Choose the experimental features you want to try

32024R1015

EUR-Lex

Access to European Union law

This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website

EUROPA
EUR-Lex home
Regulation - EU - 2024/1015 - EN - EUR-Lex

Help

Search tips

Need more search options? Use the Advanced search

Document 32024R1015

Help

Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1015 of 26 March 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2024/257 fixing for 2024, 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters

ST/7660/2024/ADD/1

OJ L, 2024/1015, 27.3.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1015/oj (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, GA, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

Legal status of the document No longer in force, Date of end of validity: 31/12/2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1015/oj

HTML

PDF - authentic OJ

e-signature

How to verify the authenticity of the Official Journal

Official Journal
of the European Union

L series

2024/1015

27.3.2024

COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2024/1015

of 26 March 2024

amending Regulation (EU) 2024/257 fixing for 2024, 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters

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)

Council Regulation (EU) 2024/257 (1) fixes for 2024, 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters. The total allowable catches (TACs) and effort limits, and the measures functionally linked to the TACs and effort limits set by Regulation (EU) 2024/257, should be amended to take into account the publication of scientific advice, as well as the outcomes of consultations with third countries, and meetings of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs).

(2)

Regulation (EU) 2024/257 established a TAC for skates and rays (Rajiformes) in Union and United Kingdom waters of International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) divisions 6a, 6b, 7a to 7c and 7e to 7k. That Regulation also established a special condition under that TAC. That special condition allows catches of small-eyed ray (Raja microocellata) to be taken in ICES division 7e (Western Channel) by the Union and the United Kingdom in 2024, to allow for a sentinel fishery for the purpose of fisheries-based data collection for that stock as assessed by ICES. To provide for legal certainty and to allow sentinel fishery ‘monitoring programmes’ to be conducted, quantities under that special condition should be allocated to Member States in accordance with the principle of relative stability and the allocation key for skates and rays in Union and United Kingdom waters of ICES divisions 6a, 6b, 7a to 7c and 7e to 7k.

(3)

In the bilateral consultations on the setting of fishing opportunities for stocks listed in Annex 35 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (2) (the ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’), the Union and the United Kingdom established, for the first time, TACs for 2024 for: (i) witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) in Union waters of ICES division 3a; (ii) lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in that area; and (iii) brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in that area. Pending an agreement between Member States on how those fishing opportunities are to be allocated, the TACs for those stocks were marked in Regulation (EU) 2024/257 ‘to be established’. The TAC and Union quota for those stocks should be fixed for the period and at the level agreed with the United Kingdom, and those Union quotas should be allocated to Member States in line with the agreement on allocation keys for those stocks reached between the Member States concerned on 18 March 2024.

(4)

On 7 and 8 March 2024, the Union and the United Kingdom conducted bilateral consultations pursuant to Article 498(2), (4) and (6) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the level of the TAC for sandeel and associated by-catches (Ammodytes spp.) in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subarea 4, United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a, and Union waters of division 3a. The outcome of those consultations was documented in a Written Record signed on 12 March 2024. The relevant TAC should therefore be set at the level agreed with the United Kingdom.

(5)

At its 12th annual meeting in 2024, the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) adopted catch limits for jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) and maintained exploratory fisheries for toothfishes (Dissostichus spp.). In addition, the SPRFMO maintained or amended functionally linked measures. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.

(6)

At its 2023 annual meeting, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) decided to maintain the purse seine effort limits and maximum numbers of these vessels fishing for tropical tunas. Provisions related to the management of the Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in the tropical tunas fishery, and in particular to the FAD closure, were amended. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.

(7)

Fishing effort limits for Union fishing vessels fishing for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Convention area and maximum input and capacity for Union farms of bluefin tuna in that area are based on information provided in the annual fishing plans, the annual fishing capacity management plans and the annual farming management plans for bluefin tuna of Member States, established in accordance with Articles 11, 13 and 15 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3). Member States are to submit those plans to the Commission by 31 January of each year, pursuant to Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2053. Those plans are then compiled by the Commission and form the basis for the establishment of a Union annual plan, which is transmitted to the ICCAT Secretariat for discussion and approval by ICCAT, as required by Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2053. In accordance with ICCAT rules revised at its 2023 annual meeting, inactive bluefin tuna farms and related farming capacities were for the first time not included in that Union annual plan for 2024. The 2024 Union annual plan was approved by ICCAT on 6 March 2024. The Union fishing effort limits and Union maximum farming input and capacity for 2024 should therefore be amended in line with that annual plan.

