impact assessment
The proposed measures will, if implemented, result in an overall decrease in fishing opportunities for Community vessels in the Baltic Sea of around 15% for all species considered. For several herring stocks and sprat the reduction is based on lower recruitment to the stocks. The economically most significant reductions are the TAC for Western Baltic cod in accordance with the multi-annual plan and Western Baltic herring in response to the stock being outside safe biological limits and the further decline expected in the following year. The TAC for Eastern Baltic cod has been increased in accordance with the multi-annual plan.
The proposal reflects not only short-term concerns but is also part of a longer- term approach whereby the level of fishing is gradually reduced to long-term sustainable levels.
The approach taken in the proposal will therefore in the medium to long term, result in reduced fishing effort but stable or increasing quotas in the long-term. The long-term consequences of the approach are therefore expected to be a reduced impact on the environment as a consequence of the decline in fishing effort, reductions in the catching sector in terms of number of vessels and/or in the average fishing effort per vessel, and unchanged or increased landings. The sustainability of fishing activities will increase in the long-term.
Contents
- LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL
- BUDGETARY IMPLICATION
- Detailed Explanation
- 2. CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT
- 5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Proposal for a
- CHAPTER I Scope and definitions
- Article 2 Scope
- Article 3 Definitions
- CHAPTER IIFishing opportunities and associated conditions
- Article 5 Special provisions on allocations
- Article 6 Conditions for catches and by-catches
- Article 7 Fishing effort limits
- Article 8 Transitional technical measures
- CHAPTER III Final provisions
- Article 10 Entry into force
- For the Council
- Scientific name Alpha-3 code Common name
- Sweden 13
- Germany 9
- Germany
- Clupea harengus HER/03D.RG
- Latvia 18
- Germany 4
- Germany 3
- Germany
- TAC Not relevant
- Species: Atlantic salmon Zone: Subdivision
- TAC Not relevant
- Species: Sprat Zone: EC waters of IIIbcd
- Germany 24
- ANNEX III Transitional technical measures
- Species Geographical area Period
- Legal basis
The legal basis for this proposal is Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, and in particular Article 20 thereof; Council Regulation (EC) No 847/1996, and in particular Article 2 thereof; and Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007, and in particular Article 5 and 8 i thereof.
The proposal has no implications for the Community budget.
The proposal fixes for 2009 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain stocks or groups of stocks for Member States fishing in the Baltic Sea.
The TACs and quotas allocated to Member States are given in Annex I. The proposed figures reflect the scientific advice and the framework for setting the TACs and quotas outlined in the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament about a Policy Statement from the European Commission on Fishing Opportunities for 2009.
The TACs and quotas for the two cod stocks are closely linked to the fishing effort limits laid down in Annex II.
The technical measures in Annex III represent additional measures for managing the fishery for flounder and turbot.
COUNCIL REGULATION
fixing the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2009
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy i, and in particular Article 20 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 847/1996 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas i, and in particular Article 2 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks i, and in particular Article 5 and 8 i thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 requires the Council to adopt the measures necessary to ensure access to waters and resources and the sustainable pursuit of fishing activities taking account of available scientific advice and, in particular, the report prepared by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), as well as in the light of any advice received from the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (BSRAC).
Under Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, it is incumbent upon the Council to establish fishing opportunity limits by fishery or group of fisheries and the allocation of these opportunities to Member States.
In order to ensure effective management of fishing opportunities, the specific conditions under which fishing operations are carried out should be established.
The principles and certain procedures for fishery management need to be laid down at Community level, so that Member States can ensure the management of the vessels flying their flag.
Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 lays down definitions of relevance for the allocation of fishing opportunities.
In accordance with Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96, the stocks that are subject to the various measures referred to therein must be identified.
Fishing opportunities should be used in accordance with Community legislation , and in particular with Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1381/87 of 20 May 1987 establishing detailed rules concerning the marking and documentation of fishing vessels i, Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2807/83 of 22 September 1983 laying down detailed rules for recording information on Member States' catches of fish i, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy i, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003 of 18 December 2003 laying down detailed provisions regarding satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems i, and Council Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86 of 22 September 1986 defining characteristics for fishing vessels i, Council Regulation (EEC) No 3880/91 of 17 December 1991 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the North-East Atlantic i, Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 of 21 December 2005 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound i and Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks i.
