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Document 32012R0692
Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2012 of 24 July 2012 amending Regulations (EU) No 43/2012 and (EU) No 44/2012 as regards the protection of the giant manta ray and certain fishing opportunities
Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2012 of 24 July 2012 amending Regulations (EU) No 43/2012 and (EU) No 44/2012 as regards the protection of the giant manta ray and certain fishing opportunities
Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2012 of 24 July 2012 amending Regulations (EU) No 43/2012 and (EU) No 44/2012 as regards the protection of the giant manta ray and certain fishing opportunities
OJ L 203, 31.7.2012, p. 1–22
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
In force: This act has been changed. Current consolidated version: 01/01/2012
Relation | Act | Comment | Subdivision concerned | From | To |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Modifies | 32012R0043 | Addition | article 13 BI | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0043 | Amendment | annex I P. A | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0043 | Addition | article 12.1 point G) | 23/02/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Amendment | annex VI | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Amendment | annex I.B | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Amendment | annex I | 23/02/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Addition | article 13.1 point G) | 23/02/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Amendment | annex I .J | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Amendment | annex I.C | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | abolition | article 1.3 | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | abolition | article 1.4 | 01/01/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | abolition | article 32 | 31/03/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Addition | article 37 .1 point G) | 23/02/2012 | |
Modifies | 32012R0044 | Amendment | annex I.A | 01/01/2012 |
Relation | Act | Comment | Subdivision concerned | From | To |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corrected by | 32012R0692R(01) | (BG, CS, DA, DE, EL, EN, ES, ET, FI, FR, HU, IT, LT, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, SV) |
31.7.2012 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 203/1 |
COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 692/2012
of 24 July 2012
amending Regulations (EU) No 43/2012 and (EU) No 44/2012 as regards the protection of the giant manta ray and certain fishing opportunities
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) |
By Regulations (EU) No 43/2012 (1) and (EU) No 44/2012 (2), the Council fixed for 2012 fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in EU waters and, for EU vessels, in certain non-EU waters. |
(2) |
At the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) of the Convention of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, held in Bergen from 20 to 25 November 2011, the giant manta ray (Manta birostris) was added to the lists of protected species in Appendices I and II of the Convention. Therefore, it is appropriate to provide for the protection of giant manta rays with respect to EU vessels fishing in all waters and non-Union vessels fishing in EU waters. |
(3) |
The possibility of carrying out trials of fully documented catch quotas for various stocks in the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) Area VII has been submitted to the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) in order to determine the impact of catch quotas on mortality, discards and selective fishing practices in mixed fisheries. The trials would be conducted on the stocks of plaice, anglerfish, megrim and hake, for which an additional 1 % quota would be available, and on the stock of haddock, for which an additional 5 % quota would be available. In its response to the Commission’s request, STECF expresses support for these trials and sees them as an important step in developing the catch quota management approach. STECF also notes that such trials result in a very low risk of increasing overall fishing mortality on the stocks concerned. Accordingly, it is appropriate to modify the relevant TAC entries so as to make these additional quotas available to Member States engaging in the assessed trials. |
(4) |
At its 8th Annual Meeting that took place from 26 to 30 March in Guam (USA), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) repealed, with immediate effect, its provisions on closed areas for purse-seine fisheries of bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna in certain high seas areas. These closed areas were implemented in Union law by Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 44/2012, which should therefore be repealed. |
(5) |
The United Kingdom provided information on cod catches by a group of vessels fishing with bottom trawls in the Irish Sea and targeting Queen Scallops. On the basis of that information, as assessed by STECF, it can be established that the cod catches, including discards, of vessels involved in that activity do not exceed 1,5 % of the total catches of that group of vessels. Having moreover regard to the measures in place ensuring the monitoring and control of the fishing activities of the group of vessels involved in that activity and considering that the inclusion of that group would constitute an administrative burden disproportionate to its overall impact on cod stocks, it is appropriate to exclude the group of vessels fishing with bottom trawls in the Irish Sea and targeting Queen Scallops from the application of the effort regime laid down in Chapter III of Council Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 of 18 December 2008 establishing a long-term plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those stocks (3). |
(6) |
The TAC for cod in the Kattegat should be equal to the Union quota. The relevant figure in Regulation (EU) No 43/2012 should be corrected accordingly. |
(7) |
