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COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 654/87
of 2 March 1987
establishing, for the period from 1 March to 30 June 1987, certain measures for the conservation and management of fishery resources applicable to vessels flying the Japanese flag in waters falling under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Portugal
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 of 25 January 1983 establishing a Community system for the conservation and management of fishery resources (1), and in particular Article 11 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 requires the Council to formulate the conservation measures necessary to achieve the aims set out in Article 1 of the Regulation in the light of available scientific advice;
Whereas since 3 March 1980 there has been a fisheries agreement between the Portuguese Republic and Japan authorizing fishing by a certain number of vessels flying the Japanese flag in certain parts of the waters falling under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Portugal, in return for the payment of a fee and for scientific and technical cooperation;
Whereas during the negotiations for the accession of the Portuguese Republic to the European Communities it was agreed that Portugal would denounce fisheries agreements concerning the activities in its waters of vessels flying the flags of non-member countries; whereas the fisheries agreement with Japan was denounced on 2 september 1985;
Whereas that agreement expired on 2 March 1986; whereas Japanese fishing activities have been temporarily maintained in 1986 by Regulation (EEC) No 448/86 (2) in the framework of cooperation with Japan to the benefit of local people who are greatly dependent on fisheries in view of the need for balanced economic and social development of the Portuguese coastal regions;
Whereas the continuation of this system should be assured for the 1987 fishing season;
Whereas fishing by Japanese vessels in waters falling under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Portugal is subject to Community fisheries regulations; whereas such fishing should be supplemented by certain technical and supervisory measures,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Vessels flying the Japanese flag, fishing exclusively with long lines, shall be authorized, for the fishing period 1 March to 30 June 1987, to fish as their principal catch, bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus) in waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Portugal that lie beyond 12 miles from the baselines, with the exception of the zones listed in Annex I, subject to the conditions laid down in this Regulation.
Article 2
1. The maximum number of long-liners referred to in Article 1 shall be 25: no vessel may exceed 500 grt.
2. The total catch of all the long-liners may not exceed 240 tonnes of bluefin tuna.
3. Other tuna species caught when fishing for bluefin tuna may not exceed 25 % of the total catch per vessel.
Article 3
1. The catch of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus) of a unitary weight of less than 6,4 kilograms shall be prohibited.
2. The catch of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) of a unitary weight of less than 3,2 kilograms shall be prohibited.
3. The catch of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) of a unitary weight of less than 3,2 kilograms shall be prohibited.
Article 4
1. Fishing by long-liners referred to in Article 1 in zones referred to in the same Article shall be subject to the possession on board of a licence, issued by the Commission on behalf of the Community, and to the observance of the conditions set out in that licence and the supervisory measures and other provisions regulating fishing activities in those zones.
2. The master of each vessel in possession of a licence must observe the special conditions set out in Annex II, and in particular the obligation to forward the information specified in the said Annex via the radio stations indicated therein. These conditions shall form part of the licence.
3. Each licence shall be valid for a single vessel and not be transferable. However, the Japanese authorities may request the Commission, by telex, to authorize the transfer of the licence for a vessel which is prevented from fishing during the set period for reasons of force majeure to a replacement vessel whose technical characteristics do not exceed those of the vessel to be replaced. The request shall provide all the information referred to in Article 7, in respect of this replacement vessel. The Commission shall notify any transfer authorization, without delay and by telex, to the Japanese authorities and to the competent supervisory authorities. The replacement vessel can carry out fishing activities only after the date indicated by the Commission in its notification.
4. All licences referred to in paragraph 1 shall cease to be valid once the Commission has established that the quota laid down in Article 2 has been used up.
Article 5
The issue of fishing licences referred to in Article 4 shall be conditional on Japan's planning an annual scientific and technical cooperation programme to benefit Portugal's coastal population, which is greatly dependent on fishery activities. Particular attention shall be paid in the programme to training requirements, the improvement of research capacity and the need for economic and social development of the Portuguese coastal regions. The programme shall be submitted to the Commission before 28 February 1987.
Article 6
1. An application for licences shall be submitted by the Japanese authorities no later than 15 working days before the desired date of commencement of validity. The Commission shall issue the licences to the Japanese authorities and shall notify the competent supervisory authorities thereof.
2. The issue of licences to Japanese vessels shall be subject to an undertaking by the owner of the vessel to permit an observer to come on board at the Commission's request.
3. Unused licences may be cancelled with a view to the issuing of new licences. Cancellation shall take effect on the date the new licence is issued by the Commission. New licences shall be issued in accordance with paragraph 1.
Article 7
The following information shall accompany applications for licences submitted to the Commission:
(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) proposed fishing zone;
(j) period for which a licence is requested.
Article 8
1. The Portuguese authorities shall take appropriate measures, including the inspection of vessels, to ensure that the obligations under this Regulation are observed.
2. Where an infringement is duly ascertained, the Portuguese authorities shall forthwith, but at the latest within 30 days of the date on which the infringement was established, inform the Commission of the name of the vessel concerned and any action they may have taken.
Article 9
1. A vessel which has failed to comply with the obligations laid down in this Regulation shall have its licence withdrawn; such licence shall not be replaced.
2. If a vessel fishing without a valid licence in the waters referred to in Article 1 is owned or managed by a natural or legal person owning or managing one or more other vessels to which licences have been issued one of those licences may be withdrawn.
Article 10
If, for a period of one month, the Commission receives no communication as laid down in Article 4 (2) for a vessel in possession of a licence referred to in that Article, the licence of that vessel shall be withdrawn.
Article 11
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 2 March 1987.