51999PC0700

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION fixing for 2000 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required and amending Regulation 66/98

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

This proposal for a Council Regulation fixes for 2000 the fishing opportunities for the Community in several fishing grounds and for third country vessels in Community waters and the conditions under which the fishing opportunities may be fished. The fixing and the sharing of possibilities for fishing falls exclusively within the competence of the Community and arises from obligations set out in Article 8(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of the Council of 20 December 1992.

Essentially, this proposal contains the same elements as the proposal for 1999 TACs, updated where possible in the light of scientific advice, and including also fishing opportunities in third country waters and in waters subject to management by regional fisheries organisations, as well as fishing opportunities for third countries in Community waters. This will allow the regrouping in a single regulation the set of fishing opportunities and associate conditions that were dispersed over more than twenty regulations.

In the case of autonomous stocks where the Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) based its advice on analytical assessments and where the EC Scientific Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) has further reviewed the advice of ACFM, the TAC's proposed are based on the advice of these committees.

In the case of autonomous stocks for which no analytical assessments are available, TAC's (precautionary TAC's) have been proposed. In such cases, the Commission has based its proposal on advice either from ACFM or from STECF wherever these bodies give an explicit value for the TAC. Where no explicit value is given, the proposed value is equal to that adopted last year by the Council.

Certain stocks are managed in the context of regional fisheries organisations or following bilateral consultations with third countries. The proposal, for these stocks, reflects the decisions taken within these frameworks.

The most recent report of ACFM, endorsed by STECF, indicates that in Regions 1 and 2, many of the stocks of demersal fish and some stocks of pelagic fish are too heavily exploited and are considered to be in a state which is actually or potentially outside safe biological limits. Analytical assessments of the state of a number of stocks in Region 3 are also available. Depending on the stock in question, ACFM have recommended management action implying the imposition of very restrictive TAC's and such recommendations are reflected in this proposal.

Given that certain technical measures should be implemented as from 1 January 2000, they are included in the proposal, in the form of temporary derogations or additions to the main rules, while waiting for the corresponding regulations to be amended accordingly.

Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96, introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas, requires the Council to decide which stocks are subject to the various measures fixed therein. This is dealt with by this proposal under Annex III.

EC/Greenland Agreement

The European Community and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland agreed on a Third Fisheries Protocol covering the years 1995 to 2000 and laying down the terms and conditions for fishing by Community vessels in Greenland waters, in particular catch quotas for the Community for each year of the Protocol. They also agreed to allow for the establishment of joint ventures and temporary associations.

The Agreement allows for the quantities to be taken by vessels which do not fly the flag of a Member State of the Community, to the extent where this is necessary for the proper functioning of the fisheries agreements concluded by the Community with other Parties.

Under the provisions of the Third Fisheries Protocol, the authorities responsible for Greenland undertake to offer to the Community, by 15 November each year, such supplementary catch possibilities as referred to in Article 8 of the Agreement, which at that time are expected to be available in the following year. On 12 November 1999, the Greenland Home Rule authorities offered supplementary quantities for 2000:

>TABLE>

Depending on the outcome of negotiations between the Community and Norway and considering the quantities of the species concerned already available to the Community for 2000 under the Third Fisheries Protocol, it may be felt to be in the Community's interest to accept one or more of the supplementary quantities offered by the Greenland Home Rule Government. To that end, the Commission will complete its proposal as soon as possible.

Therefore, the Commission proposes that the Council should agree to react appropriately to the supplementary catch possibilities referred to above and to allocate the annual catch quotas in Greenland waters by adopting the attached Council Regulation.

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

fixing for 2000 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required and amending Regulation 66/98.

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to regulation (EEC) n°3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture [1], and in particular Article 8(4) thereof,

[1] OJ L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1181/98 (OJ L 164, 9.6.1998, p. 1).

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No. 66/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 2113/96 [2] and in particular Article 21 thereof,

[2] OJ L 6, 10.1.1998, p. 1.

Having regard to the proposal of the Commission,

Whereas

(1) Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 requires the Council to adopt, in the light of the available scientific advice and, in particular, of the report prepared by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, the measures necessary to ensure the rational and responsible exploitation of resources on a sustainable basis.

(2) Under the terms of Article 8(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92, it is incumbent upon the Council, in accordance with Article 4, to establish the total allowable catches (TAC) by fishery or group of fisheries; whereas fishing opportunities should be allocated to Member States and third countries in accordance with Article 8(4)(ii) and (iii), respectively.

(3) In order to ensure effective management of these TACs and quotas, the specific conditions under which fishing operations occur should be established.

(4) It is necessary to establish the principles and certain procedures of fishery management at the Community level, so that Member States can ensure the management of the vessels flying their flag.

(5) In accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year to year management of TACs and quotas [3] , it is necessary to indicate which stocks are subject to the various measures fixed therein.

[3] OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3.

(6) In accordance with the procedure provided for in the agreements or protocols on fisheries relations, the European Community has held consultations on fishing rights with the Kingdom of Norway [4], the Government of Denmark and the Home government of the Faeroe Islands [5] and the Home Rule Government of Greenland [6]; the Republic of Iceland [7]; the Republic of Estonia [8], the Republic of Latvia [9] and the Republic of Lithuania [10].

[4] OJ L 226,29.8.1980, p. 48.

[5] OJ L 226,29.8.1980, p. 12.

[6] OJ L 29, 1.2.1985, p. 9.

[7] OJ L 161, 2.7.1993, p.1.

[8] OL L 332, 20.12.1996, p. 16.

[9] OL L 332, 20.12.1996, p. 1.

[10] OL L 332, 20.12.1996, p. 6.

(7) Pursuant to Article 122 of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, the conditions under which allocations made within the framework of the Accession can be fished will remain identical to those applicable immediately prior to the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.

(8) Pursuant to the Article 124 of the 1994 Act of Accession, fisheries agreements concluded by the Kingdom of Sweden with third countries are managed by the Community; in accordance with these agreements, the Community has held consultations with the Republic of Poland and with the Russian Federation.

(9) The Community is a contracting party to several regional fisheries organisations; these fisheries organisations have recommended the setting of catch limitations and other conservation rules for certain species they should therefore be implemented by the Community.

(10) For reasons of stock conservation, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) has agreed to set catch limitations for certain tuna-like stocks in the Pacific Ocean; it is appropriate that the Community adheres to these limitations in order to collaborate in the conservation of these stocks.

(11) The realisation of fishing opportunities should be in accordance with the Community legislation on the matter, and in particular with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy [11], Council Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 of 27 June 1994 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean [12], Council Regulation (EC) No 1627/94 of 27 June 1994 laying down general provisions concerning special fishing permits [13], Council Regulation (EC) No 66/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2113/96 [14], Council Regulation (EC) No 88/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the waters of the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound [15] and 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 [16].

[11] OJ L 261, 20.10.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) 2205/97 (OJ L 304, 7.11.1997, p. 1).

[12] OJ L 171, 6.7.1994, p. 1.

[13] OJ L 171, 6.7.1994, p 7.

[14] OJ L 6, 10.1.1998, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) &

[15] OJ L 9, 15.1.1998 p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) &

[16] OJ L 125, 27.4.1998, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) &

(12) In order to contribute to the conservation of fish stocks, certain complementary measures on control and technical conditions of fishing should be implemented in 2000.