Additional fishing opportunities have become available for the Union in 2012 as a result of quota transfers between the Union and other Contracting Parties to the North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO). Consequently, for the year 2012, Annex IC to Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 should be amended so as to reflect those new fishing opportunities. These modifications concern the year 2012 and are without prejudice to the principle of relative stability. |
(8) |
Annex IIC to Regulation (EU) No 43/2012 fixes fishing effort limits in the context of the management of Western Channel sole stocks in ICES division VIIe. At the United Kingdom’s request, the Commission sought advice from STECF on whether Annex IIC could be amended so as to establish a rolling reference period for the exemption of static gears in point 1.2 of that Annex, rather than the current fixed reference year. In its response, STECF considers that a more recent year or a rolling reference period based on several recent years, would be preferable and deems that the effects of this change on the amount of effort deployed in the fishery should be negligible. |
(9) |
The sum of quotas allocated to Member States in the TAC of white hake in NAFO 3NO result in a Union quota which is one tonne higher than that established by fishing opportunities set in the context of the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO). The relevant quota allocation in Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 should be amended accordingly. |
(10) |
Consultations on fishing opportunities between the Union, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have failed to result in an agreement for 2012. Consequently, the fishing opportunities reserved for those consultations can now be allocated to Member States. Furthermore, the Coastal States consultations on the management of North East Atlantic mackerel ended inconclusively in Reykjavik on 17 February 2012. Subsequently, in accordance with bilateral arrangements between them the Union and Norway have agreed to fix their respective mackerel fishing opportunities for 2012. Therefore, Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 and the relevant TACs in Annexes IA and IB thereto should be amended in order to distribute the non-allocated quotas and to reflect the traditional allocation of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic. |
(11) |
Advice from the ICES and the STECF demands a significant reduction of the sandeel TAC in EU waters of ICES divisions IIa and IIIa and ICES subarea IV. Further to that advice, a reduction of the sandeel transfer to Norway was agreed between Norway and the Union during consultations concluded on 9 March 2012. Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 should be amended accordingly. |
(12) |
During the Third International Meeting, held in May 2007, for the creation of a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) in the high seas of the South Pacific (SPRFMO), the participants adopted interim measures, including fishing opportunities, in order to regulate pelagic fishing activities as well as bottom fisheries in that area until the establishment of such RFMO. Those interim measures were revised at the 2nd Preparatory Conference for the SPRFMO Commission held in January 2011 and have been revised again at the 3rd Preparatory Conference for the SPRFMO Commission held from 30 January to 3 February 2012. Those interim measures are voluntary and not legally binding under international law. It is however appropriate, in accordance with the cooperation and conservation obligations enshrined in the International Law of the Sea, to implement those measures in the law of the Union by establishing an overall quota for the Union and an allocation among the Member States concerned. |
(13) |
Regulations (EU) No 43/2012 and (EU) No 44/2012 apply, in general, from 1 January 2012. This Regulation should therefore also apply from 1 January 2012. Such retroactive application will be without prejudice to the principles of legal certainty and protection of legitimate expectations as the fishing opportunities concerned have not yet been exhausted. However, the new provisions on giant manta ray should only be effective from the date of entry into force of the modification to the relevant Appendices of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals, in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article XI thereof. Similarly, the repeal of Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 should apply as of 31 March 2012, in compliance with the date specified by WCPFC for its entry into force. Since the modification of some catch limits have an influence on the economic activities and the planning of the fishing season of EU vessels, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication. |
(14) |
When Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 was adopted, the maximum number of EU vessels authorised to fish for swordfish and albacore in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Convention Area did not include 15 fishing vessels flying the flag of France and registered in La Réunion. The Union TAC in that Annex should be amended accordingly, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 43/2012
Regulation (EU) No 43/2012 is amended as follows:
(1) |
in Article 12(1) the following point is added:
|
(2) |
after Article 13 a new article is inserted as follows: ‘Article 13a Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 In Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 754/2009, the following point is added:
|
(3) |
Annex I is amended in accordance with the text in Annex I to this Regulation. |
Article 2
Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 44/2012
Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 is amended as follows:
(1) |
in Article 1, paragraphs 3 and 4 are deleted; |
(2) |
in Article 13(1), the following point is added:
|
(3) |
Article 32 is deleted; |
(4) |
in Article 37(1), the following point is added:
|
(5) |
Annexes I, IA, IB, IC, IJ and VI are amended in accordance with the text in Annex II to this Regulation. |
Article 3
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation applies from 1 January 2012.
