COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COaVMDNITIES 
COM (92) 394 final 
Brussels,14 September 1992 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
aatting up lioanaing arrangananta for fiahing within tha ragulatory araa 
dafinad by tha M*FO convantion by vaaeals flying tha flag of a 
Mambar Stata or ragiatarad at a Community port 
(presented by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Sinca 1 January 1979, when tha Community became a contracting party to the 
NAFO Convention, catches of certain stock» or groupa of stocks in tha NAF0 
regulatory area by vessels flying tha flag of a Member State are restricted 
by TAC and quota arrangemente• 
In parallel, to protect the NAFO area'a fishery resources technical 
conservation measures ware proposed by the NAFO Fisheries Commission and 
adopted by tha Community. These included radio notification of entry and 
exit from the zones of the NAFO area. 
The restriction on catch possibilities for certain NAFO stocks has not 
however reduced fiahing mortality, since the fiehing effort of Community 
vessels has not been reduced in line with catch possibilities. 
This finding is not restricted to the NAFO area. Tha Commission's report on 
the CFP showed that the raaourca management and conservation measures 
introduced by Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 had failed to prevent excessive 
fishing mortality throughout tha Community's fisheries. 
It is accordingly necessary in overhauling tha CFP to regulate access to 
resources so that fishing effort is managed and controlled. 
This new facet of tha CFP, embodied in Council Regulation (EEC) No ..../.. of 
... establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture, is fully 
consonant with tha recommendations of the international scientific 
organizations, in particular those of tha NAFO Scientific Council. 
The attached proposal applies to the NAFO area tha new raaourca management 
mechanisms designed to restrict tha fishing effort of Community vessels 
through introduction of a licensing aystem. 
/• 
This will not only restrict the number of vessels but also allow fleet 
capacity for the various stocks to be regulated in line with fishing 
possibilities for each of them. 
Fishing for species subject to TACs and quotas will thus be conditional on 
the obtaining of a special licence. The catch authorized for each Member 
i 
V. 
State from each stock or group of stocks will be determined under management 
mechanisms adopted by the Council. 
The number of vessels that may hold a licence and possibly the maximum number 
of days at sea authorized per fishing type and by virtue of these licences 
will be set in line with the provisions adopted by the Council under Articles 
2 and 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) No ..../.. establishing a Community 
system for fisheries and aquaculture. 
Vessels without special licences will be allowed to fish only beyond a 
minimum depth of 800 metres and will be prohibited from taking by-catches of 
TAC and quota species that would be detrimental to sound management of these 
species. 
Fishing directed to species not at present exploited by Community vessels 
will also be subject to Community authorization so that due care can be taken 
to prevent subsequent over-exploitation. 
The proposal provides for a framework regulation laying down in particular 
the basic principles at Community level, whereas the details of application, 
and particularly the choice of criteria for the selection of veaaela to be 
included in the draft lists, will be a matter for the Member States. 
Licences will be issued by the Commission acting on behalf of the Community. 
It will use draft lists drawn up by the Member States. 
The licensing system will enable the Member States to manage their quotas and 
other legitimate fishing opportunities in a highly effective way. 
Introduction as part of the licence system of automatic notification by 
satellite of vessel position and movement will improve monitoring. 
The whole scheme will show the Community giving itself the resources to 
operate a strict policy in an area of great diplomatic importance. 