(13) For imperative reasons of common interest this Regulation shall apply from 1 January 2000 and for certain fishing opportunities in the CCAMLR area from the date indicated in Annex 1g,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

CHAPTER I

SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

Article 1

1. This Regulation fixes for 2000 and, for Antarctic stocks, for periods of time adjacent to the year 2000, for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, fishing opportunities applicable to

(i) vessels flying the flag and registered in Member States, hereinafter "Community vessels" or "EC vessels" in zones where catch limitations are required and

(ii) vessels flying the flag and registered in third countries, hereinafter "third country vessels" in waters falling within the sovereignty of Member States, hereinafter "Community waters" or "EC waters",

and the specific conditions under which these fishing opportunities may be utilised.

2. For the purposes of this Regulation, fishing opportunities take the form of:

a) TACs or the number of vessels authorised to fish and/or the duration of these authorisations ,

b) shares of the TACs available to the Community,

c) quotas allocated to the Community in third countries' waters;

d) allocation of Community fishing opportunities in b) and c) above to Member States in the form of quotas;

e) allocation to third countries of quotas to be fished in Community waters;

Article 2

1. The definitions of ICES [17], CECAF [18](Eastern Central Atlantic or FAO major fishing zone 34) NAFO [19] and CCAMLR [20] zones are those given, respectively, in Regulation (EEC) No 3880/91 of 17 December 1991 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic [21], Regulation (EC) No 2597/95 of 23 October 1995 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic [22], Regulation (EEC) No 2018/93 of 30 June 1993 on the submission of catch and activity statistics by Member States fishing in the Northwest Atlantic [23] and Regulation (EC) No 66/98.

[17] International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

[18] Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries.

[19] North-west Atlantic Fisheries Organisation.

[20] Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

[21] OJ L 365, 31.12.1991, p. 1.

[22] OJ L 270, 13.11.1995, p. 1.

[23] OJ L 186 , 28.7.1993, p. 1.

2. For the purposes of this regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

a. NAFO Regulatory Area shall be the part of the area of the NAFO convention not falling under the sovereignty or within the jurisdiction of coastal States.

b. The Skagerrak is bounded on the west by a line drawn from the Hanstholm lighthouse to the Lindesnes lighthouse and on the south by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from this point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast.

c. The Kattegat is bounded on the north by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from this point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast and on the south by a line drawn from Hasenøre to Gnibens Spids, from Korshage to Spodsbjerg and from Gilbjerg Hoved to Kullen.

d. The North Sea shall comprise ICES Sub-area IV and that part of ICES Division IIIa which is not covered by the definition of the Skagerrak given in this article.

e. Management area 3 shall comprise ICES sub-divisions 30 and 31 and the part of sub-division 29 situated north of 59° 30' N.

CHAPTER II

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSOCIATE CONDITIONS FOR COMMUNITY VESSELS

Article 3

1. Fishing opportunities for Community vessels in Community waters or in international waters are hereby fixed as set out in Annexes 1 and 2.

2. Community vessels are hereby authorized to make catches, within the quota limits set out in the Annex 1, in waters falling within the fisheries jurisdiction of Estonia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway and the fishing zone around Jan Mayen, Poland and Russian Federation, subject to the conditions stipulated under Articles 7 and 12.

3. The amounts to be paid in conformity to the Agreements on fisheries relations between the European Community and the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the year 2000 shall be set as follows:

Country // Financial contribution

Latvia // EUR 252000

Lithuania // EUR 546000

These contributions shall be payable to accounts designated by the authorities of the State concerned.

Article 4

The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States shall be without prejudice to:

a. exchanges made pursuant to Article 9(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92;

b. reallocations made pursuant to Articles 21(4), 23(1) and 32(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93;

c. additional landings allowed under the stipulations of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;

d. quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;

e. deductions made pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96.

Article5

Quota flexibility

The stocks which are subject to a precautionary or to an analytical TAC, the stocks to which the year-to-year flexibility conditions stipulated in Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply, and the stocks to which the penalty coefficients foreseen in Article 5(2) of the same Regulation shall apply, are fixed for 2000 in Annex 3.

Article 6

Conditions for landing catch and by-catch

1. Fish from stocks for which fishing opportunities are fixed shall not be retained on board or landed unless:

(i) the catches have been taken by vessels of a Member State or a third country having a quota and that quota is not exhausted; or

(ii) where the Community share of the TAC has not been allocated by quota among Member States, it has not been exhausted; or

(iii) for all species other than herring and mackerel, where they are mixed with other species, the catches have been taken with nets whose mesh size is 32 millimetres or less in Regions 1 and 2 or 40 millimetres or less in Region 3 in accordance with Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98, and are not sorted either on board or on landing; or

(iv) for herring, catches comply with the provisions set out in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1434/98 of 29 June 1998 specifying conditions under which herring may be landed for purposes other than direct human consumption [24], or

[24] OJ L 191, 7.7.1998, p. 10.

(v) for mackerel, where they are mixed with horse mackerel or pilchard, the mackerel does not exceed 10% of the total weight of mackerel, horse mackerel and pilchard on board, and the catches are not sorted; or

(vi) catches are taken during the course of scientific investigations carried out under Regulation (EC) No 850/98.

All landings shall count against the quota or, if the Community share has not been allocated between Member States by quotas, against the Community share, except for catches made under the provisions of (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi).

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, when any of the fishing opportunities indicated in Annex 2 to this Regulation are exhausted, it shall be prohibited for vessels operating within the fisheries to which the relevant catch limitations apply to land catches which are unsorted and which contain herring.

3. The determination of the percentage of by-catches and their disposal shall be made in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 850/98.

Article 7

Access limits

1. No fishing by Community vessels shall take place in the Skagerrak within 12 nautical miles from the baselines of the Kingdom of Norway. However, vessels flying the flag of Denmark or Sweden shall be allowed to fish up to 4 miles from the baselines of the Kingdom of Norway.

2. Fishing by Community vessels in waters under the jurisdiction of Iceland shall be limited to the area defined by straight lines connecting the following coordinates:

South Western Area

1. 63?12'N and 23?05'W through 62?00'N and 26?00'W

2. 62?58'N and 22?25'W

3. 63?06'N and 21?30'W

4. 63?03'N and 21?00'W from there 180?00'S

South Eastern Area

1. 63?14'N and 10?40'W

2. 63?14'N and 11?23'W

3. 63?35'N and 12?21'W

4. 64?00'N and 12?30'W

5. 63?53'N and 13?30'W

6. 63?36'N and 14?30'W

7. 63?10'N and 17?00'W from there 180?00'S

Article 8

Special conditions for North Sea herring

The measures set out in Annex 4 shall apply with regard to the capture, sorting and landing of herring taken from the North Sea, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat.

Article 9

Other technical and control measures

The technical measures set out in Annex 5 shall apply in 2000 in addition to those set out in Regulations (EC) No 850/99, 88/98 and 1626/94.

CHAPTER III

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSOCIATE CONDITIONS FOR THIRD COUNTRY VESSELS

Article 10

Vessels flying the flag of Barbados, Estonia, Guyana, Japan, South Korea, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela and vessels registered in the Faeroe Islands are hereby authorized to make catches, within the quota limits set out in the Annex 1, in Community waters, and subject to the conditions stipulated under Articles 11 and 13.

Article 11

Without prejudice to access restrictions stated in Community law, fishing by vessels flying the flag of:

(i) Norway or registered in the Faeroe Islands shall be limited to those parts of the 200-nautical-mile zone lying seawards of 12 nautical miles from the baselines of Member States in the North Sea, Kattegat, Baltic Sea and Atlantic Ocean north of 43° 00' N; fishing in the Skagerrak by vessels flying the flag of Norway shall be allowed seawards of four nautical miles from the baselines of Denmark.

