Regulation 2012/1262 - Fixing for 2013 and 2014 of the fishing opportunities for EU vessels for certain deep-sea fish stocks

1.

Legislative text

22.12.2012   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 356/22

 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 1262/2012

of 20 December 2012

fixing for 2013 and 2014 the fishing opportunities for EU vessels for certain deep-sea fish stocks

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

 

(1)

Article 43(3) of the Treaty provides that the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, is to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities.

 

(2)

Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (1) requires that measures governing access to waters and resources and the sustainable pursuit of fishing activities be established taking into account available scientific, technical and economic advice and in particular reports drawn up by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), as well as in the light of any advice received from Regional Advisory Councils.

 

(3)

It is incumbent upon the Council to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities by fishery or group of fisheries, including certain conditions functionally linked thereto, as appropriate. Fishing opportunities should be distributed among Member States in such a way as to assure each Member State relative stability of fishing activities for each stock or fishery and having due regard to the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy established by Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002.

 

(4)

The total allowable catches (TACs) should be established on the basis of available scientific advice, taking into account biological and socioeconomic aspects whilst ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors, as well as in the light of the opinions expressed during the consultation of stakeholders, in particular at the meetings with the Advisory Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Regional Advisory Councils concerned.

 

(5)

Fishing opportunities should be in accordance with international agreements and principles, such as the 1995 United Nations agreement concerning the conservation and management of straddling stocks and highly migratory fish stocks (2), and the detailed management principles laid down in the 2008 Inter-national Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, according to which, in particular, a regulator should be more cautious when information is uncertain, unreliable or inadequate. The absence of adequate scientific information should not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation and management measures.

 

(6)

The latest scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and from the STECF indicates that most deep-sea stocks are harvested unsustainably and that fishing opportunities for those stocks, in order to assure their sustainability, should be reduced until the evolution of the stock sizes show a positive trend. The ICES has further advised that no directed fishery should be allowed for orange roughy in all areas and for certain stocks of blue ling and red seabream.

 

(7)

Concerning deep sea sharks, the main commercial species are considered depleted and, therefore, no directed fishing should take place.

 

(8)

The fishing opportunities for deep-sea species as defined in Article 2(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 of 16 December 2002 establishing specific access requirements and associated conditions applicable to fishing for deep-sea stocks (3) are decided on a bi-annual basis. Nevertheless, an exception is made for the stocks of greater silver smelt and the main fishery of blue ling for which the fishing opportunities depend on the outcome of the annual negotiations with Norway. The fishing opportunities for those stocks should be established in another relevant annual regulation fixing fishing opportunities.

 

(9)

In the interest of simplification, blue ling TACs autonomously decided by the Union should be regulated in the same legal instrument. Therefore, TACs for blue ling in international waters of II, III and IV should be included, together with the TACs for blue ling in international waters of XII, in the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are not subject to international negotiations or agreements.

 

(10)

In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (4) the stocks that are subject to various measures referred to therein should be identified. Precautionary TACs should apply for stocks for which no scientifically-based evaluation of fishing opportunities is available specifically for the year in which the TACs are to be set; analytical TACs should apply otherwise. In view of ICES and STECF advice for deep-sea stocks, those for which a science-based evaluation of the relevant fishing opportunities is not available should be subject to precautionary TACs in this Regulation.

 

(11)

In light of the scientific advice, the biological distribution of some stocks of roundnose grenadier does not necessarily correspond to the TAC areas in this Regulation. In order to facilitate the sustainable exploitation of these stocks, it is appropriate to allow for increased flexibility between TAC area Vb, VI, VII, on one hand, and TAC area VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV, on the other.

 

(12)

In order to avoid the interruption of fishing activities and to ensure the livelihood of the fishermen of the Union, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2013. For reasons of urgency, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Subject matter

This Regulation fixes for the years 2013 and 2014 the annual fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for fish stocks of certain deep-sea species in EU waters and in certain non-EU waters where catch limits are required.

Article 2

Definitions

  • 1. 
    For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:
 

(a)

‘EU vessel’ means a fishing vessel flying the flag of a Member State and registered in the Union;

 

(b)

‘EU waters’ means the waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Member States with the exception of waters adjacent to the territories mentioned in Annex II to the Treaty;

 

(c)

‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means the quantity that can be taken and landed from each fish stock each year;

 

(d)

‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country;

 

(e)

‘international waters’ means waters falling outside the sovereignty or jurisdiction of any State.

  • 2. 
    For the purposes of this Regulation, the following zone definitions shall apply:
 

(a)

ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) zones are the geographical areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5);

 

(b)

CECAF (Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries) zones are the geographical areas specified in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6).

Article 3

TACs and allocations

The TACs for deep-sea species caught by EU vessels in EU waters or in certain non-EU waters, the allocation of such TACs among Member States and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 4

Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities

  • 1. 
    The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States as set out in this Regulation shall be without prejudice to:
 

(a)

exchanges made pursuant to Article 20(5) of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002;

 

(b)

deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 (7) or pursuant to Article 10(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 (8);

 

(c)

additional landings allowed pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;

 

(d)

quantities withheld pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;

 

(e)

deductions made pursuant to Articles 105, 106 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

  • 2. 
    Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to precautionary TAC whereas Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to analytical TAC, except where otherwise specified in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 5

Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

Fish from stocks for which TACs are established shall be retained on board or landed only if the catches have been taken by vessels flying the flag of a Member State having a quota and that quota is not exhausted.