(8)

The Union quotas for stocks in the ICCAT Convention area for 2024 were adjusted during the ICCAT annual meeting in November 2023 in accordance with several ICCAT recommendations under which the Union may, upon request, carry over a set percentage of its unused quota of fishing opportunities from 2022 to 2024. Therefore, and in order to allow, before the start of the fishing seasons for the stocks concerned, the use of those quantities carried over: (i) the Union quotas for northern albacore (Thunnus alalunga) (ALB/AN05N), for southern albacore (ALB/AS05N), for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic Ocean (BET/ATLANT), as well as for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the Atlantic Ocean, north of 5° N (SWO/AN05N), and for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, south of 5° N (SWO/AS05N) should be amended to reflect such adjustments to the Union quota; and (ii) the Member States quotas under those Union quotas should be amended accordingly, taking into account the principle of relative stability.

(9)

At its 14th meeting held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 12 to 17 February 2024, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) added sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) to the protected species listed in Appendices I and II to that Convention. Those measures should therefore be implemented in Union law by prohibiting: (i) Union fishing vessels in all waters; and (ii) third country fishing vessels in Union waters, to fish for, retain on board, tranship or land that species. However, Article 98(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) already established such a prohibition for sand tiger shark in the Mediterranean. To avoid overlapping provisions on the same subject matter, as regards the Mediterranean, such a prohibition should therefore now only be established for Union fishing vessels in all waters other than the Mediterranean, and for third country fishing vessels in Union waters.

(10)	Both Article 41(3) and Article 43 of Regulation (EU) 2024/257 refer to the same maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in areas of the WCPFC Convention area. Article 41(3) should therefore be deleted for reasons of legal clarity.

(11)	Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2024/257 on entry into force and application should be corrected regarding measures on European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in Union marine and brackish waters of ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and adjacent Union brackish waters.

(12)

Certain errors in the TAC tables in the Annexes to Regulation (EU) 2024/257 should be corrected. Those include errors concerning: (i) TACs, Union and Member States quotas; (ii) the type of TAC (i.e. ‘analytical TAC’ or ‘precautionary TAC’); (iii) the application of year-to-year flexibility for Member States’ quotas pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 (5); (iv) area descriptions; and (v) reporting codes. In addition, in those Annexes, certain provisions should be clarified in: (i) the TAC tables for undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 8 and 9 respectively; and (ii) the TAC tables for mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

(13)	Regulation (EU) 2024/257 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(14)

The fishing opportunities provided for in Regulation (EU) 2024/257 apply from 1 January 2024. The provisions introduced by this Regulation concerning fishing opportunities should therefore also apply from that date. Such retroactive application does not affect the principles of legal certainty and protection of legitimate expectations, as the fishing opportunities concerned are increased or have not yet been exhausted.

(15)

The provisions of this Regulation concerning sand tiger shark should apply from 1 April 2024, which is: (i) after the 14th meeting of the COP to the CMS, which took place from 12 to 17 February 2024; and (ii) before the entry into force of the amendment to the Appendices I and II of the CMS on 17 May 2024.

(16)	Given the urgency of avoiding interruptions to fishing activities, this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Amendment of Regulation (EU) 2024/257

Regulation (EU) 2024/257 is amended as follows:

(1)

in Article 20(1), the following point is inserted:

‘(ba)

sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) in all waters other than the Mediterranean;’;

(2)	in Article 41, paragraph 3 is deleted;

(3)

Article 42 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 42

Management of fishing with FADs

1. In the part of the WCPFC Convention area located between 20° N and 20° S, purse seine vessels, tender vessels, and any other vessels operating in support of purse seine vessels, shall not deploy, service or set nets on FADs between 00.00 hours on 1 July 2024 and 24.00 hours on 15 August 2024.

2. In addition to the prohibition in paragraph 1, it shall be prohibited to set nets on FADs on the high seas of the WCPFC Convention area located between 20° N and 20° S for one additional month, from 00.00 hours on 1 April 2024 to 24.00 hours on 30 April 2024, or from 00.00 hours on 1 May 2024 to 24.00 hours on 31 May 2024, or from 00.00 hours on 1 November 2024 to 24.00 hours on 30 November 2024, or from 00.00 hours on 1 December 2024 to 24.00 hours on 31 December 2024.

3. The Member States concerned shall jointly determine which of the closure periods referred to in paragraph 2 shall apply to purse seine vessels flying their flag. The Member States shall jointly inform the Commission by 15 February 2024 of the closure period selected. The Commission shall notify the secretariat of the WCPFC of the joint closure period selected by Member States concerned before 1 March 2024.

4. Each Member State shall ensure that none of its purse seine vessels deploy at sea, at any time, more than 350 FADs with activated instrumented buoys. Buoys shall be activated exclusively on board a purse seine vessel.’

;

(4)

in Article 55(1), the following point is inserted:

‘(aa)

sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) in all Union waters;’;

(5)

in Article 59, points (a) and (b) are replaced by the following:

‘(a)	Article 13(1) and (7) shall apply from 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025;

(b)	Article 13(2) to (6) shall apply from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025;’;

(6)

In Article 59, the following points are inserted:

‘(ca)

Article 20(1), point(ba) shall apply from 1 April 2024;

(ga)	Article 55(1), point (aa) shall apply from 1 April 2024;’;

(7)	Annexes IA, IG, IH, VI, IX and XI are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2024.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 26 March 2024.