(ii) Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania shall be limited to those parts of the 200-nautical-mile zone lying seawards of 12 nautical miles from the baselines of Member States in the Baltic Sea north of 59° 30' N.

(iii) Poland or the Russian Federation shall be limited to those parts of the 200-nautical-mile zone lying seawards of 12 nautical miles from the baselines of Sweden in the Baltic Sea.

(iv) Barbados, Guyana, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, South Korea and Venezuela shall be limited to those parts of the 200-nautical-mile zone lying seawards of 12 nautical miles from the baselines of the French Department of Guyana.

CHAPTER IV

LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR COMMUNITY VESSELS

Article 12

1. Notwithstanding the general rules on fishing licenses and special fishing permits provided for in Regulation (EC) n°1627/94, fishing in waters of third countries shall be subject to the holding of a licence issued by the authorities of the third country. However, these provisions shall not apply, when fishing in Norwegian waters of the North Sea, to:

a. vessels of a tonnage equal to or less than 200 GT,

b. vessels carrying out fisheries for human consumption for species other than macherel,

c. Swedish vessels, in line with established practice.

2. The maximum number of licences and other associated conditions is hereby fixed as set out in Annex 6. Requests for licences shall indicate the types of fishing and the name and characteristics of the vessels for which licenses are to be issued and shall be addressed by the authorities of the Member States to the Commission. The Commission will submit these requests to the authorities of the third country concerned.

3. Community vessels shall comply with the conservation and control measures and all other provisions governing the zone in which they operate.

4. Community vessels licensed to conduct a directed fishery in waters of the Faeroe Islands may conduct another directed fishery on condition of prior notification of the change to the Faeroese authorities.

CHAPTER V

LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIRD COUNTRY VESSELS

Article 13

1. An application for a licence and special fishing permit from an authority of a third country to the Commission shall be accompanied by the following information:

(a) name of the vessel;

(b) registration number;

(c) external identification letters and numbers;

(d) port of registration;

(e) name and address of the owner or charterer;

(f) gross tonnage and overall length;

(g) engine power;

(h) call sign and radio frequency;

(i) intended method of fishing;

(j) intended area of fishing;

(k) species for which it is intended to fish;

(l) period for which a licence is required.

Notwithstanding Article 28ter of Council Regulation (EC) No 2847/93 Norwegian vessels of less than 200 GT are exempted from the obligation to have a license and a fishing permit.

2. The licence and special fishing permit shall be kept on board. Vessels registered in the Faeroe Islands shall be exempted from that obligation.

3. The number of licences and special associated conditions is hereby fixed as set out in Annex 6bis.

4. Vessels from third countries authorized to fish on 31 December 1999 may continue to fish as from the beginning of the year 2000 until the list of vessels authorized to fish is submitted to and approved by the Commission.

5. Licences and special fishing permits may be cancelled with a view to the issue of new licences and special fishing permits. Such cancellations shall take effect on the day before the date of issue of the new licences and special fishing permits by the Commission. New licences and special fishing permits shall take effect from their date of issue.

6. Licences and special fishing permits shall be wholly or partially withdrawn before the date of expiry if the quota for the stock in question fixed in Article 1 has been exhausted.

7. Licences and special fishing permits shall be withdrawn in the event of any failure to meet the obligations laid down in this Regulation.

8. For a period not exceeding 12 months, no licence and special fishing permit shall be issued for any vessel in respect of which the obligations laid down in this Regulation have not been met.

9. The Commission shall submit to the authorities of the third country concerned the names and characteristics of the vessels which shall not be authorised to fish in the Community fishing zone for the following month(s) as a consequence of an infringement of the relevant rules.

Article 14

1. Third country vessels shall comply with the conservation and control measures and other provisions governing fishing of Community vessels in the zone in which they operate, including Regulation (EC) No 2847/93, Regulation (EC) No 1627/94, Regulation (EC) No 88/98, Regulation (EC) No 850/98 and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1381/87 of 20 May 1987 establishing detailed rules concerning the marking and documentation of fishing vessels [25].

[25] OJ L 132 , 21/05/1987, p. 9.

2. The vessels referred to in paragraph 1 shall keep a log-book in which the information set out in Annex 7 shall be entered.

3. Third country vessels, except Norwegian vessels fishing in ICES division IIIa, shall transmit to the Commission, in accordance with the rules laid down in Annex 8, the information set out in that Annex.

CHAPTER VI

SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR COMMUNITY VESSELS FISHING IN AREAS COVERED BY REGIONAL FISHERIES ORGANISATIONS

Area of NAFO

Article 15

Community participation

1. Member States shall forward to the Commission a list of all vessels flying their flag or registered in their territory which intend to take part in the fishing activities in the NAFO Regulatory Area not later than the 20 January 2000 or, thereafter, at least 30 days before the intended commencement of such activity. The information forwarded shall include:

(a) name of vessel;

(b) official registration number of the vessel assigned by the competent national authorities;

(c) home port of the vessel;

(d) name of owner or charterer of the vessel;

(e) a declaration that the master has been provided with a copy of the regulations in force in the NAFO Regulatory Area;

(f) the principal species fished by the vessel in the NAFO Regulatory Area;

(g) the sub-areas where the vessel may be expected to fish.

2. For vessels temporarily flying the flag of a Member State (bare boat charter), the information forwarded shall include:

(a) date as from which the vessel has been authorized to fly the flag of the Member State;

(b) date as from which the vessel has been authorized by the Member State to engage fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area;

(c) name of the State where the vessel is registered or has been previously registered and the date as from which it ceased flying the flag of that State;

(d) name of the vessel;

(e) official registration number of the vessel assigned by the competent national authorities;

(f) home port of the vessel after the transfer;

(g) name of owner or charterer of the vessel;

(h) a declaration that the master has been provided with a copy of the regulations in force in the NAFO Regulatory Area;

(i) the principal species fished by the vessel in the NAFO Regulatory Area;

(j) the sub-areas where the vessel may be expected to fish.

Article 16

Greenland halibut fishery

Member States shall transmit to the Commission the fishing plan for their vessels fishing for Greenland halibut in the NAFO Regulatory Area not later than 20 January 2000 or, thereafter, at least 30 days before the intended commencement of such activity. The fishing plan shall identify, inter alia, the vessel or vessels which will engage in this fishery. The fishing plan shall represent the total fishing effort to be deployed with respect to this fishery in relation to the extent of the fishing opportunities available to the Member State making the notification.

Member States shall, no later than 31 December 2000, report to the Commission on the implementation of their fishing plans, including the number of vessels actually engaged in this fishery and the total number of days fished.

Article 17

Technical measures

1. Mesh sizes

The use of trawl net having in any section thereof net meshes of dimensions less than 130 mm shall be prohibited for direct fishing of the species referred to in Annex 9 hereto. This mesh size shall be reduced to 60 mm for direct fishing of short-finned squid.

Vessels fishing for shrimp (Pandalus borealis) shall use nets with a minimum mesh size of 40 mm.

2. Attachments to nets

The use of any means or device other than those described in this paragraph which obstructs the meshes of a net or which diminishes their size shall be prohibited.

Canvas, netting or any other material may be attached to the underside of the cod-end in order to reduce or prevent damage.

Devices may be attached to the upper side of the cod-end provided that they do not obstruct the meshes of the cod-end. The use of top-side chafers shall be limited to those mentioned in Annex 10 hereto.

Vessels fishing for shrimp (Pandalus borealis) shall use sorting grids or grates with a maximum spacing between bars of 22 mm.