However, Article 1(1), Article 2(2) and (4), Annex I point (1) and Annex II point (1) shall apply from 23 February 2012, and Article 2(3) shall apply from 31 March 2012.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 24 July 2012.
For the Council
The President
A. D. MAVROYIANNIS
ANNEX I
PART A
Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 43/2012 is amended as follows:
1. |
Part A is amended as follows:
|
2. |
In Part B,
|
PART B
1. |
In Appendix 1 of Annex IIA to Regulation (EU) No 43/2012, table (c), the column concerning the United Kingdom (UK) is replaced by the following: ‘UK 339 592 1 086 399 0 0 111 693 5 970 158 70 614 ’. |
2. |
In Annex IIC to Regulation (EU) No 43/2012, point 1.2 is replaced by the following:
|
(1) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted.’;
(2) In addition to this quota, a Member State may grant to vessels participating in trials on fully documented fisheries additional allocation within an overall limit of an additional 1 % of the quota allocated to that Member State, under the conditions set out in Article 7 of this Regulation.’;
(3) Special condition: of which up to 5 % may be fished in VIIIa, VIIIb, VIIId and VIIIe (ANF/*8ABDE).
(4) In addition to this quota, a Member State may grant to vessels participating in trials on fully documented fisheries additional allocation within an overall limit of an additional 1 % of the quota allocated to that Member State, under the conditions set out in Article 7 of this Regulation.’;
(5) In addition to this quota, a Member State may grant to vessels participating in trials on fully documented fisheries additional allocation within an overall limit of an additional 5 % of the quota allocated to that Member State, under the conditions set out in Article 7 of this Regulation.’;
(6) Transfers of this quota may be effected to EU waters of IIa and IV. However, such transfers must be notified in advance to the Commission.
(7) Within an overall TAC of 55 105 tonnes for the northern stock of hake.
(8) In addition to this quota, a Member State may grant to vessels participating in trials on fully documented fisheries additional allocation within an overall limit of an additional 1 % of the quota allocated to that Member State, under the conditions set out in Article 7 of this Regulation.
(9) In addition to this quota, a Member State may grant to vessels participating in trials on fully documented fisheries additional allocation within an overall limit of an additional 1 % of the quota allocated to that Member State, under the conditions set out in Article 7 of this Regulation.’.
ANNEX II
Annexes I, IA, IB, IC, IJ and VI to Regulation (EU) No 44/2012 are amended as follows:
1. |
Annex I is amended as follows:
|
2. |
Annex IA is amended as follows:
|
3. |
Annex IB is amended as follows:
|
4. |
Annex IC is amended as follows:
|
5. |
Annex IJ is replaced by the following: ‘ANNEX IJ SPRFMO CONVENTION AREA
|
6. |
In Annex VI, point 2 is replaced by the following:
|
(1) Excluding waters within six nautical miles of UK baselines at Shetland, Fair Isle and Foula.
(2) At least 98 % of landings counted against the TAC must be of sandeel. By-catches of dab, mackerel and whiting to be counted against the remaining 2 % of the TAC.
(3) May be revised in accordance with Article 5(4) of this Regulation.’;
(4) Reference is to the herring stock in VIa, north of 56° 00′ N and in that part of VIa which is situated east of 07° 00′ W and north of 55° 00′ N, excluding the Clyde.’;
(5) Special condition: of which up to 68 % may be fished in Norwegian Economic Zone or in the fishery zone around Jan Mayen (WHB/*NZJM1).
(6) Transfers of this quota may be effected to VIIIc, IX and X; EU waters of CECAF 34.1.1. However, such transfers must be notified in advance to the Commission.’;
(7) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
(8) To be fished in EU waters of IIa, IV, Vb, VI and VII (BLI/*24X7C).
(9) Special rules apply in accordance with Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 (10) and point 7 of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 (11).
(10) OJ L 347, 24.12.2009, p. 6.
(11) OJ L 22, 26.1.2009, p. 1.’;
(12) Special condition: of which an incidental catch of other species of 25 % per ship, at any moment, is authorised in Vb, VI and VII. However, this percentage may be exceeded in the first 24 hours following the beginning of the fishing on a specific ground. The total incidental catch of other species in VI and VII shall not exceed 3 000 tonnes.
(13) Including tusk. The quotas for Norway are: ling 6 140 tonnes and tusk 2 923 tonnes and are interchangeable of up to 2 000 tonnes and may only be fished with long-lines in Vb, VI and VII.’;
(14) Special condition: including 242 tonnes to be taken in Norwegian waters south of 62° N (MAC/*04N-).
