Annexes to COM(2009)123 - Establishment of the EC position to be adopted in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2009)123 - Establishment of the EC position to be adopted in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2009)123  |
| date | March 11, 2009 |
The Community position in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
1. PRINCIPLES
In the framework of the IOTC, the European Community shall:
1. act in accordance with the objectives pursued by the Community within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy, notably through the precautionary approach to provide for the sustainable exploitation of species regulated by the IOTC, to promote the gradual implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine eco-system, as well as through the promotion of economically viable and competitive Community fisheries, providing a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities and taking account of the interests of consumers;
2. ensure that IOTC measures are in accordance with the objectives of the IOTC Agreement;
3. ensure that IOTC measures are consistent with international law, and in particular with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Agreement relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the Agreement to promote compliance with international conservation and management measures by fishing vessels on the high seas;
4. promote consistent positions within Regional Fisheries Management Organisations;
5. seek synergy with the policy that the Community is pursuing as part of its bilateral fishery relations with third countries, and ensure coherence with its external relations policy;
6. ensure that the Community's international commitments are respected.
2. ORIENTATIONS
The European Community shall, where appropriate, endeavour to support the adoption of the following actions by the IOTC:
7. stringent conservation and management measures for fisheries resources allowing for their long term sustainability taking into account the best scientific advice available, for purse seine vessels catching big eye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna, as well as equivalent measures for longline vessels targeting tuna or swordfish stocks;
8. measures to control fishing effort to ensure that it is commensurate with the available fishing opportunities;
9. measures to minimise the impact of fishing activities on non target species, notably sharks
10. the development and implementation of monitoring, control and surveillance measures, concerning inter alia , port State measures;
11. enhanced measures to combat IUU activities, in particular binding market-related measures to promote compliance by non Members;
12. development of common approaches with other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, including the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas;
13. continued modernisation of the IOTC following the performance review, including its reform and the creation of an independent body from the United Nations framework.