3. By-catches

- By-catches of the species listed in Annex 1e for which no quotas have been fixed by the Community for a part of the NAFO Regulatory Area and taken in that part when fishing directly for any species

may not exceed for each species on board 2,500 kg or 10% by weight of all fish on board, whichever is the greater. However, in a part of the Regulatory Area where directed fishing of certain species is banned, by-catches of each of the species listed in Annex 1e may not exceed 1,250 kg or 5% respectively.

The percentages above are calculated as the percentage by weight, for each species, of the total catch excluding the catch of species subject to by-catch catch limits and are based on the catch taken by stock area.

For vessels fishing for shrimp (Pandalus borealis), in the event that total by-catches of all species listed in Annex 1e in any haul exceed 5% by weight, vessels shall immediately change fishing area (minimum 5-nautical-miles) in order to seek to avoid further by-catches of this species.

Catches of shrimp shall not be used in the calculation of by-catch level of groundfish species.

4. Minimum size of fish

Fish from the NAFO Regulatory Area which do not have the size required as set out in Annex 11 may not be processed, retained on board, transshipped, landed, transported, stored, sold, displayed or offered for sale, but shall be returned immediately to the sea. Where the quantity of caught fish not having the required size exceeds in certain fishing waters 10% of the total quantity, the vessel must move away to a distance of at least 5-nautical-miles before continuing fishing. Any processed fish of a species for which a minimum fish size is set out in Annex 11 that is below the relevant size set out in Annex 12, shall be deemed to originate from fish that is below the minimum fish size.

Article 18

Control measures

1. In addition to complying with Articles 6, 8, 11 and 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93, masters of vessels shall enter in the logbook the information listed in Annex 13 hereto.

In complying with Article 15 of the said Regulation, Member States shall also inform the Commission of catches of species not subject to quota.

2. When fishing directly for one or more of the species listed in Annex 9, vessels may not carry nets the mesh size of which is smaller than that laid down in Article 17 (1). However, vessels fishing in the course of the same voyage in areas other than the NAFO Regulatory Area may keep such nets on board provided these nets are securely lashed and stowed and are not available for immediate use, that is to say:

(a) nets shall be unshackled from their boards and their hauling or trawling cables and ropes;

(b) nets carried on or above the deck must be lashed securely to a part of the superstructure.

3. The masters of Community vessels shall, in respect of catches of the species listed in Annex 1e, keep:

(a) a logbook stating, by species and by processed product, the aggregate output; or

(b) a storage plan, by species, of products processed, indicating where they are located in the hold.

The masters must provide the necessary assistance to enable the quantities declared in the logbook and the processed products stored on board to be verified.

4. The masters of Community vessels, fishing for redfish in zone 3M, shall notify every second Monday to the competent authorities of the Member State, whose flag the vessel is flying or in which the vessel is registered, the quantities of redfish caught in zone 3M in the two-week period ending at 24.00 hrs the previous Sunday.

5. Community vessels shall not engage in transshipment operations in the NAFO Regulatory Area unless they have received prior authorization to do so from the competent authorities of the Member States whose flag the vessel is flying or in which the vessel is registered.

Article 19

Redfish fishery

Member States shall report to the Commission every second Tuesday before 12 noon for the fortnight ending at 12 midnight on the previous Sunday the quantities of redfish caught by their vessels in division 3M of the NAFO Regulatory Area.

Article 20

Statistical and scientific data

1. Member States shall provide, for vessels flying their flag or registered in their territory and fishing for American plaice and yellowtail flounder in division 3LNO of the NAFO Regulatory Area:

(a) nominal catch and discard statistics, broken down by unit areas no larger than 1? latitude and 1? longitude, based upon the relevant entries in the logbook as provided for by Article 18 (1), summarized on a monthly basis;

(b) length sampling for both nominal catches and discards, with a sampling intensity on the same scale as adopted in (a) and summarized on a monthly basis.

2. Member States shall supply, for vessels flying their flag or registered in their territory and conducting redfish and flatfish fisheries on the Flemish Cap:

(a) in addition to the normal reports, statistics on discards of cod, based upon the relevant entries in the logbook as provided for by Article 18 (1), summarized on a monthly basis;

(b) length samples of cod for the two fisheries separately, with depth information accompanying each sample, summarized on a monthly basis.

3. Length samples shall be taken from all parts of the respective catch of each species concerned in such a manner that at least one statistically significant sample is taken from the first haul taken each day. The size of a fish shall be measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin.

Length samples taken as described in the first sub-paragraph shall be deemed to be representative of all catches of the species concerned.

International waters within the NEAFC Convention area

Article 21

1. No later than 20 January 2000, Member States shall notify to the Commission the lists of vessels flying their flag and registered within their territory which are granted the right to fish in ICES Sub-areas I and II for herring and in the NEAFC [26] Convention area for oceanic-type redfish, and thereafter any modification to the lists, including additions, at least 30 days in advance of the commencement of the vessel's activity. Only the vessels named in this list shall be deemed to be authorized to fish oceanic-type redfish in that area.

[26] North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

2. Member States shall report to the Commission every Wednesday before 12 noon for the week ending at 12 midnight on the previous Sunday both the quantities of herring or oceanic-type redfish caught by their vessels as well as the number of their vessels engaged in these fisheries.

Fisheries covered by international fisheries organisations on highly migratory species

Article 22

1. In the case of fishing operations which are not covered by the requirements set out in Articles 6 and 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93, Member States shall:

- introduce systems for recording and sampling which will make it possible to estimate each month the total quantity of fish of the stocks listed in the Annex hereto which have been landed or transhipped by vessels flying their flag or registered on their territory, and the total quantities landed in their ports by vessels flying the flag of other Member States or registered in them;

- report to the Commission by the 15th of every month, in respect of the stocks listed in the Annex hereto, the total quantities landed or transhipped during the previous month by vessels flying their flag or registered on their territory and the total quantities landed in their ports by vessels flying the flag of other Member States or registered in them.

2. It shall be forbidden to take bluefin tuna with an encircling net:

- For vessels whose exclusive or predominant area of operation is the Adriatic, from 1 to 31 May in the whole Mediterranean Sea and from 16 July to 15 August in the Mediterranean Sea excluding the Adriatic;

- For vessels whose exclusive or predominant area of operation is the Mediterranean, excluding the Adriatic, from 16 July to 15 August in the whole Mediterranean Sea and from 1 to 31 May in the Adriatic;

Member States shall ensure that all vessels flying its flag or registered in them are affected by the above-mentioned rules.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the southern limit of the Adriatic Sea shall be a line drawn between the Albanian-Greek border and Cape Santa Maria-Leuca."

3. In derogation to Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 the following minimum size shall apply for the year 2000:

Species // Minimum size

Thunnus thynnus // 70 cm or 6.4 kg(*)

(*) However, the rules set out in Article 8, paragraph 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1626/94, shall not apply to fish, up to 15% in number of individuals, weighing between 3.2 kg and 6.4 kg, and caught accidentally

4. In derogation to Regulation (EC) No 850/98 the following minimum size shall apply for the year 2000:

Species // Minimum size

Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)(**) // 6.4 kg or 70 cm

(**) However, the rules set out in Article 19, paragraph 1 of Regulation (EC) No 850/98, shall not apply to fish, up to 15% in number of individuals, weighing between 3.2 kg and 6.4 kg, and caught accidentally

Area of CCAMLR

Article 23

Regulation (EC) No 66/98 is amended as follows:

1. Article 4 shall be replaced by the following article:

"Article 4

Direct fishing of the species set out in Annex VI is prohibited in the zones and during the periods indicated therein."