(15) When fishing in Norwegian waters, by-catches of cod (COD/*2134.), haddock (HAD/*2134.), pollack (POL/*2134.) and whiting (WHG/*2134.) and saithe (POK/*2134.) are to be counted against the quotas for these species.
(16) May also be taken in Norwegian waters of IVa (MAC/*4AN.).
(17) To be deducted from Norway’s share of the TAC (access quota). This amount includes the Norwegian share in the North Sea TAC of the amount of 46 685 tonnes. This quota may be fished in IVa only (MAC/*04A.), except for 3 000 tonnes that may be fished in IIIa (MAC/*03A.).
(18) May be fished in IIa, VIa north of 56° 30′ N, IVa, VIId, VIIe, VIIf and VIIh (MAC/*AX7H).
(19) An additional 33 437 tonnes of access quota may be fished by Norway North of 56° 30′ N and counted against its catch limit (MAC/*N6530).
(20) Special condition: quantities subject to exchanges with other Member States may be taken in VIIIa, VIIIb and VIIId (MAC/*8ABD.). However, the quantities provided by Spain, Portugal or France for exchange purposes and to be taken in VIIIa, VIIIb and VIIId shall not exceed 25 % of the quotas of the donor Member State.
(21) Catches taken in IIa (MAC/*02A.) and IVa (MAC/*4A.) to be reported separately.’;
(22) Including sandeel.
(23) May only be fished in EU waters of IV (SPR/*04-C.).
(24) May be revised in accordance with Article 5(4) of this Regulation.
(25) At least 98 % of landings counted against the TAC must be of sprat. By-catches of dab and whiting to be counted against the remaining 2 % of the TAC (OTH/*2AC4C).’;
(26) Special condition: up to 5 % of this quota fished in EU waters of IIa or IVa before 30 June 2012 may be accounted for as fished under the quota concerning the zone of EU waters of IVb, IVc and VIId. However, the use of this special condition must be notified in advance to the Commission (JAX/*4BC7D).
(27) Special condition: up to 5 % of this quota may be fished in VIId. However, the use of this special condition must be notified in advance to the Commission (JAX/*07D.).
(28) At least 95 % of landings counted against the TAC must be of horse mackerel. By-catches of boarfish, haddock, whiting and mackerel are to be counted against the remaining 5 % of the TAC (OTH/*2A-14).’.
(29) TAC set in accordance with consultations among the Union, Faroe Islands, Norway and Iceland.’;
(30) Of which 2 900 tonnes are allocated to Norway.’;
(31) Including unavoidable by-catches (cod not allowed).
(32) May only be fished between July and December 2012.’;
(33) Excluding fish species of no commercial value.’;
(34) Out of this quota, a quantity of 133 tons is deducted following a transfer of fishing opportunity to a third country.
(35) To this quota, an additional quantity of 131,5 tons is added following transfers of fishing opportunities with third countries.
(36) Out of this quota, a quantity of 1,5 tons is deducted following transfers of fishing opportunities with third countries.’;
(37) Not including the box bounded by the following coordinates:
Point No |
Latitude N |
Longitude W |
1 |
47° 20′ 0 |
46° 40′ 0 |
2 |
47° 20′ 0 |
46° 30′ 0 |
3 |
46° 00′ 0 |
46° 30′ 0 |
4 |
46° 00′ 0 |
46° 40′ 0 |
(38) To this quota, an additional quantity of 266 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.
(39) To this quota, an additional quantity of 133 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.
(40) To this quota, an additional quantity of 399 tons is added following transfers of fishing opportunities from third countries.’;
(41) To this quota, an additional quantity of 10 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.
(42) To this quota, an additional quantity of 10 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.’;
(43) To this quota, an additional quantity of 454 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.
(44) To this quota, an additional quantity of 454 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.’;
(45) This quota is subject to compliance with the TAC of 6 500 tonnes established for this stock for all NAFO Contracting Parties. Upon exhaustion of the TAC, the directed fishery for this stock must be stopped irrespective of the level of catches.
(46) To this quota, an additional quantity of 675 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.
(47) To this quota, an additional quantity of 675 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.’;
(48) To this quota, an additional quantity of 150 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.
(49) To this quota, an additional quantity of 150 tons is added following a transfer of fishing opportunity from a third country.’.