To ensure that annual fishing opportunities are set at a level commensurate with the sustainable exploitation of resources in environmental, economic and social terms, account has been taken of the guiding principles for fixing TACs as described in the Communication from the Commission on fishing opportunities for 2009: Policy Statement from the European Commission i.
To help conserve fish stocks, certain supplementary measures on technical conditions of fishing should be implemented in 2009.
To ensure the livelihood of Community fishermen, it is important to open these fisheries on 1 January 2009. Given the urgency of the matter, it is imperative to grant an exception to the six-week period referred to in paragraph I i of the Protocol on the role of national Parliaments in the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1 Subject matter
This Regulation fixes fishing opportunities for 2009 for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea and the associated conditions under which such fishing opportunities may be used.
1. This Regulation shall apply to Community fishing vessels (Community vessels) operating in the Baltic Sea.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, this Regulation shall not apply to fishing operations conducted solely for the purpose of scientific investigations which are carried out with the permission and under the authority of the Member State concerned and of which the Commission and the Member State in whose waters the research is carried out have been informed in advance.
In addition to the definitions laid down in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, for the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:
(a) the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) zones are as defined in Regulation (EEC) No 3880/91;
(b) “Baltic Sea” means ICES Subdivisions 22-32;
(c) “total allowable catch (TAC)” means the quantity that can be taken from each stock each year;
(d) “quota” means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Community, a Member State or a third country;
(e) “day absent from port” means any continuous period of 24 hours or part thereof during which the vessel is absent from port
Article 4 Catch limits and allocations
The catch limits, the allocation of such limits among Member States, and additional conditions in accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 are set out in Annex I to this Regulation.
1. The allocation of catch limits among Member States as set out in Annex I shall be without prejudice to:
(a) exchanges made pursuant to Article 20 i of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002;
(b) reallocations made pursuant to Articles 21 i, 23 i and 32 i of Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93;
(c) additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;
(d) quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;
(e) deductions made pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96.
2. For the purpose of withholding quotas to be transferred to 2010, Article 4 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 may apply, by way of derogation from that Regulation, to all stocks subject to analytical TAC.
1. Fish from stocks for which catch limits are fixed shall only be retained on board or landed if:
(a) the catches have been taken by vessels of a Member State with a quota and that quota has not been exhausted;
b) species other than herring and sprat are mixed with other species, the catches have been taken with trawls, Danish seines or similar gears whose mesh size is less than 32 mm, and the catches are not sorted either on board or on landing.
2. All landings shall count against the quota or, if the Community share has not been allocated among Member States by quotas, against the Community share, except for catches made under paragraph 1(b).
3. Where the quota for herring allocated to a Member State is exhausted, vessels flying the flag of that Member State, registered in the Community, and operating in the fisheries to which the relevant quota applies shall not land catches that are unsorted and that contain herring.
Fishing effort limits are set out in Annex II.
1. Those limits shall apply to ICES Subdivisions 27, and 28.2 insofar as the Commission has not taken a decision in accordance with Article 29 i of Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 to exclude those Subdivisions from the restrictions provided for in Article 8(1)(b), i, i and i and Article 13 of that Regulation.
2. Those limits shall not apply to ICES Subdivision 28.1 insofar as the Commission has not taken a decision in accordance with Article 29 i of Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 that the restrictions provided for in Article 8(1)(b), i, i and i of Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 shall apply to that Subdivision.
Transitional technical measures are set out in Annex III.
Article 9 Data transmission
When Member States send data to the Commission pursuant to Article 15 i of Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 relating to landings of quantities of stocks caught , they shall use the stock codes set out in Annex I to this Regulation.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
It shall apply from 1 January 2009.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels,
The President
ANNEX I
Catch limits and associated conditions for year-to-year management of catch limits applicable to Community vessels in areas where catch limits exist by species and by area
The following tables set out the TACs and quotas (in tonnes live weight, except where otherwise specified) by stock, the allocation to the Member States and associated conditions for year-to-year management of the quotas.
Within each area, fish stocks are referred to following the alphabetical order of the Latin names of the species. For the purposes of these tables the codes used for the different species are as follows:
Clupea harengus HER Herring
Gadus morhua COD Cod
Platichthys flesus FLX Flounder
Pleuronectes platessa PLE Plaice
Psetta maxima TUR Turbot
Salmo salar SAL Atlantic salmon
Sprattus sprattus SPR Sprat
Species: Herring Zone: Subdivisions 30-
Clupea harengus HER/3D30.; HER/3D31.