2. The TAC figures, periods of application and associate conditions as set out in Annex 1g shall replace the corresponding entries in Article 5.

3. Annex VI shall be added as set out in Annex 14.

CHAPTER VII

Final provision

Article 24

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

It shall apply with effect from 1 January 2000. However, where the TACs of the CCAMLR area are set for periods starting prior to 1 January 2000 Article 23 (2) shall apply with effect from the beginning of the respective periods.

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX 1

Fishing opportunities applicable for Community vessels in areas where catch limitations exist and for vessels from third countries in Community waters, by species and by area (in tonnes live weight, except where otherwise specified). All catch limitations set out in this Annex are considered as quotas for the purposes of Article 7, and shall, therefore, be subject to the rules set out in Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93, in particular Articles 14 and 15 thereof.

To facilitate lecture, the annex is divided in 7 parts corresponding to major fishing areas or fisheries:

? Annex 1a: Baltic Sea

? Annex 1b: North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat

? Annex 1c: North-east Atlantic, including Greenland waters (ICES areas I, II, IIIa, IV, V, XII, XIV and NAFO 0,1 (Greenland waters)

? Annex 1d: Western Community waters (ICES areas Vb (EC waters), VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, area of CECAF (EC waters), and waters off French Guyana.

? Annex 1e: North west Atlantic (area of NAFO)

? Annex 1f: Highly migratory fish (all areas)

? Annex 1g: Antarctic (area of CCAMLR)

Fish stocks are given following the alphabetical order of the Latin names of the species. A table of correspondences of common names and Latin names is given below for the purposes of this Regulation:

Common name // Scientific name

American plaice // Hippoglossoides platessoides

Anchovy // Engraulis encrasicolus

Anglerfish // Lophiidae

Antarctic icefish // Champsocephalus gunnari

Atlantic catfish // Anarhichas lupus

Atlantic halibut // Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Atlantic salmon // Salmo salar

Basking shark // Cetorhinus maximus

Bigeye tuna // Thunnus obesus

Blackfin icefish // Chaenocephalus aceratus

Blue ling // Molva dypterigia

Blue whiting // Micromesistius poutassou

Bluefin tuna // Thunnus thynnus

Capelin // Mallotus villosus

Cod // Gadus morhua

Common sole // Solea solea

Crab // Paralomis spp.

Dab // Limanda limanda

Flounder // Platichthys flesus

Greenland halibut // Reinhardtius hippoglossoides

Grey rockcod // Lepidonothen squamifrons

Haddock // Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Hake // Merluccius merluccius

Herring // Clupea harengus

Horse mackerel // Trachurus spp.

Humped rockcod // Gobionotothen gibberifrons

Krill // Euphausia superba

Lantern fish // Electrona carlsbergi

Lemon sole // Microstomus kitt

Ling // Molva macrophthalma

Mackerel // Scomber scombrus

Marbled rockcod // Notothenia rossi

Megrims // Lepidorhombus spp.

Northern prawn // Pandalus borealis

Norway lobster // Nephrops norvegicus

Norway pout // Trisopterus esmarki

'Penaeus' shrimps // Penaeus spp

Plaice // Pleuronectes platessa

Polar cod // Boreogadus saida

Pollack // Pollachius pollachius

Porbeagle // Lamna nasus

Redfish // Sebastes spp.

Roundnose grenadier // Coryphaenoides rupestris

Saithe // Pollachius virens

Sandeel // Ammodytidae

Short fin squid // Ilex illeocebrossus

Skates and rays // Rajidae

South Georgian icefish // Pseudochaenichthys georgianus

Sprat // Sprattus sprattus

Spurdog // Squalus acanthias

Swordfish // Xiphias gladius

Toothfish // Dissostichus eleginoides

Turbot // Psetta maxima

Whiting // Merlangius merlangus

Witch flounder // Glyptocephalus cynoglossus

Yellowfin tuna // Thunnus albacares

Yellowtail flounder // Limanda ferruginea

ANNEX 1a - BALTIC SEA

All TACs in this area, except for plaice, are adopted in the framework of IBSFC.

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ANNEX 1b - SKAGERRAK AND KATTEGAT AND NORTH SEA,

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ANNEX 1c - NORTH-EAST ATLANTIC and GREENLAND

ICES areas I, II, IIIa, IV, V, XII, XIV and NAFO 0,1 (Greenland waters)

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ANNEX 1d - WESTERN COMMUNITY WATERS

ICES areas Vb(EC waters), VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, CECAF (EC waters), and French Guyana

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ANNEX 1e - NORTH WEST ATLANTIC

Area of NAFO

All TACs and associate conditions are adopted in the framework of NAFO.

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ANNEX 1f - HIGLY MIGRATORY FISH

All Areas

TACS in this area are adopted in the framework of international fisheries organisations on tuna fisheries, such as ICCAT and IATTC.

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ANNEX 1g - ANTARCTIC

(area of CCAMLR)

These TACs, adopted by CCAMLR, are not allocated to the members of CCAMLRand hence the Community share is undetermined. Catches are monitored by the Secretariat of CCAMLR, who will communicate when fishing must cease due to TAC exhaustion.

The figures in this annex shall replace the corresponding figures set out in Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 66/98.

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ANNEX 2

Fishing opportunities applicable in 2000 for herring to be landed unsorted for purposes other than human consumption (in tonnes, live weight). All catch limitations set out in this Annex are considered as quotas for the purposes of Article 7 and shall, therefore, be subject to the rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 2847/93, in particular Articles 14 and 15 thereof.

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ANNEX 3

Stocks subject to the various measures of Regulation (EC) No 847/96.

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ANNEX 4

Special measures concerning North Sea herring

1. Member States shall adopt special measures concerning the capture, sorting or landing of herring taken from the North Sea or from the Skagerrak and Kattegat with a view to ensuring the observance of catch limitations, in particular those set in Annex 2. These measures shall include, in particular:

? special control and inspection programmes;

? fishing effort plans, including lists of authorised vessels and, where deemed necessary on the basis of quota exhaustion beyond the level of 70%, limitations on the activity of authorised vessels;

? control of transhipment and of practices which incur discarding;

? where possible, temporary prohibition of fishing in areas where high by catch rates of herring, in particular juveniles, are known to occur.

2. In case of landings of herring unsorted from the remainder of the catch, Member States shall ensure that adequate sampling programmes are in place in order to monitor effectively all landings of by catches of herring. It shall be prohibited to land catches of fish containing unsorted herring in harbours where these sampling programmes are not in place.

3. Commission inspectors shall, in accordance with Article 29 of Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 and whenever the Commission deems it necessary for the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, carry out independent inspections to verify the implementation by the competent authorities of the sampling programmes and of the detailed measures mentioned in paragraph 1.

4. The Commission shall prohibit landings of herring if it is deemed that implementation of the measures mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 does not achieve a strict control of fishing mortality of herring in all fisheries.

5. All landings of herring caught in ICES areas IIIa, IV and VIId by vessels which carry on board only towed nets of minimum mesh sizes equal to or greater than 32 mm, while taking these catches in these areas, will be counted against a relevant quota as defined in Annex 1 to this Regulation.

6. All landings of herring caught in ICES areas IIIa, IV and VIId by vessels which carry on board towed nets of minimum mesh size less than 32 mm, while taking these catches in these areas, will be counted against a relevant quota as defined in Annex 2 to this Regulation. Herring landed by vessels operating within these conditions shall not be offered for sale for human consumption.