Draft 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No /92 
Of 1992 
setting up licensing arrangements for fishing within the regulatory area 
defined by the NAFO Convention by vessels flying the flag of a 
Member State or registered at a Community port 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having the regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, 
and in particular Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament1, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee^, 
Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No .../.. of ... establishing a Community 
system for fisheries and aquaculture3 provides for the introduction of a 
Community system of fishing licences applicable to Community fishing vessels 
operating on the high seas; 
Whereas the Community has signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of 
the Sea, containing principles and rules on conservation and management of 
high sea biological resources, in particular in Articles 116 and 119 thereof; 
Whereas the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest 
Atlantic Fisheries, hereinafter called the "NAFO Convention", was approved by 
the Council by Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78* and entered into force on 1 
January 1979; 
Whereas Article II of that Convention states that its object is to contribute 
to the optimum utilization, rational management and conservation of the 
fishery resources of the convention area; 
1 OJ No C 
2 OJ No C 
3 OJ No L 
<-k T ttT— T "* •» o "%r\ * *» i r\ie% — < 
Whereas within the general framework of its international obligations the 
Community participates in the effort to conserve fish stocks in international 
waters; 
Whereas conservation effort must be assessed using relevant scientific data, 
so that measures can be implemented that are appropriate to the biological 
situation of the stocks and their foreseeable evolution according to various 
exploitation possibilities; 
Whereas the level of fishing of these stocka by the fleata of the Member 
States ahould be judged in relation to total fishing activity in the area 
concerned and account taken of the contribution made up to the present by the 
Community as a contracting party to NAFO to safeguarding them; 
Whereas the fishing effort directed to certain stocks in the NAFO area ahould 
be restricted so that they can be conserved and an adequate degree of 
profitability ensured for the activities of the fishermen concerned; 
Whereas to this end it is essential that fishing by Community vessels be 
regulated by licensing and that the system be run by the Commission on behalf 
of the Community as a contracting party to the NAFO Convention; 
Whereas for certain species that are biologically sensitive because of the 
way in which they are exploited stricter regulation of the fishing effort of 
Community vessels is required; whereas it is essential therefore that 
Community vessels fishing for these species hold a licence regulating access 
to and exercise of fishing effort in line with the direct catch restrictions 
already applicable to these species; 
Whereas it is accordingly nacaasary to determine operating procedures for the 
system, covering transmission of the particulars of vaasela wishing to fish 
./ 
in the NAFO area and notification of vessel movements within the area, and 
also the list of species for which licences will be required; 
Whereas fishing for species not at present exploited by Community vessels 
will have to be subject to authorization from the Community so that 
subsequent over exploitation is avoided; 
Whereas in order to ensure that the rules of access to waters and resources 
laid down by this Regulation are respected provisions must be adopted, 
additional to those of Council Regulation (EEC) No ..../.. establishing a 
Community control system5 and of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1956/88 of 
9 June 1988 adopting provisions for the application of the scheme of joint 
international inspection adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries 
Organization6, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 436/927 whereby the 
Commission prohibits fishing for a certain period by those who have infringed 
the rules, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Fishing in the regulatory area defined in Article 1(2) of the NAFO Convention 
by vessels flying the flag of a Member State or registered in a Community 
port, hereafter referred to as "Community vessels", shall be conditional on 
the holding of a licence issued by the Commission acting on behalf of the 
Community and in compliance with the requirements set out in this Regulation. 
Article 2 
The licence referred to in Article 1 may be granted for: , 
1. directed fishing of a target species or group of target species from a 
stock or group of stocks covered by TACs or quotas, 
2. fishing for a species or group of species other than those referred to in 
paragraph 1 beyond a minimum depth of 800 metres. 
5 OJ No L 
6 OJ No L 175, 6.7.1988, p.l. 
7 OJ No L 54, 28.2.1992, p.l. 
Article 3 
1. For the purposes of this Regulation, "directed fishing" means any type of 
fishing where the minimum percentage of the target species or group of 
target species is higher than set in Annex I, and of which the 
composition of by-catches of species subject to a TAC or quota complies 
with the rules prescribed at Annex I. 
2. Catches of the target species or group of target apecias and by-catches 
of species listed in Annex I taken by Community vessels which hold 
licences as referred to in Article 2(1) must be sorted immediately after 
the net has been hauled and atored separately. 
3. The percentage referred to in paragraph 1 ahall be the proportion by 
weight of all the apacies subject to TAC or quota sorting or on landing, 
including any quantity transhipped. 
Article 4 
1. The by-catches accessible by stock or group of stocks of target apacies 
shall be allocated to each Member State in accordance with the procedure 
laid down in Article 6 of Council Regulation (EEC) No .../.. establishing 
a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture. 
