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Brussels, 21.9.2009

COM(2009) 483 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the establishment of the Community position to be adopted in the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

According to the second subparagraph of Article 300(2) of the EC Treaty, the positions to be adopted on behalf of the Community in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations when they are called upon to adopt decisions having legal effects, with the exception of decisions supplementing or amending their institutional framework, must be decided on by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission.

In view of this obligation, and following similar Council Decisions and proposals from the European Commission for other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, the European Commission proposes the present decision to establish the Community position to be adopted in the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. This proposal follows the same approach as for other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations so as to ensure consistency.

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the establishment of the Community position to be adopted in the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37, in conjunction with the second subparagraph of Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Article 33 of the EC Treaty, in conjunction with Article 32 thereof, provides that one of the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy is to assure the availability of supplies. Regulation (EC) N° 2371/2002[1] provides that the Community shall apply the precautionary approach in taking measures designed to protect and conserve living aquatic resources, to provide for their sustainable exploitation and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine eco-systems. It also provides that the Community shall aim at a progressive implementation of an eco-system-based approach to fisheries management, and aim to contribute to efficient fishing activities within an economically viable and competitive fisheries and aquaculture industry, providing a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities and taking into account the interest of consumers.

(2) By Decision 2005/75/EC[2], the European Community approved its accession to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, which established the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC). The WCPFC may, on the basis of scientific evidence, make decisions designed to maintain the populations of highly migratory fish stocks (including tuna and tuna-like fishes) in the Convention area at levels which will ensure the long-term sustainability of such stocks. Such decisions may become legally binding on the Community.

(3) Pursuant to the second sub-paragraph of Article 300 (2) of the EC Treaty, the position of the Community in bodies set up by regional fisheries agreements which are called upon to adopt decisions having legal effects (but not modifying the institutional framework of the agreements concerned) must be adopted by qualified majority by Council decision, on a proposal from the Commission.

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The position to be adopted on behalf of the Community in the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean when that Commission is called upon to adopt decisions having legal effects is set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

The Community position set out in the Annex to the present Decision shall be assessed and, where appropriate, revised by the Council upon a proposal from the Commission, at the latest for the annual meeting of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean in 2014.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

The Community position in the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

1. PRINCIPLES

In the framework of the WCPFC, the European Community shall:

a) act in accordance with the objectives pursued by the Community within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy, notably through the precautionary approach to provide for the sustainable exploitation of species regulated by the WCPFC, to promote the gradual implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine eco-systems, as well as through the promotion of economically viable and competitive Community fisheries, providing a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities and taking account of the interests of consumers;

b) ensure that WCPFC measures are in accordance with the objectives of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean;

c) ensure that WCPFC measures are consistent with international law, and in particular with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Agreement relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the Agreement to promote compliance with international conservation and management measures by fishing vessels on the high seas;

d) promote consistent positions within Regional Fisheries Management Organisations;

e) seek synergy with the policy that the Community is pursuing as part of its bilateral fisheries relations with third countries, and ensure coherence with its external relations policy;

f) ensure that the Community's international commitments are respected.

2. ORIENTATIONS

The European Community shall, where appropriate, endeavour to support the adoption of the following actions by the WCPFC:

a) stringent conservation and management measures for fisheries resources allowing for their long term sustainability and taking into account the best scientific advice available, including temporal closures for purse seine vessels catching bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna, as well as equivalent measures for longline vessels targeting tuna or swordfish stocks. Where necessary, specific measures for stocks which suffer from overfishing shall be considered in order to avoid any increase of fishing activities;

b) measures to control fishing effort to ensure that it is commensurate with fishing opportunities available;

c) the development and implementation of monitoring, control and surveillance measures, concerning inter alia a centralised vessel monitoring system, an observer scheme, port State measures, a strict regime to control transhipment at sea and a catch documentation scheme for certain species;

d) enhanced measures to combat IUU activities;

e) acceptance of applications from responsible fishing countries to join the WCPFC.

[1] OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59

[2] OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, p. 1