For the Council

The President

D. CLARINVAL

(1) Council Regulation (EU) 2024/257 of 10 January 2024 fixing for 2024, 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/194 (OJ L, 2024/257, 11.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/257/oj).

(2) OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10.

(3) Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 establishing a multiannual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, amending Regulations (EC) No 1936/2001, (EU) 2017/2107, and (EU) 2019/833 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2016/1627 (OJ L 238, 27.9.2023, p. 1).

(4) Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area (OJ L, 2023/2124, 12.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2124/oj).

(5) Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3).

ANNEX

Annexes IA, IG, IH, VI, IX and XI to Regulation (EU) 2024/257 are amended as follows:

(1)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 1 is replaced by the following:

Table 1
‘Species:	Sandeel and associated by-catches Ammodytes spp.			Zone:	United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a; Union waters of 3a
Denmark		158 096	(1)	Analytical TAC
Germany		241	(1)	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Sweden		5 805	(1)	Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Union		164 142
United Kingdom		5 269
TAC		169 411
(1)	Up to 2 % of the quota may consist of by-catches of whiting and mackerel (OT1/*2A3A4X). By-catches of whiting and mackerel counted against the quota pursuant to this provision and by-catches of species counted against the quota pursuant to Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall, together, not exceed 9 % of the quota.

Special condition: within the limits of these quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following sandeel management areas, as defined in Annex III:

Zone: Union waters of sandeel management areas

	1r	2r	3r	4	5r	6	7r
	(SAN/234_1R) (1)	(SAN/234_2R) (1)	(SAN/234_3R) (2)	(SAN/234_4)	(SAN/234_5R)	(SAN/234_6) (1)	(SAN/234_7R)
Denmark	119 773	33 526	4 666	0	0	131	0
Germany	183	51	7	0	0	0	0
Sweden	4 398	1 231	171	0	0	5	0
Union	124 354	34 808	4 844	0	0	136	0
United Kingdom	3 992	1 117	156	0	0	4	0
Total	128 346	35 925	5 000	0	0	140	0
(1)	Up to 10 % of this quota can be banked and used in the following year only within this management area.
(2)	This quota may only be fished in Union waters of sandeel management area 3r as monitoring TAC with an associated sampling protocol for the fishery. ’

(2)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 29 is replaced by the following:

Table 29
‘Species:	Witch flounder			Zone:	Union waters of 3a
	Glyptocephalus cynoglossus				(WIT/03A-C.)
Denmark		542	(1)	Analytical TAC
Germany		1	(1)
Netherlands		1	(1)
Sweden		113	(1)
Union		657	(1)
TAC		657
(1)	Of which up to 100 % may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a (WIT/*2AC4-C1). ’

(3)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 60 is replaced by the following:

Table 60
‘Species:	Lemon sole and witch flounder Microstomus kitt and Glyptocephalus cynoglossus			Zone:	United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a
					(L/W/2AC4-C)
Belgium		121		Precautionary TAC
Denmark		335
Germany		43
France		92
Netherlands		278
Sweden		4
Union		873	(3)(4)
United Kingdom		1 666	(1)(2)
TAC		2 539
(1)	Of which up to 1 125 tonnes of lemon sole may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a (LEM/2AC4-C); and United Kingdom and Union waters of 7d (LEM/07D.).
(2)	Of which up to 541 tonnes of witch flounder may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a (WIT/2AC4-C); and United Kingdom and Union waters of 7d (WIT/07D.).
(3)	Of which up to 590 tonnes of lemon sole may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a (LEM/2AC4-C); Union waters of 3a (LEM/03A-C); and United Kingdom and Union waters of 7d (LEM/*07D.).
	Belgium			82
	Denmark			226
	Germany			29
	France			62
	Netherlands			188
	Sweden			3
(4)	Of which up to 283 tonnes of witch flounder may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4 and United Kingdom waters of 2a (WIT/2AC4-C), Union waters of 3a (WIT/03A-C); and United Kingdom and Union waters of 7d (WIT/*07D.).
	Belgium			39
	Denmark			109
	Germany			14
	France			30
	Netherlands			90
	Sweden			1’

(4)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 61 is replaced by the following:

Table 61
‘Species:	Lemon sole			Zone:	Union waters of 3a
	Microstomus kitt				(LEM/03A-C.)
Denmark		170	(1)	Analytical TAC
Germany		2	(1)
Netherlands		10	(1)
Sweden		5	(1)
Union		187	(1)
TAC		187
(1)	Of which up to 100 % may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a (LEM/*2AC4-C1).’