2. The maximum number of vessels and if necessary the maximum number of days 
at sea authorized shall be determined by fishing type and sub-area for 
each Member State in accordance with the provisions adopted by the 
Council under Articles 2 and 7 of [the abovementioned] Regulation (EEC) 
No •••/•» • 
Article 5 
Community vessels holding a licence under the terms of Article 2(2) may not 
retain on board, tranship or land fish of any apacies or group of species 
other than that for which the licence was granted. 
./. 
Article 6 
1. Commercial fishing operationa for species new to the Community must be 
authorized by the Commission. 
2. Vessels authorized to fiah under the terme of paragraph 1 shall be 
allowed, by derogation from the normal rules, to use nets suitable for 
taking these new species. 
Article 7 
1. Member Stataa ahall forward to the Commission every year, not later than 
one month before the beginning of the fishing authorization period, 
proposed lists of vessala for which a licence ie required to fish under 
the terms of this Regulation. 
2. The following information ahall be given for each vessel: 
a. number on the Community fishing vassal register 
b. name 
c. ragistration number 
d. name and address of owner or charterer 
e. call aignal and radio frequency 
f. fishing method proposed 
g. proposed target species or group of species 
h. number of days allotted, subdivided by target species and sub-area 
i. period for which licence requested 
j. the vessel characteristics must be as shown in the Community fishing 
vessel register; any change must be immediately notified by the 
Member State to the Commission. 
./. 
Article 8 
1. The Commission shall examine the proposed liata and adopt final lists of 
vessels to which the terme of this Regulation apply, and shall transmit 
these lists to the authorities of the Member Stataa concerned at the 
latest [five working days] before the beginning of the liât'a period of 
validity. Vessels shown on the lists adopted by the Commission shall be 
deemed to hold a licence authorizing them to fieh under the terme eet out 
in thie Regulation. 
2. If the final list drawn up by the Commission comprises fawar vessels than 
the maximum number authorized to fieh simultaneously in the area referred 
to in Article 1, Member Stataa may during the period of validity of the 
liât address one or mora applications for additional licenses to the 
Commission, within the limit of the maximum number of veeeele. 
The Commission shall examine each application immediately and notify any 
modification of the liât to the Member State concerned following 
acceptance of the licence applications. 
No additional vessel may be considered to hold a fishing licence before 
the Member State concerned has been informed by the Commission that the 
list has been modified. 
3. Licences shall be valid for a single vessel. If a number of vessels take 
part in the same fishing operation each must hold a licanaa. A vessel 
may not hold both a licence issued under Article 2(1) and a licence 
issued under Article 2(2). 
Article 9 
1. A licence granted for a species listed in Annex I to a Community vessel 
shall cease to be valid on the date on which the quota assigned to that 
Member State or the TAC for the stock or group of stocks in question is 
considered to have been exhausted, even if the number of daya allotted to 
that Member State for fishing for that species has not been used up. 
•/ * 
2. If the number of days allotted to a Member State under Article 4 has been 
used up for reasons of force majeure, and there is a risk of prejudice to 
the Member State through non-exhaustion of its quota, the matter shall be 
referred to the Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture in 
accordance with Article 14 of Council Regulation (EEC) No ..../.. 
establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture. Measures 
shall be adopted to prevent prejudice occurring. These may include 
allocation to the Member State of additional days to enable it to exhaust 
its quota. 
Article 10 
The authorities of a Member State may request the Commission for replacement 
of a vessel on the final list that by reason of force majeur* is prevented 
from fishing during all or part of the scheduled period. The Commission 
shall deal with such applications without delay. 
Article 11 
1. The master of each vessel holding a licence under this Regulation must 
comply with the communications procedure laid down by Council Regulation 
(EEC) No 189/92 of 27 January 1992 adopting provisions for the 
application of certain control measures adopted by the Northwest Atlantic 
Fisheries Organisation®. 