Article 6

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2013.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 December 2012.

For the Council

The President

  • S. 
    ALETRARIS
 

  • (2) 
    Agreement on the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks (OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 16).
  • (5) 
    Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 70).
  • (6) 
    Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 1).
  • (7) 
    Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1).
  • (8) 
    Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 of 29 September 2008 concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 33).
 

ANNEX

The references to fishing zones are references to ICES zones, unless otherwise specified.

PART 1

Definition of species and species groups

 

1.

In the list set out in Part 2 of this Annex, fish stocks are referred to following the alphabetical order of the Latin names of the species. However, deep-sea sharks are placed at the beginning of that list. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following comparative table of common names and Latin names is provided:

 

Common name

Alpha-3 code

Scientific name

Black scabbardfish

BSF

Aphanopus carbo

Alfonsinos

ALF

Beryx spp.

Roundnose grenadier

RNG

Coryphaenoides rupestris

Orange roughy

ORY

Hoplostethus atlanticus

Red seabream

SBR

Pagellus bogaraveo

Greater Forkbeard

GFB

Phycis blennoides

 

2.

For the purposes of this Regulation, ‘deep-sea sharks’ means the following list of species:

 

Common name

Alpha-3 code

Scientific name

Deep-water catsharks

API

Apristurus spp.

Frilled shark

HXC

Chlamydoselachus anguineus

Gulper shark

GUP

Centrophorus granulosus

Leafscale gulper shark

GUQ

Centrophorus squamosus

Portuguese dogfish

CYO

Centroscymnus coelolepis

Longnose velvet dogfish

CYP

Centroscymnus crepidater

Black dogfish

CFB

Centroscyllium fabricii

Birdbeak dogfish

DCA

Deania calcea

Kitefin shark

SCK

Dalatias licha

Greater lanternshark

ETR

Etmopterus princeps

Velvet belly

ETX

Etmopterus spinax

Blackmouth catshark (Blackmouth dogfish)

SHO

Galeus melastomus

Mouse catshark

GAM

Galeus murinus

Bluntnose six-gill shark

SBL

Hexanchus griseus

Sailfin roughshark (Sharpback shark)

OXN

Oxynotus paradoxus

Knifetooth dogfish

SYR

Scymnodon ringens

Greenland shark

GSK

Somniosus microcephalus

PART 2

Annual fishing opportunities applicable for EU vessels in areas where TACs exist by species and by area (in tonnes live weight)

 

Species

:

Deep-sea sharks

Zone

:

EU and international waters of V, VI, VII, VIII and IX (DWS/56789-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Germany

0

0

Estonia

0

0

Ireland

0

0

Spain

0

0

France

0

0

Lithuania

0

0

Poland

0

0

Portugal

0

0

United Kingdom

0

0

Union

0

0

TAC

0

0

 

Species

:

Deep-sea sharks

Zone

:

EU and international waters of X (DWS/10-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Portugal

0

0

Union

0

0

TAC

0

0

 

Species

:

Deep-sea sharks, Deania hystricosa and Deania profundorum

Zone

:

International waters of XII (DWS/12INT-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland

0

0

Spain

0

0

France

0

0

United Kingdom

0

0

Union

0

0

TAC

0

0

 

Species

:

Black scabbardfish

Aphanopus carbo

Zone

:

EU and international waters of I, II, III and IV (BSF/1234-)

Year

2013

2014

Precautionary TAC

Germany

3

3

France

3

3

United Kingdom

3

3

Union

9

9

TAC

9

9

 

Species

:

Black scabbardfish

Aphanopus carbo

Zone

:

EU and international waters of V, VI, VII and XII (BSF/56712-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Germany

35

46

Estonia

17

22

Ireland

87

113

Spain

174

226

France

2 440

3 172

Latvia

113

147

Lithuania

1

1

Poland

1

1

United Kingdom

174

226

Others (1)

9

12

Union

3 051

3 966

TAC

3 051

3 966

 

Species

:

Black scabbardfish

Aphanopus carbo

Zone

:

EU and international waters of VIII, IX and X (BSF/8910-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Spain

12

12

France

29

29

Portugal

3 659

3 659

Union

3 700

3 700

TAC

3 700

3 700

 

Species

:

Black scabbardfish

Aphanopus carbo

Zone

:

EU and international waters of CECAF 34.1.2. (BSF/C3412-)

Year

2013

2014

Precautionary TAC

Portugal

3 674

3 490

Union

3 674

3 490

TAC

3 674

3 490

 

Species

:

Alfonsinos

Beryx spp.

