This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 21980A1118(01)
Future international cooperation in north-east Atlantic fisheries
Future international cooperation in north-east Atlantic fisheries
SUMMARY OF:
Convention on cooperation in north-east Atlantic fisheries
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
It aims to promote international cooperation on the conservation, control and good management of the fisheries in the north-east Atlantic area.
It enacts the Convention on Multilateral Cooperation in North-East Atlantic Fisheries which sets out rules for cooperation on the conservation and management of fisheries.
In particular, the regulation implements the NEAFC Scheme of Control and Enforcement, which provides for
KEY POINTS
The scheme creates a new port state control system which will effectively close European ports to landings and transhipments* of frozen fish which have not been verified to be legal.
EU countries must:
Vessel masters must:
Masters of vessels which process and/or freeze their catch must record the species and type of product and stow fish products in the hold in a way that allows each species to be identified from a stowage plan kept on board. When frozen, all fish must be identified with a clearly legible label or stamp.
When more than 10 EU fishing vessels are engaged in fishing activities* carried out in the regulatory area, an inspection vessel will be present.
Each EU country must inspect at least 5% of landings or transhipments of fresh fish and at least 7.5% of frozen fish in its ports during each reporting year.
When inspectors find that a fishing vessel has engaged in activity contrary to NEAFC conservation and management measures, they shall record and report the infringement.
Serious infringements include:
EU countries’ inspectors must also report any unauthorised vessels they record to the Commission.
FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?
It has applied since 1 January 2011.
BACKGROUND
The north-east Atlantic is one of the most abundant fishing areas in the world. The Convention on Multilateral Cooperation in North East Atlantic Fisheries entered into force in November 1982. The contracting parties to the Convention are the EU, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation, and the area covered stretches from the southern tip of Greenland, east to the Barents Sea and south to Portugal.
In 2006, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) adopted a recommendation establishing a scheme of control and enforcement on fishing vessels operating in the area covered by the Convention.
It also included rules for vessels flying the flag of a non-contracting party to ensure full respect of conservation and management measures adopted by the NEAFC.
The NEAFC has recommended removing a number of vessels that have been engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries.
Similar rules are in force in EU waters under the common fisheries policy.
KEY TERMS
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Regulation (EU) No 1236/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2010 laying down a scheme of control and enforcement applicable in the area covered by the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic fisheries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 2791/1999 (OJ L 348, 31.12.2010, pp. 17-33)
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1236/2010 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Convention on future multilateral cooperation in North- East Atlantic fisheries (OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, pp. 22-35)
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Council Regulation (EU) No 2018/120 of 23 January 2018 fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/127 (OJ L 27, 31.1.2018, pp. 1-168)
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on External Dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy (COM(2011) 424 final, 13.7.2011)
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 Decision 81/608/EEC of 13 July 1981 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries (OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, p. 21)
last update 13.03.2018