ANNEX 5

Transitional technical measures

1) Exit windows in the Baltic Sea

Notwithstanding the conditions set out in Annex V of Council Regulation (EC) No 88/98, and in order to guarantee the selectivity of the trawls, Danish seines and similar nets with special mesh openings as referred to in Annex IV of the same Regulation, the two models of exit windows described in Appendix I to this Annex shall be authorised in 2000.

2) Summer ban for Baltic cod

Fishing for cod shall be prohibited in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Øresund from 1 July to 20 August inclusive.

3) Closure of Bornholm Deep

All fishing shall be prohibited from 15 May to 31 August 2000 within the area bounded by the following coordinates:

- latitude 55° 30' N, longitude 15° 30' E

- latitude 55° 30' N, longitude 16° 10' E

- latitude 55° 15' N, longitude 16° 10' E

- latitude 55° 15' N, longitude 15° 30' E

4) Restrictions on fishing for sand eels

During the year 2000, it shall be prohibited to land or retain on board sand eels caught within the geographical area bounded by the east coast of England and Scotland, and a line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

- the east coast of England at latitude 55° 30' N,

- latitude 55° 30' N, longitude 1° 00',

- latitude 58° 00' N, longitude 1° 00' E,

- latitude 58° 00' N, longitude 2° 00' W,

- the east coast of Scotland at longitude 2° 00' W.

5) Restrictions on fishing for anchovy

It shall be prohibited to land or retain on board anchovy caught from 1 January to 30 June within the geographical area bounded by a line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

- A point in the northern Spanish coast at longitude 1° 35' W,

- latitude 44° 45' N, longitude 1° 35' W,

- latitude 44° 45' N, longitude 1° 45' W,

- latitude 46° 00' N, longitude 1° 45' W,

- A point in the western French coast at latitude 46°00' N.

6) Sole and fixed gears

Notwithstanding the conditions laid down in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 850/98, a minimum mesh size of 90 mm shall apply to sole (Solea solea) in ICES Divisions IVc and VIId during 2000.

7) Purse seines and marine mammals

Notwithstanding the conditions laid down in Article 33(1) of Council Regulation (EC) N° 850/98, it shall be permitted to undertake encirclements with purse seines on schools or groups of dolphins when aiming to catch tuna, under the conditions agreed within the Agreement for the International Dolphin Conservation Program, signed in Washington at 15 May 1998, to the following vessels:

Vessel name: AURORA B; external identification: BI-2-5-97; call sign: EAQT

Vessel name: ALBACORA; external identification: CA-3-1099; call sign: EGDY

Vessel name: ALMIRANTE; external identification: CA-3-1069; call sign: EAYN

Appendix I to Annex 5

Exit windows (model 1)

Two exit windows with plastic coated, fully opened diamond meshes shall be attached to the codend of trawls and Danish seines in the cod fishery. The mesh opening shall be no less than 105 mm. The exit windows shall be attached with a separate piece of netting (between the ordinary diamond meshes and the meshes of the exit window). The mesh size of the separate netting shall be identical to the bar length of the exit window times the square root of two.

The exit window shall be attached on both sides of the codend, and the distance between the rear end of the codend and the window shall be 40 to 50 cm. The length of the window shall be 80 % of the total length of the codend and the height of the window shall be 50 cm. Figure 1.The window shall be mounted in a way that gives an opening between the upper and lower seams of the window of 15 to 20 cm.

Exit windows (model 2)

Identification of the window

The windows shall be rectangular sections of netting in the codend. There shall be two windows in the codend.

Size of the window

Each window shall have a minimum width of 45 cm along its entire length. Each window shall have a minimum length of 3,5 m measured along its sides (Figure 2) and the length of the window shall not be less than 80 % of the total length of the codend.

Netting of the window

The meshes in the windows shall have a minimum size of 105 mm. They shall be square meshes, i.e. all four sides of the window netting will be cut by all bars . The netting shall be mounted such that the bars run parallel and perpendicular to the length of the codend .The window width shall be eight open square meshes.

Location of the window

The codend shall be divided into upper and lower panels by selvedges running down the port and starboard sides. The two windows shall be located in the lower panel, immediately adjacent to and below the selvedges. The windows shall terminate between 40-50 from the codline . Figure 2

The forward end of the window shall be joined to eight meshes' width of the normal codend netting. One side shall join to the selvedge or be joined immediately adjacent to the selvedge and the other side shall be joined to the normal codend lower panel netting following a straight line of meshes all knots cut.

Mesh size in the whole codend

All parts of the codend shall conform to a minimum mesh size of 105 mm.

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ANNEX 6

Quantitative limitations of licences and fishing permits for Community vessels fishing in Third Country waters. This information is shown for information only. It refers to the state of negotiations by the end of 1999 and may change following changes of legislation in third countries.

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ANNEX 6bis

Quantitative limitations of licences and fishing permits for third countries vessels in Community waters.

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ANNEX 7

Information to record in the logbook

When fishing within the 200-nautical-mile zone off the coasts of the Member States of the Community which is covered by Community rules on fisheries, the following details are to be entered in the log-book immediately after the following events:

After each haul:

1.1 the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species caught;

1.2 the date and the time of the haul;

1.3 the geographical position in which the catches were made;

1.4 the fishing method used.

After each transshipment to or from another vessel:

2.1 the indication "received from" or "transferred to";

2.2 the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) or each species transshipped;

2.3 the name, external identifications letters and numbers of the vessel to or from which the transshipment occurred.

2.4 transshipment of cod is not allowed

After each landing in a port of the Community:

3.1 name of the port;

3.2 the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species landed.

After each transmission of information to the Commission of the European Communities:

4.1 date and time of the transmission;

4.2 type of message: IN, OUT, ICES, WKL or 2 WKL;

4.3 in the case of radio transmission: name of the radio station.

ANNEX 8

Content and modalities of the transmission of information to the Commission

1. The information to be transmitted to the Commission of the European Communities and the timetable for its transmission are as follows:

1.1. On each occasion the vessel enters the 200-nautical-mile zone off the coasts of the Member States of the Community which is covered by Community rules on fisheries:

(a) the information specified under 1.5;

(b) the quantity (in kilograms) of each species of fish in the hold;

(c) the date and ICES division within which the master intends to commence fishing.

Where the fishing operations necessitate more than one entry into the zones referred to under 1.1 on a given day, one communication shall suffice on first entry.

1.2. On each occasion the vessel leaves the zone referred to under 1.1:

(a) the information specified under 1.5;

(b) the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species of fish in the hold;

(c) the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species caught since the previous transmission;

(d) the ICES division in which the catches were taken;

(e) the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species transferred to and/or from other vessels since the vessel entered the zone and the identification of the vessel to which the transfer was made;

(f) the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species landed in a port of the Community since the vessel entered the zone.

Where the fishing operations necessitate more than one entry into the zones referred to under 1.1 on a given day, one single communication on the last exit will be sufficient.

1.3. At three-day intervals, commencing on the third day after the vessel first enters the zones referred to under 1.1 when fishing for herring and mackerel, and at weekly intervals, commencing on the seventh day after the vessel first enters the zones referred to under 1.1 when fishing for all species other than herring and mackerel:

(a) the information specified under 1.5;

(b) the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species caught since the previous transmission;

(c) the ICES division in which the catches were made.

1.4. On each occasion the vessel moves from one ICES division to another:

(a) the information specified under 1.5;

(b) the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species caught since the previous transmission;

(c) the ICES division in which the catches have been taken.

