Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Court of Appeal (Ireland) made on 13 February 2020 — K. M. v Director of Public Prosecutions

(Case C-77/20)

(2020/C 137/53)

Language of the case: English

Referring court

Court of Appeal

Parties to the main proceedings

Appellant: K. M.

Respondent: Director of Public Prosecutions

Question referred

In the context of the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and of the provisions of Article 32 of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/1998 (1), and in the context of a criminal prosecution taken to enforce the provisions thereof, is a provision of National law which provides on conviction on indictment, in addition to a fine, for the mandatory forfeiture of all fish and all fishing gear found on board the boat to which the offence relates, compatible with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) 1224/2009 (2), and specifically Articles 89 and 90 thereof, and the principle of proportionality under the treaties of the European Union and Article 49(3) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights?

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(1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (OJ 1998, L 125, p. 1).

(2)  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 2009, L 343, p. 1).