OJ No L 21. 30.1.1992. o.4 
2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, Community vessels that hold a licence 
under Article 2(2) must make daily notification of their planned target 
species to the relevant national authority and simultaneously to the 
Commission of the European Communities. 
Article 12 
1. Without prejudice to Article 11, Community vessels that are fiehing in 
the area referred to in Article 1 must have equipment enabling them to 
notify by satellite their geographical position determined to the nearest 
100 metres, their apaed and course to the control centre designated by 
the Member State whose flag they fly or in which they are registered. 
2. The Member State whose flag the vessel fliee or in which the vessel is 
registered shall take the necessary action to record, in computer-
readable form, the information tranamitted by ita fishing vessels in 
whatever waters or in whatever port they may be located. 
3. Member State ehall transmit the information referred to in paragraph 1 
to the Commission in real time. 
4. Information collected pursuant to this Article may be ueed only for the 
purpose for which it is required. The Commission, the Member States' 
competent authorities and officials and other aganta ehall be under an 
obligation not to divulge information they have gathered pursuant to this 
Article that by its nature is covered by the rule of professional 
secrecy. 
5. Each Member State must store, or have stored, in computer-readable form, 
the information recorded pursuant to paragraph 2, ao that it can be 
checked during the three-year period from the beginning of the year 
following that in which it was recorded. 
Article 13 
In addition to complying with the requirements of Articles 6, 7, 10 and 11 of 
Regulation (EEC) No ..../.. establishing the control system applicable to the 
common fisheries policy9, masters of vessels must enter in the logbook the 
information specified in Annex II. 
Member States must, when making notification pursuant to Article 14 of that 
Regulation, inform the Commission of catches of species not subject to 
quotas. 
Article 14 
The granting of licences to Member States' vessels shall confer an obligation 
on the owner of the vessel to allow an observer on board at the Commission's 
request. 
Article 15 
1. The authorities of the Member States shall take suitable action, 
including regular inspection of vessels, to ensure that the obligations 
set out in this Regulation are met. 
2. If an infringement is detected by an inspection service authorized under 
the NAFO Convention the authorities of the Member States shall inform the 
Commission without delay, and at the latest within 30 daya of the data on 
which the infringement was detected, of the name of the veaaal and of the 
action they have taken. 
Article 16 
1. If the obligations laid down by this Regulation are not mat the licence 
of the vessel in question shall be withdrawn. 
n.T Mr» T. 
If an infringement as referred to in Article 15(2) io detected the 
Commission, shall for a period that it shall détermina in line with tho 
seriousness of the offence, not enter the vessel on any final list. 
2. If fishing is carried out in the area referred to in Article 1 by a 
vessel without a valid licence belonging to an owner or under the 
management of a natural or legal person possessing or managing one or 
other vessels for which licences have been granted for that area one of 
these licences may be withdrawn. 
3. A licence may be refused during the period indicated in paragraph 1 for 
one or more vessels belonging to the owner of a vessel the licence for 
which has been withdrawn pursuant to this Article or that has fished 
without a licence in the area referred to in Article 1. 
Article 17 
If over an eight-day period the Commission receives no notification as 
referred to in Article 11 in regard to a vessel holding a licence, the 
licence shall be withdrawn. 
Article 18 
Detailed rules for the application of this Regulation shall be adopted in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) 
No .../..10. 
Article 19 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities, 
It shall apply from [ ]. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly 
applicable in all Member States. 
Done at ..., For the Council 
10 OJ No L 
ANNEX I 
1. LICENCES REFERREO TO IN ARTICLE 2(1) 
VESSELS FLYING 
THE FLAG OF 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom STOCK 
GEOGRAPHICAL REGION 
Northwest Atlantic 
Northwest Atlantic SUB-AREA 
NAFO 2J+3KL 
NAFO 3 N 
NAFO 3 NO 
NAFO 3 M 
NAFO 3 LN 
NAFO 3 M TARGET 
SPECIES 
Cod 
Redfish MINIMUM 
PERCENTAGE 
OF TARGET 
SPECIES(1) 
70 
70 BY-CATCHES 
AUTHORIZED 
(2X3) 
30 X 
of which 
30 X ADDITIONAL 
CONDITIONS 
Examples : 
- trawl authorized 
- engine power 
limited to 400 HP 
• GEAR 
USED 
(1) The minimum percentage of target species may be adjusted in accordance with the procedure laid 
(2) The percentage of by-catches authorized may be adjusted in accordance with the procedure laid 
(3) Only by-catches of species subject te TAC and quotas shall be limited. in Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 
in Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 
^ -/. 