1.5. (a) The name, call sign, external identification letters and numbers of the vessel and the name of its master;

(b) the licence number if the vessel is under licence;

(c) the serial number of the message for the voyage concerned;

(d) identification of the type of message;

(e) the date, the time and the geographical position of the vessel.

2.1. The information specified under point 1 shall be transmitted to the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels (telex 24189 FISEU-B) via one of the radio stations listed under point 3 below and in the form specified under point 4.

2.2. If it is impossible for reasons of force majeure for the message to be transmitted by the vessel, it may be transmitted on the vessel's behalf by another vessel.

3. Name of radio station Call sign of radio station

Skagen OXP

Blåvand OXB

Rønne OYE

Norddeich DAF DAK

DAH DAL

DAI DAM

DAJ DAN

Scheveningen PCH

Oostende OST

North Foreland GNF

Humber GKZ

Cullercoats GCC

Wick GKR

Portpatrick GPK

Anglesey GLV

Ilfracombe GIL

Niton GNI

Stonehaven GND

Portishead GKA

GKB

GKC

Land's End GLD

Valentia EJK

Malin Head EJM

Boulogne FFB

Brest FFU

Saint-Nazaire FFO

Bordeaux-Arcachon FFC

Torshavn OXJ

Bergen LGN

Farsund LGZ

Florø LGL

Rogaland LGQ

Tjøme LGT

Ålesund LGA

Blåvand OXB

Norddeich DAF DAK

DAH DAL

DAI DAM

DAJ DAN

Gryt (no call sign)

Göteborg SOG

Maarianhamina OHM

Helsinki OHG

Form of the communications

The information specified under point 1 shall contain the following particulars, which shall be given in the following order:

- name of vessel;

- call sign;

- external identification letters and numbers;

- serial number of the message for the voyage in question;

- indication of the type of message according to the following code:

- message when entering one of the zones referred to under 1.1: "IN",

- message when leaving one of the zones referred to under 1.1: "OUT",

- message when moving from one ICES division to another: "ICES",

- weekly message: "WKL",

- three-day message: "2 WKL";

- the date, the time and the geographical position;

- the ICES divisions/sub-areas in which fishing is expected to commence;

- the date on which fishing is expected to commence;

- the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species of fish in the hold using the code mentioned in point 5;

- the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species of fish caught since the previous transmission using the code mentioned in point 5;

- the ICES divisions/sub-areas in which the catches were made;

- the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species transferred to and/or from other vessels since the previous transmission;

- the name and call sign of the vessel to and/or from which the transfer was made;

- the quantity (in kilograms live-weight) of each species landed in a port of the Community since the previous transmission;

- the name of the master.

Code to be used to indicate the species on board as mentioned in 4 above:

American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), // PLA

Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus), // ANE

Angler/Monk (Lophius spp.), // MNZ

Argentine (Argentina sphyraena), // ARG

Atlantic pomfret (Brama brama), // POA

Basking shark (Cetorinhus maximus), // BSK

Blue ling (Molva dypterygia), // BLI

Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), // WHB

Cod (Gadus morhua), // COD

Common shrimp (Crangon crangon), // CSH

Common squid (Loligo spp.), // SQC

Dogfish (Squalus acanthias), // DGS

Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), // GHL

Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), // HAD

Hake (Merluccius merluccius), // HKE

Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), // HAL

Herring (Clupea harengus), // HER

Horse-mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), // HOM

Ling (Molva molva), // LIN

Mackerel (Scomber scombrus), // MAC

Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.), // LEZ

Northern deep-water prawn (Pandalus borealis), // PRA

Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus), // NEP

Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii), // NOP

Other. // OTH

Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), // PLE

Pollack (Pollachius pollachius), // POL

Porbeagle (Lamma nasus), // POR

Redfish (Sebastes spp.), // RED

Round-nose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris), // RNG

Saithe (Pollachius virens), // POK

Salmon (Salmo salar), // SAL

Sandeel (Ammodytes spp.), // SAN

Sardine (Sardina pilchardus), // PIL

Shrimp (Penaeidae), // PEZ

Sprat (Sprattus sprattus), // SPR

Squid (Illex spp.), // SQX

Tuna (Thunnidae), // TUN

Tusk (Brosme brosme), // USK

Whiting (Merlangus merlangus), // WHG

Yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), // YEL

ANNEX 9

List of species of the NAFO Regulatory area

Common name // Scientific name

Principal groundfish (except flatfish)

Atlantic cod

Haddock

Redfish

Atlantic redfish

Golden redfish

Silver hake

Red hake

Pollock (= saithe) //

Gadus morhua

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Sebastes spp.

Sebastes marinus

Sebastes mentella

Merluccius bilinearis

Urophucis chuss

Pollachius virens

Flatfish

American plaice

Witch flounder

Yellowtail flounder

Greenland halibut

Atlantic halibut

Winter flounder

Summer flounder

Windowpane flounder

Flatfish (NS) //

Hippoglossoides platessoides

Glyptocephalus cynoglossus

Limanda ferruginea

Reinhardtius hippoglossoides

Hippoglossus hippoglossus

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Paralichthys dentatus

Scophthalmus aquosus

Pleuronectiformes

Other groundfish

American angler (= goosefish)

Atlantic searobins

Atlantic tomcod

Blue whiting

Cunner

Cusk (= tusk)

Greenland cod

Blue ling

Ling

Lumpfish (= lumpsucker)

Northern kingfish

Northern puffer

Eelpouts (NS)

Ocean pout

Polar cod

Roundnose grenadier

Roughhead grenadier

Sandeel (= sand lance)

Sculpin

Scup

Tautog

Tilefish

White hake

Wolffish (NS)

Atlantic wolffish

Spotted wolffish

Groundfish (NS) //

Lophius americanus

Prionotus spp.

Microgadus tomcod

Micromesistius poutassou

Tautogolabrus adspersus

Brosme brosme

Gadus ogac

Molva dypterygia

Molva molva

Cyclopterus lumpus

Menticirrhus saxatilis

Sphoeroides maculatus

Lycodes spp.

Macrozoarces americanus

Boreogadus saida

Coruphaenoides rupestris

Macrouris berglax

Ammodytes spp.

Myoxocephalus spp.

Stenotomus chrysops

Tautoga onitis

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps

Urophycis tenuis

Anarhichas spp.

Anarhichas lupus

Anarhichas minor

. . . .

ANNEX 10

Authorised top-side chafers

4. ICNAF-type top-side chafer

A rectangular piece of netting attached to the upper side of a cod-end to reduce or prevent damage and complying with the following requirements:

(a) the netting shall not have a mesh size less than that specified for the net itself;

(b) the netting may be fastened to the cod-end only along the forward and lateral edges of the netting and shall be fastened in such a manner that it extends forward of the splitting strap no more than four meshes and ends not less than four meshes in front of the codline mesh; where a splitting strap is not used, the netting shall not extend to more than one-third of the cod-end measured from not less than four meshes in front of the codline mesh;

(c) the number of meshes in the width of the netting shall be at least one and a half times the number of meshes in the width of the part of the cod-end which is covered, both widths being taken at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cod-end.

'Multiple flap' top-side chafer

Pieces of netting having in all their parts meshes the dimensions of which, whether the pieces of netting are wet or dry, are not less than those of the meshes of the net to which they are attached, provided that:

(i) each piece of netting:

(a) is fastened only by its forward edge across the cod-end at right angles to its longitudinal axis;

(b) is at least equal in width to the width of the cod-end (such width being measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cod-end at the point of attachment);

(c) is not more than 10 meshes long.

