Regulation 2008/199 - Establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 60/1

Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (3) provides for regular assessments by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (hereinafter referred to as the STECF) of the management of living aquatic resources, including biological, economic, environmental, social and technical considerations.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the Agreement relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks both emphasise the need to develop research and data collection with a view to improving scientific knowledge of the sector.

In line with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (hereinafter referred to as the CFP) on the conservation, management and exploitation of living aquatic resources in non-Community waters, the Community must take part in the efforts undertaken to conserve fisheries resources, notably in accordance with the provisions adopted in Fisheries Partnership Agreements or by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

On 23 January 2003, the Council adopted conclusions concerning the Commission’s Communication to the Council and the European Parliament setting out a ‘Community Action Plan to integrate environmental protection requirements into the CFP’ with guiding principles, management measures and a work programme, to move towards an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.

On 13 October 2003, the Council adopted conclusions concerning the Commission’s Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on the improvement of scientific and technical advice for Community fisheries management, describing the Community’s needs for scientific advice, setting out the mechanisms for providing advice, identifying the areas where system needs to be strengthened and suggesting possible solutions over the short to medium and long term.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1543/2000 of 29 June 2000 establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy (4) needs to be reviewed in order to take due consideration of a fleet-based approach towards fisheries management, the need to develop an ecosystem approach, the need for improved quality, completeness and broader access to fisheries data, more efficient support for provision of scientific advice and the promotion of cooperation among Member States.

The current regulations in the area of fisheries data collection and management include provisions on the collection and management of data relating to fishing vessels, their activities and catches and on price monitoring, which should be taken into account in this Regulation in order to streamline collection and use of these data throughout the CFP and to avoid any duplication of collection of data. Those current regulations are as follows: Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a...