NAFO/LIUannl.en/cm 
- 2 
VESSELS FLYING 
THE FLAG OF 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom STOCK 
GEOGRAPHICAL REGION 
Northwest Atlantic SUB-AREA 
NAFO 3 M 
NAFO 3 NLO TARGET 
SPECIES 
American 
plaice 
Yellowtail 
flounder 
Witch 
flounder MINIMUM 
PERCENTAGE 
OF TARGET 
SPECIES*1' 
70 BY-CATCHES 
AUTHORIZED 
(2)(3) 
30 X ADDITIONAL 
CONDITIONS GEAR 
USED 
(1) The minimum percentage of target species may be adjusted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 
(2) The percentage of by-catches authorized may be adjusted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 
(3) Only by-catches of species subject to TAC and quotas shall be limited. 
./. 
^ NATOTrrCTSnnl. en/cm 
3 -
VESSELS FLYING 
THE FLAG OF 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
united Kingdom STOCK 
GEOGRAPHICAL REGION 
Northwest Atlantic 
Northwest Atlantic SUB-AREA 
NAFO 3 NO 
NAFO sub-
areas 3-*-4 TARGET 
SPECIES 
Capelln 
Squid MINIMUM 
PERCENTAGE 
OF TARGET 
SPECIES*1' 
C ? ) 
I ? 1 BY-CATCHES 
AUTHORIZED 
(2)(3) 
t 7 J 
t ? J ADDITIONAL 
CONDITIONS GEAR 
USED 
(1) The minimum percentage of target species may be adjusted In accordance with the procedure laid 
(2) The percentage of by-catches authorized may be adjusted In accordance with the procedure laid 
(3) Only by-catches of species subject to TAC and quotas shall be limited. In Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) Ho 
In Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) Ho 
">> NAFU/HL/Bitnl.en/cm 
A H H E X II 
Particulars to be contained fn the logbook 
PARTICULARS 
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*2' 
Number of hours fishing with gear per period of 24 hours *z* 
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 transhipment 
Dste(s) of transhipment 
Master's signature CODE 
01 
02 
03 
04 
10 
2(1) 
20 
21 
22 
31 
32 
33 
40 
41 
2 
50 
61 
63 
70 
71 
80 (1) 
CD To be indicated together with one of the abbreviations listed in the second part of this Annex 
(2) 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. 
•/. 
A% 
- 2 -
Standard abbreviations for the principal species in the NAFO area 
ABBREVIATION 
ALE 
ARG 
BUT 
CAP 
COD 
GHL 
HAD 
HER 
HKR 
HKS 
MAC 
PLA 
POK 
RED 
RNG 
SHR 
SQU 
WIT 
YEL 
________ NAMES OF SPEC1 
ENGLISH 
Alewife 
Atlantic argentine 
American butterfish 
Capelin 
Cod 
Greenland halibut 
Haddock 
Herring 
Red hake 
Silver hake 
Mackerel 
American plaice 
Saithe 
Redfish 
Roundnose grenadier 
Shrimps and prawns 
Squid 
Witch flounder 
Yellowtail flounder E S OF FISH 
LATIN 
Alosa psaudoharangus 
Argentina alius 
Peprtlus triacanthus 
Hallotus villosus 
Gadus morhua 
Reinhardtius hippoglossoidas 
Melanogrammus aeglefinus 
Clupea harangue 
Urophycis chuss 
Merluccius bilinearis 
Scomber scombrus 
Hippoglossoides platessoides 
Pollachius vlrens 
Sebastes marinus 
Nacrourus rupestris 
Pandalus sp. 