(5)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 68 is replaced by the following:

Table 68
‘Species:	Ling		Zone:	Union waters of 3a
	Molva molva			(LIN/03A-C.)
Belgium		11	Precautionary TAC’
Denmark		88
Germany		11
Sweden		34
Union		144
United Kingdom		0
TAC		144

(6)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 73 is replaced by the following:

Table 73
‘Species:	Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus		Zone:	United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a
	Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus			(NEP/2AC4-C)
Belgium		1 107,5	Analytical TAC
Denmark		1 107,5	Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies’
Germany		16
France		33
Netherlands		570
Union		2 834
United Kingdom		18 350
TAC		21 184

(7)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 78 is replaced by the following:

Table 78
‘Species:	Northern prawn Pandalus borealis			Zone:	United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a
	Northern prawn Pandalus borealis				(PRA/2AC4-C)
Denmark		588	(1)	Precautionary TAC
Netherlands		6	(1)	Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Sweden		24	(1)
Union		618	(1)
United Kingdom		174	(1)
TAC		792	(1)
(1)	Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries for Northern prawn are permitted under this quota.’

(8)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 79 is replaced by the following:

Table 79
‘Species:	Northern prawn			Zone:	Norwegian waters south of 62oN
	Pandalus borealis				(PRA/4N-S62)
Denmark		50		Analytical TAC
Sweden		123	(1)	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Union		173		Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
TAC		Not relevant
(1)	By-catches of cod, haddock, pollack, whiting and saithe are to be counted against the quotas for these species.’

(9)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 93 is replaced by the following:

Table 93
‘Species:	Turbot and brill Scophthalmus maximus and Scophthalmus rhombus			Zone:	United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a
					(T/B/2AC4-C)
Belgium		251		Analytical TAC
Denmark		537		Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies
Germany		137
France		65
Netherlands		1 904
Sweden		4
Union		2 898	(3)(4)
United Kingdom		708	(1)(2)
TAC		3 606
(1)	Of which up to 400 tonnes of turbot may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4 and United Kingdom waters of 2a (TUR/*2AC4-C).
(2)	Of which up to 308 tonnes of brill may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4 and United Kingdom waters of 2a (BLL/2AC4-C); and United Kingdom and Union waters of 7d and 7e (BLL/7DE.).
(3)	Of which up to 1 638 tonnes of turbot may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4 and United Kingdom waters of 2a (TUR/*2AC4-C).
	Belgium			142
	Denmark			303
	Germany			77
	France			37
	Netherlands			1 077
	Sweden			2
(4)	Of which up to 1 260 tonnes of brill may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4 and United Kingdom waters of 2a (BLL/2AC4-C); Union waters of 3a (BLL/03A-C); and United Kingdom and Union waters of 7d and 7e (BLL/*7DE.).
	Belgium			109
	Denmark			233
	Germany			60
	France			28
	Netherlands			828
	Sweden			2’

(10)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 94 is replaced by the following:

Table 94
‘Species:	Brill			Zone:	Union waters of 3a
	Scophthalmus rhombus				(BLL/03A-C.)
Denmark		116	(1)	Analytical TAC
Germany		0	(1)
Netherlands		11	(1)
Sweden		21	(1)
Union		148	(1)
TAC		148
(1)	Of which up to 100 % may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a (BLL/*2AC4-C1).’

(11)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 98 is replaced by the following:

Table 98
‘Species:	Skates and rays Rajiformes			Zone:	United Kingdom and Union waters of 6a, 6b, 7a-c and 7e-k
	Skates and rays Rajiformes				(SRX/67AKXD)
Belgium		824	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)	Precautionary TAC
Estonia		5	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
France		3 702	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Germany		11	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Ireland		1 191	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Lithuania		19	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Netherlands		3	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Portugal		20	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Spain		996	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
Union		6 771	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
United Kingdom		2 985	(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
TAC		9 756	(3)(4)(5)
(1)	Catches of cuckoo ray (Leucoraja naevus) (RJN/67AKXD), thornback ray (Raja clavata) (RJC/67AKXD), blonde ray (Raja brachyura) (RJH/67AKXD), spotted ray (Raja montagui) (RJM/67AKXD), sandy ray (Leucoraja circularis) (RJI/67AKXD) and shagreen ray (Leucoraja fullonica) (RJF/67AKXD) shall be reported separately.
(2)	Special condition: of which up to 5 % may be fished in 7d (SRX/07D.), without prejudice to the prohibitions set out in Union and United Kingdom law for the areas specified therein. Catches of cuckoo ray (Leucoraja naevus) (RJN/07D.), thornback ray (Raja clavata) (RJC/07D.), blonde ray (Raja brachyura) (RJH/07D.), spotted ray (Raja montagui) (RJM/07D.), sandy ray (Leucoraja circularis) (RJI/07D.) and shagreen ray (Leucoraja fullonica) (RJF/*07D.) shall be reported separately. This special condition shall not apply to small-eyed ray (Raja microocellata) and undulate ray (Raja undulata).
(3)	Shall not apply to undulate ray (Raja undulata). Catches of this species in 7e shall be counted against the quantities provided for in that separate TAC (RJU/7DE.). When accidentally caught in 6a, 6b, 7a-c and 7f-k, this species shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released. Fishers shall be encouraged to develop and use techniques and equipment to facilitate the rapid and safe release of the species.
(4)	Shall not apply to small-eyed ray (Raja microocellata), except in 7e, 7f and 7g. When accidentally caught, this species shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released. Fishers shall be encouraged to develop and use techniques and equipment to facilitate the rapid and safe release of the species. Within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities of small-eyed ray in 7f and 7g provided below may be taken.
	Species:	Small-eyed ray		Zone:	7f and 7g
		Raja microocellata			(RJE/7FG.)
	Belgium		5	(1)	Precautionary TAC
	Estonia		0	(1)
	France		22	(1)
	Germany		0	(1)
	Ireland		7	(1)
	Lithuania		0	(1)
	Netherlands		0	(1)
	Portugal		0	(1)
	Spain		6	(1)
	Union		40	(1)
	United Kingdom		46	(1)
	TAC		86
	(1)	Special condition: of which up to 5 % may be fished in 7d and reported under the following code: (RJE/*07D.). This special condition is without prejudice to the prohibitions set out in Union and United Kingdom law for the areas specified therein.
(5)	Within the limits of the abovementioned quota, no more than the quantities of small-eyed ray provided below may be taken in division 7e so as to allow for a sentinel fishery for the purpose of fisheries-based data collection for the stock as assessed by ICES.
	Species:	Small-eyed ray		Zone:	7e
		Raja microocellata			(RJE/07E.)
	Belgium		1	(1)	Precautionary TAC
	Estonia		0	(1)
	France		6	(1)
	Germany		0	(1)
	Ireland		2	(1)
	Lithuania		0	(1)
	Netherlands		0	(1)
	Portugal		0	(1)
	Spain		2	(1)
	Union		11	(1)
	United Kingdom		5	(1)
	TAC		16
	(1)	Only vessels participating in sentinely fishery “monitoring programmes” for small-eyed ray in 7e may land catch of this stock. Specimens caught by other vessels shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released. Each Party shall independently determine how to allocate its quota to the vessels participating in its monitoring programmes. Participating vessels will be required to collect and share data on: landings and discards, and preferably biological characteristic data of the catch (length, weight and sex).’

(12)

In Annex IA, Part B, the tables in footnote 2 to Table 101 are replaced by the following:

‘Species:	Undulate ray		Zone:	Union waters of 8
	Raja undulata			(RJU/8-C.)
Belgium	0		Precautionary TAC
France	13	(1)
Portugal	10
Spain	10	(2)
Union	33
United Kingdom	0
TAC	33
(1)	An additional 28,5 tonnes may be allocated to vessels participating in the sentinel fishery to allow fisheries-based data collection for this stock as designed by a national scientific institute. Catches from this additional allocation shall be reported separately (RJU/8-C.SEN). France shall communicate the name(s)of the vessel(s) to the Commission before allowing any catches. This shall be without prejudice to the relative stability.
(2)	An additional 21,5 tonnes may be allocated to vessels participating in the sentinel fishery to allow fisheries-based data collection for this stock as designed by a national scientific institute. Catches from this additional allocation shall be reported separately (RJU/8-C.SEN). Spain shall communicate the name(s)of the vessel(s) to the Commission before allowing any catches. This shall be without prejudice to the relative stability.
Species:	Undulate ray		Zone:	Union waters of 9
	Raja undulata			(RJU/9-C.)
Belgium	0		Precautionary TAC
France	20
Portugal	15	(1)
Spain	15
Union	50
United Kingdom	0
TAC	50
(1)	An additional 50 tonnes may be allocated to vessels participating in the sentinel fishery to allow fisheries-based data collection for this stock as designed by a national scientific institute. Catches from this additional allocation shall be reported separately (RJU/9-C.SEN). Portugal shall communicate the name(s)of the vessel(s) to the Commission before allowing any catches. This shall be without prejudice to the relative stability.’

(13)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 103 is replaced by the following:

Table 103
‘Species:	Mackerel Scomber scombrus			Zone:	Union waters of 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d; United Kingdom waters of 2a; Union and United Kingdom waters of 4; Norwegian waters of 2a and 4a
	Mackerel Scomber scombrus				(MAC/2A34-N)
Belgium		476	(1)(2)	Analytical TAC
Denmark		27 882	(1)(2)(4)	Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies
Germany		496	(1)(2)
France		1 498	(1)(2)
Netherlands		1 508	(1)(2)
Sweden		4 569	(1)(2)(3)
Union		36 429	(1)(2)
TAC		739 386
(1)	Special condition: within the limits of these quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following zones.
		3a (MAC/*03A.)	United Kingdom and Union waters of 3a, 4b and 4c (MAC/*3A4BC)	4b (MAC/*04B.)	4c (MAC/*04C.)	United Kingdom and international waters of 2a, 5b, 6, 7, 8d, 8e, 12 and 14 (MAC/*2AX14)
	Belgium	0	0	0	0	286
	Denmark	0	4 130	0	0	9 774
	Germany	0	0	0	0	298
	France	0	490	0	0	899
	Netherlands	0	490	0	0	905
	Sweden	0	0	390	10	2 741
	Union	0	5 110	390	10	14 903
(2)	Within the limits of these quotas, and in agreement with the relevant coastal State, no more than the quantities given below may also be taken in the two following zones:
		Norwegian waters of 2a and 4a (MAC/*02A4AN-)	Faroese waters (MAC/*FRO1)
	Belgium	0	To be established
	Denmark	0	To be established
	Germany	0	To be established
	France	0	To be established
	Netherlands	0	To be established
	Sweden	0	To be established
	Union	0	To be established
(3)	Special condition: including the following tonnage to be taken in Norwegian waters of 2a and 4a (MAC/*2A4AN):
		322
	When fishing under this special condition, by-catches of cod, haddock, pollack, whiting and saithe are to be counted against the quotas for these species.
(4)	Within the limits of this quota, the following transfers are made by Denmark to be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 6, 7, 8d; Union waters of 8a, 8b and 8e; international waters of 12 and 14; and United Kingdom and international waters of 2a and 5b (MAC/*2A14):
	Germany	531
	Spain	1
	Estonia	4
	France	354
	Ireland	1 769
	Latvia	3
	Lithuania	3
	Netherlands	774
	Poland	37’

(14)

In Annex IA, Part B, footnote 1 to Table 106 is replaced by the following:

‘ (1)

May be fished only in Union waters of 4 (SOL/*04-EU).’

(15)

In Annex IA, Part B, Table 111 is replaced by the following:

Table 111
‘Species:	Common sole		Zone:	7f and 7g
	Solea solea			(SOL/7FG.)
Belgium		730	Analytical TAC
France		73	Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies’
Ireland		37
Union		840
United Kingdom		405
TAC		1 267

(16)

In Annex ID, Tables 7, 8, 11, 14, 15 and 16 are replaced by the following:

Table 7
‘Species:	Northern Albacore		Zone:	Atlantic Ocean, north of 5°N
	Thunnus alalunga			(ALB/AN05N)
Ireland	4 310,57		Analytical TAC
Spain	24 295,97		Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
France	7 641,47		Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Portugal	2 664,72
Union	38 912,73	(1)(2)
TAC	47 251
(1)	The number of Union fishing vessels fishing for Northern albacore as a target species shall be: 1 241 .
(2)	Special condition: Within the limit of this quota, no more than the following quantity may be taken in United Kingdom waters (ALB/*AN05N-UK): 280,00.

Table 8
Species:	Southern Albacore	Zone:	Atlantic Ocean, south of 5°N
	Thunnus alalunga		(ALB/AS05N)
Spain	1 051,30	Analytical TAC
France	345,49	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Portugal	735,71	Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Union	2 132,50
TAC	28 000

Table 11
Species:	Bigeye tuna		Zone:	Atlantic Ocean
	Thunnus obesus			(BET/ATLANT)
Spain	8 079,90	(1)	Analytical TAC
France	3 431,99	(1)	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Portugal	3 067,50	(1)	Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Union	14 579,39	(1)
TAC	62 000	(1)
(1)	Catches of bigeye tuna by purse seiners (BET/ATLPS) and longliners with an overall length of 20 metres and above (BET/ATLLL) shall be reported separately. As of June, when catches reach 80 % of the quota, Member States are required to transmit the catches for these fishing vessels on a weekly basis.

Table 14
Species:	Swordfish		Zone:	Atlantic Ocean, north of 5°N
	Xiphias gladius			(SWO/AN05N)
Spain	6 294,13	(2)	Analytical TAC
Portugal	1 143,97	(2)	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Other Member States	168,10	(1)(2)	Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Union	7 606,20
TAC	13 200
(1)	Exclusively for by-catches. Catches to be counted against this shared quota shall be reported separately (SWO/AN05N_AMS).
(2)	Special condition: up to 2,39 % of this quantity may be fished in the Atlantic Ocean, south of 5°N (SWO/AS05N). Catches to be counted against the special condition of the shared quota shall be reported separately (SWO/AS05N_AMS).

Table 15
Species:	Swordfish		Zone:	Atlantic Ocean, south of 5°N
	Xiphias gladius			(SWO/AS05N)
Spain	4 978,46	(1)	Analytical TAC
Portugal	327,94	(1)	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Union	5 306,40		Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
TAC	10 000
(1)	Special condition: up to 3,51 % of this quantity may be fished in the Atlantic Ocean, north of 5°N (SWO/*AN05N).

