COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2021/1168

of 27 April 2021

establishing the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds as part of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 (1), and in particular the first and third subparagraphs of Article 4(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) requires the Member States to collect the biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data that are necessary for fisheries management.

(2) Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 requires the Commission to establish a multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector (EU MAP).

(3) The EU MAP is necessary for Member States to specify and plan their data collection activities in their national work plans. It sets out a detailed list of data requirements for the collection and management of biological, environmental and socioeconomic data, lists mandatory surveys at sea and sets thresholds for data collection. The EU MAP for 2020-2021 was adopted by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 (3) and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 (4). Both decisions expire on 31 December 2021.

(4) This Decision therefore establishes the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data from their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea, as referred to in Article 5(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 from 1 January 2022. It also lays down the areas of marine regions for the purposes of data collection as referred to in Article 9(11) of that Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.

(5) The Commission has consulted the relevant regional coordination groups and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries in line with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.

(6) This Decision is to be read in conjunction with Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 (5) which repeals Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 and lays down detailed arrangements on the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data by Member States, as referred to in Article 5(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, from 1 January 2022.

(7) For reasons of legal certainty, Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 should be repealed with effect from 1 January 2022.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The list of mandatory research surveys at sea, the definitions of geographical areas applicable for the collection of Union fisheries data and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data from their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea from 2022 is set out in the Annex to this Decision. The list of surveys and thresholds form part of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries sector, as referred to in points (b) and (c) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.

Article 2 Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 is repealed.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2022.

Done at Brussels, 27 April 2021. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 157, 20.6.2017, p. 1.

(2) Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22).

(3) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 of 13 March 2019 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, p. 27).

(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 of 18 February 2019 establishing the list of mandatory research surveys and thresholds for the purposes of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, p. 21).

(5) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 of 27 April 2021 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022 (See page 51 of this Official Journal).