Fishing authorisations for EU and non-EU vessels

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 on authorisations for fishing activities of EU fishing vessels outside EU waters and the access of non-EU vessels to EU waters

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

• It introduces a general EU system for the authorisation of all fishing activities of EU fishing vessels outside EU waters, and ensures that the rules for access of non-EU vessels in EU waters is consistent with the rules applicable to EU fishing vessels.
• The purpose of the regulation is to meet the international obligations derived from bilateral and multilateral fisheries agreements adopted in the framework of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs).
• It also reinforces the objectives of the common fisheries policy (CFP) with regard to sustainable fisheries, control and EU rules on tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

KEY POINTS

EU fishing vessels outside EU waters

Procedure

• Applications must be sent to the European Commission electronically by the competent authorities of the EU country in which the fishing vessel is registered.
• They must be sent no later than 5 working days before the deadline stated in the agreement concerned or in accordance with the rule provided for in the agreement with the non-EU country.
• The Commission checks that the applications for authorisations are eligible, and ensures that such applications are transmitted to the non-EU country concerned.
• The Commission informs the relevant EU country authorities whether the non-EU country concerned has decided to grant the fishing authorisation for a particular vessel. The EU country then informs the owner of the fishing vessel.

Suspension or withdrawal of a fishing authorisation

• If a non-EU country decides to suspend or withdraw a fishing authorisation for a vessel flying the flag of an EU country, the Commission must immediately inform the EU country.
• The EU country must then either temporarily suspend or permanently withdraw the fishing authorisation granted.

EU fishing authorisation information system

• A secure electronic EU information system contains the information related to the authorisations issued.
• EU countries must ensure that the information contained is up to date at all times.

Non-EU country fishing vessels in EU waters

Procedure

• Applications must be sent to the Commission electronically by the competent authorities of the non-EU country in which the fishing vessel is registered.
• The Commission checks that applications for authorisations are eligible. It then assesses the fishing opportunities allocated to the non-EU country and issues a permit on the basis of measures adopted by the Council and the rules contained in the agreement concerned.
• The Commission informs the competent authorities of the non-EU country and those of the countries of the fishing authorisation issued.

Failure to comply with the rules

• If an EU country records an infringement in relation to a non-EU country fishing vessel in EU waters under the agreement concerned, it must immediately inform the Commission. In this case, no further fishing authorisation will be issued to fishing vessels from that non-EU country for a maximum period of 12 months.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 18 November 2008.

MAIN DOCUMENT

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, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93 and (EC) No 1627/94 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 3317/94 (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, pp. 33-44)

last update 05.10.2016