30.4.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 153/95 EN 
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) 820/2004 
of 29 April 2004 
amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2287/2003 as regards fishing opportunities for 
blue whiting in certain zones  
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC)  No 2287/2003 of 19 December 2003 fixing for 
2004 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 
catch limitations are required 
1, and in particular Article 5(4) thereof, 
Whereas: (1) Article 5(4) of Regulation (EC) No 2287/2003 lays down the possibility to increase the 
Community’s fishing opportunities for blue whiting and herring when third countries 
do not respect a responsible management of those stocks. 
(2) No maximum fishing opportunities for blue whiting for 2004 have been established by 
the Faeroe Islands and Norway. Iceland has established fishing opportunities far above 
their historical catches of the stock. It may therefore be considered that those  third countries do not respect a responsible management of the blue whiting stock.  
While awaiting a long term management agreement on the blue whiting stock with the 
coastal States concerned, it is appropriate for the Community to provisionally increase 
its quota with 350 000 tonnes in zones II (Inte rnational waters), IIa (EC waters), North 
Sea (EC waters), V,VI, VII, VIII, IX, X,  XII, XIV, CECAF 34.1.1 (EC waters). 
(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture. 
(4) Regulation (EC) No  2287/2003 should therefore be amended accordingly, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Annexes IB and IC to Regulation (EC) No 2287/2003 are amended in accordance with the 
Annex to this Regulation. 
                                                
 
1 OJ L 344, 31.12.2003, p. 1. 
 2    Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Union . 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 29 April 2004. 
 For the Commission 
 Franz FISCHLER 
 Member of the Commission 
 3    ANNEX  
The Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 2287/2003 are amended as follows: 1. In Annex IB: 
 The entries concerning the species blue whiting in zones: 
 IIa (EC waters), North Sea (EC waters), 
 V, VI, VII, XII, and XIV,  VIIIa,b,d,e, 
 VIIIc, IX, X, CECAF 34.1.1 
 are replaced by the following: 
 
Species Blue whiting Zone: IIa (EC waters), North Sea (EC waters) 
 Micromesistius poutassou WHB/2AC4-C   
Denmark 97 058        
Germany 160        
The Netherlands 294        
Sweden 313        
United Kingdom 2 141        
EC 99 966        
         
Norway 40 000 ( 1 )        
         
TAC Not relevant  Analytical TAC where deductions of Article 5(2) of 
Regulation (EC) No 847/96 apply. 
__________         
(1) Within a total quota of 120 000 tonnes in EC waters.  
 
 4     
Species: Blue whiting Zone: V, VI, VII, XII and XIV 
 Micromesistius poutassou WHB/571214 
Denmark 8 031        
Germany 31 087        
Spain 51 812 ( 1 )        
France 43 263        
Ireland 62 174        
The Netherlands 97 665        
Portugal 3 886 ( 1 )        
United Kingdom 90 671        
EC 388 589        
Norway 120 000 ( 2 ) ( 3 )        
Faroe Islands 45 000 (4) (5)       
         
TAC Not relevant  Analytical TAC where deductions of Article 5(2) of 
Regulation (EC) No 847/96 apply. 
__________         
(1) Of which up to 75 % may be taken in areas VIIIc, IX, X, CECAF 34.1.1 (EC waters). 
(2) May be fished in EC waters in areas II, IVa, VIa north of 56°30'N, VIb, VII west of 12°W  
(3) Of which up to 500 tonnes may consist of argentine ( Argentina spp. ). 
(4) Catches of blue whiting may include unavoidable catches of argentine ( Argentina spp. ) 
(5) May be fished in EC waters in areas VIa north of 56°30' N, VIb, VII west of 12° W. Special conditions:
 
Within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the zones 
specified: 
  IVa WHB/04A-C 
Norway   40 000     
 5    Species: Blue whiting Zone: VIIIa,b,d, e    
 Micromesistius poutassou WHB/8ABDE.    
Spain 19 993        
France 15 513        
Portugal 2 999        
United Kingdom 14 477        
EC 52 982        
         
TAC Not relevant  Analytical TAC where deductions of Article 5(2) of 
Regulation (EC) No 847/96 apply. 
         
Special conditions:         
Any part of the abovementioned quotas may be fished in ICES Division Vb (EC waters), sub-areas VI, VII, XII 
and XIV. 
         
 
Species: Blue whiting Zone: VIIIc, IX, X, CECAF 34.1.1 (EC waters) 
 Micromesistius poutassou WHB/8C3411    
Spain 87 970        
Portugal 21 993        
EC 109 963 (1)       
         
TAC Not relevant  Analytical TAC where deductions of Article 5(2) of 
Regulation (EC) No 847/96 apply. 
 
 
2. In Annex IC: 
 The entry concerning the species blue whiti ng in zone I, II (int ernational waters) is 
replaced by the following:  
Species: Blue whiting Zone: I, II, (international waters)  
 Micromesistius poutassou      
E C  7 0  0 0 0        
        
T A C  N o t  r e l e v a n t