Zone

:

EU and international waters of III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (ALF/3X14-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Ireland

10

9

Spain

70

67

France

19

18

Portugal

203

193

United Kingdom

10

9

Union

312

296

TAC

312

296

 

Species

:

Roundnose grenadier

Coryphaenoides rupestris

Zone

:

EU and international waters of I, II and IV (RNG/124-)

Year

2013

2014

Precautionary TAC

Denmark

1

1

Germany

1

1

France

10

10

United Kingdom

1

1

Union

13

13

TAC

13

13

 

Species

:

Roundnose grenadier

Coryphaenoides rupestris

Zone

:

EU and international waters of III (RNG/03-) (2)

Year

2013

2014

Precautionary TAC

Denmark

643

515

Germany

4

3

Sweden

33

26

Union

680

544

TAC

680

544

 

Species

:

Roundnose grenadier

Coryphaenoides rupestris

Zone

:

EU and international waters of Vb, VI, VII (RNG/5B67-)

Year

2013 (3)

2014 (3)

Analytical TAC

Germany

8

8

Estonia

63

63

Ireland

279

279

Spain

70

70

France

3 539

3 539

Lithuania

81

81

Poland

41

41

United Kingdom

208

208

Others (4)

8

8

Union

4 297

4 297

TAC

4 297

4 297

 

Species

:

Roundnose grenadier

Coryphaenoides rupestris

Zone

:

EU and international waters of VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (RNG/8X14-)

Year

2013 (5)

2014 (5)

Analytical TAC

Germany

23

21

Ireland

5

4

Spain

2 573

2 317

France

119

107

Latvia

41

37

Lithuania

5

4

Poland

805

724

United Kingdom

10

9

Union

3 581

3 223

TAC

3 581

3 223

 

Species

:

Orange roughy

Hoplostethus atlanticus

Zone

:

EU and international waters of VI (ORY/06-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland

0

0

Spain

0

0

France

0

0

United Kingdom

0

0

Union

0

0

TAC

0

0

 

Species

:

Orange roughy

Hoplostethus atlanticus

Zone

:

EU and international waters of VII (ORY/07-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland

0

0

Spain

0

0

France

0

0

United Kingdom

0

0

Others

0

0

Union

0

0

TAC

0

0

 

Species

:

Orange roughy

Hoplostethus atlanticus

Zone

:

EU and international waters of I, II, III, IV, V, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (ORY/1CX14)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland

0

0

Spain

0

0

France

0

0

Portugal

0

0

United Kingdom

0

0

Union

0

0

TAC

0

0

 

Species

:

Red seabream

Pagellus bogaraveo

Zone

:

EU and international waters of VI, VII and VIII (SBR/678-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Ireland

6

5

Spain

156

143

France

8

7

United Kingdom

20

18

Others (6)

6

5

Union

196

178

TAC

196

178

 

Species

:

Red seabream

Pagellus bogaraveo

Zone

:

EU and international waters of IX (SBR/09-)

Year

2013 (7)

2014 (7)

Analytical TAC

Spain

614

614

Portugal

166

166

Union

780

780

TAC

780

780

 

Species

:

Red seabream

Pagellus bogaraveo

Zone

:

EU and international waters of X (SBR/10-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Spain

9

8

Portugal

1 004

904

United Kingdom

9

8

Union

1 022

920

TAC

1 022

920

 

Species

:

Greater Forkbeard

Phycis blennoides

Zone

:

EU and international waters of I, II, III and IV (GFB/1234-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

Germany

9

9

France

9

9

United Kingdom

13

13

Union

31

31

TAC

31

31

 

Species

:

Greater Forkbeard

Phycis blennoides

Zone

:

EU and international waters of V, VI and VII (GFB/567-)

Year

2013 (8)

2014 (8)

Analytical TAC

Germany

10

10

Ireland

260

260

Spain

588

588

France

356

356

United Kingdom

814

814

Union

2 028

2 028

TAC

2 028

2 028

 

Species

:

Greater Forkbeard

Phycis blennoides

Zone

:

EU and international waters of VIII and IX (GFB/89-)

Year

2013 (9)

2014 (9)

Analytical TAC

Spain

242

242

France

15

15

Portugal

10

10

Union

267

267

TAC

267

267

 

Species

:

Greater Forkbeard

Phycis blennoides

Zone

:

EU and international waters of X and XII (GFB/1012-)

Year

2013

2014

Analytical TAC

France

9

9

Portugal

36

36

United Kingdom

9

9

Union

54

54

TAC

54

54

 

  • (1) 
    Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
  • (2) 
    No directed fishery for roundnose grenadier shall be conducted in ICES zone IIIa pending consultations between the European Union and Norway.
  • (3) 
    A maximum of 10 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (RNG/*8X14-).
  • (4) 
    Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
  • (5) 
    A maximum of 10 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of Vb, VI, VII (RNG/*5B67-).
  • (6) 
    Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
  • (7) 
    A maximum of 8 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of VI, VII and VIII (SBR/*678-).
  • (8) 
    A maximum of 8 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of VIII and IX (GFB/*89-).
  • (9) 
    A maximum of 8 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of V, VI, VII (GFB/*567-).
 

This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.