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Summaries of EU Legislation

    Conservation and management measures for the conservation of southern bluefin tuna

     

    SUMMARY OF:

    Regulation (EU) 2023/675 laying down conservation and management measures for the conservation of southern bluefin tuna

    WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

    • The regulation sets out rules for European Union (EU) fishing vessels designed to conserve and manage stocks of southern bluefin tuna (SBF).
    • It implements applicable resolutions put forward by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) not already covered by existing EU legislation (e.g. through Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 on a system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy or Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing).

    KEY POINTS

    Scope

    The regulation applies to:

    • EU fishing vessels fishing in the areas where SBF are found in the southern hemisphere; and
    • importing, exporting or re-exporting by EU Member States.

    The regulation bans EU vessels from targeting or catching SBF, except for by-catches (caught while fishing for a different species).

    Documentation

    Member States must:

    • submit the list of EU fishing vessels it authorises to have SBF by-catch to the European Commission, who will forward it to the CCSBT Secretariat to add to its Record of Vessels;
    • implement the CCSBT catch documentation scheme (CDS):
      • each individual SBF caught as by-catch must be tagged with an official CDS catch tagging form recording its length and weight before the fish is frozen,
      • imports, exports and re-exports must be accompanied by CDS documents and tags;
    • verify information contained in the CDS documents, including examining the content of consignments if necessary;
    • submit completed catch tagging forms quarterly to the Commission, to be forwarded to the CCSBT Secretariat;
    • report to the Commission details of action taken to ensure compliance;
    • ensure that their competent authorities identify each consignment of SBF imported into or exported or re-exported from the EU, and notify the Commission of doubts about the information contained in the CDS documents;
    • keep copies of CDS documents for at least 3 years.

    Review and investigation

    When the Commission receives a report from the secretariat requiring review by a Member State, it will forward it so that the Member State may investigate any irregularities.

    Transhipment and other provisions

    Member States must:

    • designate ports for transhipment of SBF for vessels flying their flag and share the information necessary for effective monitoring;
    • cooperate in providing fishing vessel data for the investigation of incidents;
    • cooperate to include EU fishing vessels on the CCSBT illegal unreported and unregulated vessels list;
    • report cases of non-compliance;
    • report port inspection infringements;
    • provide monthly by-catch reports and annual compliance reporting.

    The Commission may adopt delegated acts amending certain aspects of the regulation until 13 April 2028.

    FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

    It has applied since 13 April 2023.

    BACKGROUND

    The EU’s common fisheries policy aims to ensure that the exploitation of living aquatic resources contributes to long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability.

    MAIN DOCUMENT

    Regulation (EU) 2023/675 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2023 laying down conservation and management measures for the conservation of southern bluefin tuna (OJ L 88, 24.3.2023, pp. 1–31).

    RELATED DOCUMENTS

    Council Decision (EU) 2015/2437 of 14 December 2015 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) concerning the membership of the Union in the Extended Commission of the Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (OJ L 336, 23.12.2015, pp. 27–28).

    Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, pp. 22–61).

    Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L 112, 30.4.2011, pp. 1–153).

    See consolidated version.

    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, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, pp. 1–50).

    See consolidated version.

    Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999 (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, pp. 1–32).

    See consolidated version.

    Council Decision 98/414/EC of 8 June 1998 on the ratification by the European Community of the Agreement for the implementing 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 stocks and highly migratory fish stocks (OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, pp. 14–15).

    Council Decision 98/392/EC of 23 March 1998 concerning the conclusion by the European Community of the United Nations Convention of 10 December 1982 on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement of 28 July 1994 relating to the implementation of Part XI thereof (OJ L 179, 23.6.1998, pp. 1–2).

    last update 14.12.2023

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