(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)

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) requires that conservation measures be adopted taking into account available scientific, technical and economic advice, including, where relevant, reports drawn up by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).

(3)

It is incumbent upon the Council to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities by fishery or group of fisheries in the Black Sea, including, where appropriate, certain conditions functionally linked thereto. In accordance with Article 16(1) and (4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, fishing opportunities are to be allocated to Member States in such a way as to ensure the relative stability of the fishing activities of each Member State for each fish stock or fishery, and in accordance with the objectives of the common fisheries policy established in Article 2(2) of that Regulation.

(4)

At its 41st Annual Meeting in 2017, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean adopted recommendation GFCM/41/2017/4 on a multiannual management plan for turbot fisheries in geographical sub-area 29 (Black Sea). The recommendation establishes a total allowable catch (TAC) for turbot for two years (2018-2019) with a temporary allocation of quotas. That measure should be implemented in Union law.

(5)

The fishing opportunities should be established on the basis of the 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.

(6)

In accordance with the scientific advice provided by STECF, it is necessary to maintain the current level of fishing mortality to ensure the sustainability of the sprat stock in the Black Sea.

(7)

The use of fishing opportunities set out in this Regulation is subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 (2) and, in particular, to Articles 33 and 34 thereof concerning the recording of catches and the notification of data on the exhaustion of fishing opportunities. It is therefore necessary to specify the codes to be used by Member States when sending data to the Commission relating to landings of stocks subject to this Regulation.

(8)

In accordance with Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 (3), the stocks that are subject to the various measures referred to therein must be identified.

(9)

As regards the turbot stock, further conservation measures should be taken. Maintaining the currently applicable two months closure period, from 15 April to 15 June, would continue to provide protection for the stock during the spawning season of turbot. Managing the fishing effort and limiting the fishing days to 180 per year would have a positive conservation impact on the turbot stock.

(10)

In order to avoid interruption of fishing activities and to ensure the livelihood of Union fishermen, it is important to open the fisheries concerned in the Black Sea on 1 January 2019. For reasons of urgency, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication.

(11)

Fishing opportunities should be used in full compliance with applicable Union law,