(ii) the aggregate length of all the pieces of netting so attached does not exceed two-thirds of the length of the cod-end.

Large mesh (modified Polish-type) top-side chafer

A rectangular piece of netting made of the same twine material as the cod-end, or of a single, thick, knotless twine material, attached to the rear portion of the upper side of the cod-end and extending over all or any part of the upper side of the cod-end, having in all its parts a mesh size twice that of the cod-end when measured wet and fastened to the cod-end along the forward, lateral and rear edges only of the netting in such a way that each mesh of the netting exactly coincides with four meshes of the cod-end.

ANNEX 11

Minimum landing sizes

>TABLE>

ANNEX 12

Minimum landing sizes of processed fish

>TABLE>

(*) Lower size for green salted fish

ANNEX 13

Particulars to be contained in the logbook

Particulars // Code

Name of vessel

Nationality of vessel

Registration number of vessel

Port of registration

Type of fishing gear used (daily)

Type of fishing gear

Date:

- day

- month

- year

Position:

- latitude

- longitude

- statistical zone

Number of fishing operations per period of 24 hours(1)

Number of hours fishing with gear per period of 24 hours(1)

Name of species

Daily catches by species (in tonnes live weight)

Daily catches, per species, for human consumption

Quantities discarded daily per species

Place of transshipment

Date(s) of transshipment

Master's signature // 01

2(2)

2(2)

(1) Where two or more types of fishing gear are used in a given 24-hour period, separate records must be supplied for each type of gear.

(2) To be indicated together with one of the abbreviations listed in the second part of this Annex.

Standard abbreviations for the principal species in the NAFO area

>TABLE>

Standard abbreviations for fishing gear

Abbreviations // Fishing gear

OTB

OTB 1

OTB 2

OTM

OTM 1

OTM 2

PTB

PTM

GM

GNS

LL

LLS

LLD

MIS

NK // Bottom otter trawl (side or stern, not specificed)

Bottom otter trawl (side)

Bottom otter trawl (stern)

Midwater otter trawl (side or stern, not specified)

Midwater otter trawl (side)

Midwater otter trawl (stern)

Bottom pair trawl (2 vessels)

Midwater pair trawl (2 vessels)

Gillnets (not specified)

Set gillnets

Longlines (set or drifting, not specified)

Longlines (set)

Longlines (drifting)

Miscellaneous fishing gear

Fishing gear not known

ANNEX 14

Prohibition on fishing in CCAMLR area

>TABLE>

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1. Title of operation

Proposal for a Council Regulation fixing for 2000 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required and amending Regulation 66/98.

2. Budget heading(s) involved

B7-800

3. Legal basis

Article 8 (4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92

4. Description of operation

4.1 General objective

- maintain and develop the traditional activity of Community fishermen in Lithuanian and Latvian waters;

- supply the Community market;

- decrease the fishing effort in Community waters;

- establish the definitive fishing quotas to be granted to Norway in Greenland waters in order to balance the arrangements on mutual access fishing rights between the Community and Norway for 2000.

4.2 Period covered and arrangements for renewal

1 January to 31 December 2000

5. Classification of expenditure or revenue

5.1 Compulsory expenditure

5.2 Differentiated appropriations

6. Type of expenditure or revenue

Financial compensation paid for fishing possibilities in Lithuanian and Latvian waters and for supplementary catch possibilities offered by Greenland pursuant to Article 8 of the Fisheries Agreement between the EEC, on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the local Government of Greenland, on the other. No agreement could be reached on fishing possibilities in Estonian waters for year 2000.

7. Financial impact

Agreements with Lithuania and Latvia: EUR 798,200

The financial compensation provided for in Article 4 of the Agreement on Fisheries Relations between the European Community and the Republic of Lithuania (EUR 546,200) and in Article 4 of the Agreement on Fisheries Relations between the European Community and the Republic of Latvia (EUR 252,000) has been negotiated on the basis of average landing prices for 1998 in Community ports in the Baltic Sea. A deduction has been made for estimated fleet exploitation costs for each of the species.

Greenland Agreement: Minimum amount: EUR 639,160

Maximum amount: EUR 1,757,690

The amount required to be committed in 2000 is calculated on the basis of a contribution of EUR 319.58 per tonne of cod equivalent.

7.1 Method of calculating total cost of operation (relation between individual and total costs)

Agreements with Lithuania and Latvia:

>TABLE>

1 633 tonnes allocated in Lithuanian and Latvian waters, and 667 tonnes transferred to Community waters

Total financial compensation: EUR 798,200 (rounded up by EUR 200)

Average price EUR/tonne: 52.6

Greenland Agreement:

Minimum amount:

2,000 tonnes of cod equivalent x 319.58 = EUR 639,160

Maximum amount:

5,500 tonnes of cod equivalent x 319.58 = EUR 1,757,690

8. Fraud prevention measures

The financial contribution granted by the Community is utilised by Lithuania and Latvia to develop their fisheries sector in accordance with Article 4 of both agreements. The amount is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in the case of Lithuania and by the National Board of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture in the case of Latvia.

Under the Fisheries Agreement between the Community and Greenland, the financial contribution from the Commission is not subject to any specific provision as to the end use of funds.

9. Elements of cost-effectiveness analysis

Agreements with Lithuania and Latvia:

The Community fleet in the Baltic Sea has been severely hit by reductions in catch possibilities, mainly due to biological factors (low salinity of the water and the M-74 disease) and pollution of the water. Any increase in fishing possibilities above current critical catch levels will contribute towards preventing the fleet, and connected industries and services ashore, from collapsing and disappearing. This will also avoid, to a certain extent, payments under lay-up schemes or social programmes.

Experience has taught us that the financial compensation, similar to that paid in previous years, has mainly been used by Lithuania and Latvia for the continued improvement of scientific research on fisheries and the training of fisheries managers and control activities. This has entailed improved scientific assessment and enforcement in the fishery zones of Lithuania and Latvia, and has contributed to a more rational exploitation of the stocks, to the benefit of all concerned in the Baltic Sea.

The expenses proposed are foreseen in the budgetary planning for the period concerned.

Greenland Agreement:

The bilateral, mutual-access Agreement between the Community and Norway is managed on an annual basis, by calculating the balance between Community catch possibilities in Norwegian waters and Norwegian catch possibilities in Community waters for different species. This arrangement is variable annually according to the state of the different fish stocks concerned. For 2000, the arrangements with Norway are difficult to achieve due to the poor state of most of the key fish stocks in Community waters. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advises that the TAC for 2000 for stocks such as cod, haddock and saithe be reduced by 40%. This fact makes it difficult to compensate the access of Community vessels to Norwegian resources with Norwegian access to the poor Community resources. On the other hand, the TAC for Arctic cod has been decreased. Likewise, the Community share of "cohesion cod" will be lower in 2000 but still has to be compensated. Community fishing vessels are dependent on having continued access to high value species in Norwegian waters, such as cod, haddock and saithe in the Barents Sea.

These reasons make it necessary to compensate Norway with some of the catch possibilities that are available to the Community under the terms of its Fisheries Agreement with Greenland. In order to avoid jeopardising the conservation of fish stocks in Community waters whilst at the same time maintaining, to the extent possible, Member States' fishing activities, a purchase of supplementary fishing possibilities from Greenland is the only available means to achieve a balanced mutual access arrangement with Norway for 2000.

10. Administrative expenditure (Section III, Part A of the budget)

The proposal does not require new Commission staff or additional administrative costs.