Table 16
Species:	Swordfish		Zone:	Mediterranean Sea
	Xiphias gladius			(SWO/MED)
Croatia	13,74	(1)(2)	Analytical TAC
Cyprus	50,67	(1)(2)	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Spain	1 565,04	(1)(2)	Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
France	109,08	(1)(2)
Greece	1 036,02	(1)(2)
Italy	3 208,44	(1)(2)
Malta	380,64	(1)(2)
Union	6 363,63	(1)(2)
TAC	9 017
(1)	This quota may be fished only from 1 April to 31 December.
(2)	Special condition: by-catches of Mediterranean swordfish are to be counted against this quota, but shall be reported separately (SWO/MED-BC). Dead catches of Mediterranean swordfish from sport and recreational fisheries are to be counted against this quota, but shall be reported separately (SWO/MED-SR).’

(17)

In Annex ID, footnotes 5 and 6 to Table 12 are replaced by the following:

(18)

Annex IF is replaced by the following:

‘ANNEX IF

SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA – AREAS OF DISTRIBUTION

Species:	Southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyii			Zone:	All areas of distribution (SBF/F41-81)
Union		13	(1)	Analytical TAC Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
TAC		20 642
(1)	Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

’

(19)

Annex IG is replaced by the following:

‘ANNEX IG

WCPFC CONVENTION AREA

Table 1
Species:	Bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus			Zone:	WCPFC Convention area (BET/WCPFC)
Union		2 000	(1)	Precautionary TAC
TAC		Not relevant	(1)	Precautionary TAC
(1)	This quota may only be fished by vessels using longlines.

Table 2
Species:	Swordfish Xiphias gladius		Zone:	WCPFC Convention area south of 20°S (SWO/F7120S)
Union		3 170,36	Precautionary TAC
TAC		Not relevant	Precautionary TAC

’

(20)

Annex IH is replaced by the following:

‘ANNEX IH

SPRFMO CONVENTION AREA

Table 1

Species:

Toothfishes

Dissostichus spp.

Zone:

SPRFMO Convention area, research blocks A and B (1)

(TOT/SPR-AB)

TAC

162

(2)(3)(4)

Precautionary TAC

(1)

Research block A:

—

50°30΄S, 136°E

—

50°30΄S, 140°30΄E

—

54°50΄S, 140°30΄E

—

54°50΄S, 136°E

Research block B:

—

52°45΄S, 140°30΄E

—

52°45΄S, 145°30΄E

—

54°50΄S, 145°30΄E

—

54°50΄S, 140°30΄E

(2)

This annual TAC is for exploratory fisheries only. Fishing shall be limited to depths between 600 m and 2 500 m. Fishing shall be limited to one trip of a maximum duration of 60 consecutive days which may occur any time between 1 May and 15 November 2024. From 1 to 15 November 2024, longlines shall be set at night-time only and all fishing shall cease immediately if the death of the following occurs:

a)	one specimen of any of the following species: wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma), black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris), grey petrel (Procellaria cinerea), soft-plumaged petrel (Pterodroma mollis); or

b)	three specimens of any of the following species: light-mantled albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata), southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus) and northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli).

Fishing shall further be limited to a maximum number of 5 000 hooks per set, with a maximum of 100 sets. Longlines shall be set at least 3 nautical miles apart from each other, and not set at previous longline locations within one calendar year. Fishing shall cease either when the TAC is reached or if 100 sets have been set and hauled during the trip, whichever is earlier.

(3)

Of which up to 129 tonnes may be fished in research block A. Catches of toothfishes in research block A shall be reported separately (TOT/SPR-A).

(4)

Of which up to 33 tonnes may be fished in research block B. Catches of toothfishes in research block B shall be reported separately (TOT/SPR-B).

Table 2
Species:	Jack mackerel Trachurus murphyi	Zone:	SPRFMO Convention area (CJM/SPRFMO)
Germany	18 622,82	Analytical TAC
Netherlands	20 185,21	Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Lithuania	12 958,23	Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Poland	22 280,74
Union	74 047,00
TAC	Not relevant

’

(21)

In Annex VI, point 4 is replaced by the following:

‘4.

Maximum number of fishing vessels of each Member State that may be authorised to fish for, retain on board, tranship, transport or land bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean

Table A

	Number of fishing vessels (1)
	Greece (2)	Spain	France	Croatia	Italy	Cyprus (3)	Malta (4)	Portugal
Purse seiners (5)	0	7	22	18	21	1	2	0
Longliners	0	38	23	0	40	17	63	0
Baitboats	0	66	8	0	0	0	0	0
Handline	0	1	47	24	0	0	0	0
Trawlers	0	0	56	0	0	0	0	0
Small-scale coastal	64	696	89	0	0	0	0	0
Other artisanal (6)	41	0	60	0	142	0	240	76 ’

(22)

In Annex VI, point 5 is replaced by the following:

‘5.

Maximum number of traps engaged in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery authorised by each Member State

Maximum number of traps
Member State	Number of traps
Spain	6
Italy	5
Portugal	2 ’

(23)

In Annex VI, point 6 is replaced by the following:

‘6.

Maximum bluefin tuna farming capacity and fattening capacity for each Member State and maximum input of wild-caught bluefin tuna that each Member State may allocate to its farms in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean

Table A

Maximum tuna farming capacity and fattening capacity
	Number of farms	Capacity (in tonnes)
Greece	0	0
Spain	7	15 860,72
Croatia	4	7 880,00
Italy	3	1 160,00
Cyprus	0	0
Malta	6	17 213,00
Portugal	2	667

Table B

Maximum input of wild-caught bluefin tuna (in tonnes)
Greece	0
Spain	11 329,09
Croatia	3 225,10
Italy	610,00
Cyprus	0
Malta	12 295,00
Portugal	517,00’

(24)

Annex IX is replaced by the following:

‘ANNEX IX

WCPFC CONVENTION AREA

Maximum number of Union fishing vessels using longlines authorised to fish for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in areas south of 20°S of the WCPFC Convention area

Spain	14
Union	14

Maximum number of Union purse seiners authorised to fish for tropical tuna in areas between 20°N and 20°S of the WCPFC Convention area

Spain	4
Union	4

’

(25)

In Annex XI, point 2 is replaced by the following:

‘2.

In Annex IA, Part B, to Regulation (EU) 2023/194, the tables for mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in Union waters of ICES division 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d; United Kingdom waters of division 2a; Union and United Kingdom waters of ICES subarea 4; and in Norwegian waters of divisions 2a and 4a are replaced by the following:

“Species:	Mackerel Scomber scombrus			Zone:	Union waters of 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d; United Kingdom waters of 2a; Union and United Kingdom waters of 4; Norwegian waters of 2a and 4a (MAC/2A34-N)
Belgium		501	(1)(2)	Analytical TAC
Denmark		29 446	(1)(2)(4)	Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies
Germany		523	(1)(2)
France		1 579	(1)(2)
Netherlands		1 589	(1)(2)
Sweden		4 743	(1)(2)(3)
Union		38 381	(1)(2)
TAC		782 066
(1)	Special condition: within the limits of these quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following zones.
	3a	United Kingdom and Union waters of 3a, 4b and 4c	4b	4c	United Kingdom and international waters of 2a, 5b, 6, 7, 8d, 8e, 12 and 14
	(MAC/*03A.)	(MAC/*3A4BC)	(MAC/*04B.)	(MAC/*04C.)	(MAC/*2AX14)
Belgium	0	0	0	0	301
Denmark	0	4 130	0	0	10 312
Germany	0	0	0	0	314
France	0	490	0	0	947
Netherlands	0	490	0	0	953
Sweden	0	0	390	10	2 846
Union	0	5 110	390	10	15 673
(2)	Within the limits of these quotas, and in agreement with the relevant coastal State, no more than the quantities given below may also be taken in the two following zones:
		Norwegian waters of 2a and 4a (MAC/*02A4AN-)	Faroese waters (MAC/*FRO1)
	Belgium	0	0
	Denmark	0	0
	Germany	0	0
	France	0	0
	Netherlands	0	0
	Sweden	0	0
	Union	0	0
(3)	Special condition: including the following tonnage to be taken in Norwegian waters of 2a and 4a (MAC/*2A4AN):
		266
	When fishing under this special condition, by-catches of cod, haddock, pollack, whiting and saithe are to be counted against the quotas for these species.
(4)	Within the limits of this quota, the following transfers are made by Denmark to be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of 6, 7, 8d; Union waters of 8a, 8b and 8e; international waters of 12 and 14; and United Kingdom and international waters of 2a and 5b (MAC/*2A14):
	Germany	749
	Spain	1
	Estonia	6
	France	499
	Ireland	2 495
	Latvia	5
	Lithuania	5
	Netherlands	1 092
	Poland	53”’

(1) The numbers in this table may be further increased, provided that the Union’s international obligations are complied with.

(2) One medium-size purse seiner has been replaced by no more than 10 longline vessels, or by one small purse seiner and three other artisanal vessels.

(3) One medium-size purse seiner may be replaced by no more than 10 longline vessels, or by one small purse seiner and no more than three longline vessels.

(4) One medium-size purse seiner may be replaced by no more than 10 longline vessels.

(5) The individual numbers of purse seiners in this table are the result of transfers between Member States and do not constitute historical rights for the future.

(6) Polyvalent vessels, using multi-gear equipment (longline, handline, trolling line).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1015/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)

Top

Special condition: within this TAC, the following catch limits and allocations between Member States shall apply to catches of bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm by the vessels referred to in point 3 of Annex VI (BFT/*643):

Special condition: within this TAC, the following catch limits and allocations between Member States shall apply to catches of bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm by the vessels referred to in point 3 of Annex VI for farming purposes (BFT/*8303F):