Finland 60 Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
EC 73
TAC 73
Species: Herring Zone: Subdivisions 22-
Clupea harengus HER/3B23.; HER/3C22.; HER/3D24.
Denmark 2 Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
Finland
Poland 2
Sweden 2
EC 16
TAC 16
Species: Herring Zone: Subdivisions 25-27, 28.2, 29 and
Clupea harengus HER/3D25.; HER/3D26.; HER/3D27.; HER/3D28.; HER/3D29.; HER/3D32.
Denmark 3 Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies
Estonia 16
Finland 31
Latvia 3
Lithuania 4
Poland 35
Sweden 48
EC 143
TAC Not relevant
Species: Herring Zone: Subdivision 28.
Estonia 16 Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
EC 34
TAC 34
Species Cod Zone: EC waters of Subdivisions 25-
Gadus morhua COD/3D25.; COD/3D26.; COD/3D27.; COD/3D28.; COD/3D29.; COD/3D30.; COD/3D31.; COD/3D32.
Denmark 10 Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
Estonia
Finland
Latvia 3
Lithuania 2
Poland 11
Sweden 10
EC 44
TAC Not relevant
Species: Cod Zone: EC waters of Subdivisions 22 –
Gadus morhua COD/3B23.; COD/3C22.; COD/3D24.
Denmark 7 Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
Estonia
Finland
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland 1
Sweden 2
EC 16
TAC 16
Species: Plaice Zone: EC waters of IIIbcd
Pleuronectes platessa PLE/3B23.; PLE/3C22.; PLE/3D24.; PLE/3D25.; PLE/3D26.; PLE/3D27.; PLE/3D28.; PLE/3D29.; PLE/3D30.; PLE/3D31.; PLE/3D32.
Denmark 1 Precautionary TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
Poland
Sweden
EC 2
TAC 2
Species: Atlantic salmon Zone: EC waters of IIIbcd excluding Subdivision
Salmo salar SAL/3B23.; SAL/3C22.; SAL/3D24.; SAL/3D25.; SAL/3D26.; SAL/3D27.; SAL/3D28.; SAL/3D29.; SAL/3D30.; SAL/3D31.
Denmark 64 i Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
Germany 7 i
Estonia 6 i
Finland 80 i
Latvia 40 i
Lithuania 4 i
Poland 19 i
Sweden 86 i
EC 309 i
__________
Expressed by number of individual fish.
Salmo salar SAL/3D32.
Estonia 1 i Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
Finland 11 i
EC 13 i
_________
Expressed by number of individual fish.
Sprattus sprattus SPR/3B23.; SPR/3C22.; SPR/3D24.; SPR/3D25.; SPR/3D26.; SPR/3D27.; SPR/3D28.; SPR/3D29.; SPR/3D30.; SPR/3D31.; SPR/3D32.
Denmark 38 Analytical TAC. Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply. Article 5 i of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 applies.
Estonia 44
Finland 19
Latvia 53
Lithuania 19
Poland 113
Sweden 73
EC 386
TAC Not relevant
ANNEX II
Fishing effort limits
For vessels flying their flag, Member States shall ensure that fishing with trawls, Danish seines or similar gear of a mesh size equal to or larger than 90 mm, with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets of a mesh size equal to or larger than 90 mm, with bottom set lines, longlines except drifting lines, handlines and jigging equipment shall be permitted for a maximum number of
(a) 201 days absent from port in subdivisions 22-24 with the exception of the period from 1 to 30 April when Article 8 i (a) of Regulation (EC) No 1098/ 2007 applies, and
(b) 160 days absent from port in subdivisions 25–28 with the exception of the period from 1 July to 31 August when Article 8 i (b) of Regulation (EC) No 1098/ 2007 applies.
Restrictions on fishing for flounder and turbot
1. The retention on board of the following species of fish which are caught within the geographical areas and during the periods mentioned below shall be prohibited:
Flounder (Platichthys flesus) Subdivisions 26 to 28, 29 south of 59°30'N Subdivision 15 February to 15 May 15 February to 31 May
Turbot (Psetta maxima) Subdivisions 25 to 26, 28 south of 56°50'N 1 June to 31 July
2. By way of derogation from point 1, when fishing with trawls, Danish seines and similar gears with a mesh size equal to or greater then 105 mm or with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets with a mesh size equal to or greater than 100 mm, by-catches of flounder and turbot may be retained on board and landed within a limit of 10 % by live weight of the total catch retained on board and landed during the periods of prohibition referred to in point 1.
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