Loligo pealai - 11 lex illecebrosus 
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus 
Limanda ferruginea V 
- 3 -
Standard abbreviations for fishing gear 
ABBREVIATIONS FISHING GEAR 
OTB Bottom otter trawl (side or stern, not specified) 
0TB 1 Bottom otter trawl (side) 
OTB 2 Bottom otter trawl (stern) 
OTN Niduater otter trawl (side or stern, not specified) 
OTM 1 Niduater otter trawl (side) 
OTM 2 Niduater otter traul (stern) 
PTB Bottom pair traul (2 vessels) 
PTN Miduster pair traul (2 vessels) 
GN Gillnets (not specified) 
GNS Set gillnets 
LL Longlines (set or drifting, not specified) 
LLS Longlines (set) 
LLD Longlines (drifting) 
MIS Miscellaneous fishing gear 
NK Fishing gear not knoun 
1 
r 
IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM 
THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL ON BUSINESS 
with special reference to small and medium-sized 
enterprises (SMEs) 
Title of proposal: 
Draft Council Regulation setting up licensing arrangements for fishing within 
the regulatory area defined by the NAFO Convention by vessels flying the flag 
of a Member State or registered at a Community port 
Reference number of document: 
The proposal 
1. Having regard to the principle of subsidiarity, why is Community 
legislation necessary in this field and what are the main objectives? 
The Community has been one of the 11 Contracting Parties to NAFO since 
1978. NAFO regulates certain fishing activities in the regulatory area 
with a view to optimum utilization, rational management and conservation 
of the fishery resources concerned. 
The main objectives of the proposed Regulation are to limit the fishing 
effort developed by enterprises in the Member States concerned -
primarily Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Portugal - in proportion 
to the available fishing opportunities in the area. To that end, the 
Commission's proposal aims to regulate both the maximum quantities of 
catches authorized (output) and the number and capacity of vessels and 
the time to be spent fishing for those quantities (input). 
The impact on business 
2. Who will be affected by the proposal? 
Which sectors? 
The fishing sector, and more particularly vessel owners. 
What size businesses (proportion of small and medium-sized 
enterprises)? 
Those concerned will be mainly medium-sized enterprises with large 
vessels and crews of corresponding size (35 to 40 per vessel). 
:?—2*-2»-2 -
Are these businesses based in particular geographical areas in the 
Comunity? 
Yes, coastal areas and the major fishing ports in the Member States 
concerned. 
3. What measures will the businesses have to take to comply with the 
proposal? 
Adjustment of fishing capacity to actual and permitted fishing 
opportunities in the area concerned. 
4. What economic effects is the proposal likely to have? 
On employment? 
There will inevitably be repercussions on employment as a reduction 
in fishing capacity of at least 30% will be essential for the above-
mentioned adjustment and it will be difficult to find alternatives 
given the precarious state of resources in the traditional fishing 
areas of the fleet concerned. 
On investment and business start-ups? 
The constraints implied in the proposed measures will certainly not 
encourage investment or the setting-up of new businesses. 
On the competitive position of businesses? 
The adjustment required will probably involve a substantial cut in 
income and thus impair the competitive position of the businesses 
concerned in the short term. On the other hand, the reduction in 
overcapacity and overfishing of stocks in the zone should enable 
these stocks to regenerate, thus ensuring stability of fishing 
activities in the medium and long term. 
5. Does the proposal contain measures that take account of the particular 
situation of small and medium-sized enterpises (reduced or different 
requirements, etc.)? 
No. However, parallel multi-annual structural and socio-economic 
programmes are planned with the general aim of minimizing the impact of 
the proposed measures. 
Consultation 
6. List of organizations which have been consulted on the proposal and the 
main points of their positions. 
The proposal will be discussed with the Member States in the Working 
Party on the External Fisheries Policy after formal adoption by the 
Commission. A discussion in the Economic and Social Committee is also 
scheduled. 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(92) 394 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-92-414-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-47618-4 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg