COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 27.03.1998 
COM(1998) 194 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
amending Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98 of 
19 December 1997 fixing, for certain stocks of highly migratory fish, 
the total allowable catches for 1998, their distribution in quotas to Member States 
and certain conditions under which they may be fished. 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
On 19 December 1997 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 65/98 laying down catch 
limitations for certain stocks of highly migratory fish: bluefin tuna and swordfish, in 
accordance with recommendations adopted by the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), to which the Community is a Contracting Party 
since November 1997. 
The different stocks of bluefin tuna and Atlantic swordfish are considered to be 
overexploited; therefore the effectiye implementation of the ICCAT recommendations 
concerning catch limitations for these species is essential to ensure their sustainable 
exploitation. 
As concerns swordfish, Regulation 65/98 only considers the TAC for the North Atlantic, 
since the TAC for the South Atlantic was adopted by ICCAT on 21 November 1997, 
therefore too late for the December 1997 Council. The TAC for South Atlantic swordfish 
is applicable as of 1998 and must therefore be implemented as soon as possible in order 
to ensure that Community fishermen have a timely and complete view of the catch 
limitation applicable in 1998. This question requires the amendment of Regulation 65/98 
as soon as possible. 
This proposal incorporates the TAC for South Atlantic swordfish to bring Council 
Regulation 65/98 in line with the latest ICCAT recommendations on catch limitations for 
highly migratory fish. 
The Commission proposes that the Council adopt this regulation. 
oi 
Proposal of Council Regulation (EC) No... amending Council Regulation (EC) No 
65/98 of 19 December 1997 fixing, for certain stocks of highly migratory fish, 
the total allowable catches for 1998, their distribution in quotas to Member States 
and certain conditions under which they may be fished. 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
Having regard to the Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 
establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture( • ) and, in particular, 
Article 8(4) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas the Council adopted, on 19 December 1997, Council Regulation (EC) 
No 65/98(2) laying down catch limitations for blucfin tuna and for North Atlantic 
swordfish; to implement recommendations adopted by the International Commission for 
the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICC AT); 
Whereas ICCAT, at its last annual meeting held in Madrid from 14-21 November 1997, 
adopted a recommendation concerning catch limitations applicable to swordfish in the 
Southern Atlantic. Whereas in order to ensure the rational exploitation of the Southern 
Atlantic swordfish stock it is necessary to implement this recommendation; 
Whereas it is therefore necessary to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98 
accordingly, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
The table in the annex to this Regulation shall be inserted in the Annex to Council 
Regulation (EC) No 65/98. 
1 O.J. L 389, 31.12.1992, p. I. Regulation as amended by Hie 1994 Act of Accession. 
2 O.J. L 12, 19.01.98, p. 145. 
2 
Article 2 
This regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day after the day of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
It shall apply with effect from 1 January 1998. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all member 
States. 
Done at 
For the Council 
The President 
Q 
ANNEX 
Species: Swordfish Zone: Atlantic ocean, south of latitude 5* N 
Xiphias gladius 
Belgie / Belgique 
Danmark 
Deutschland 
Ellada 
Espafla 5.848 
France 
Ireland 
Italia 
Luxembourg 
Nederland 
Osterreich 
Portugal 385 
Suom'i/Finland 
Sverige 
United Kingdom 
EC 6.233 
TAC 14.620 
sr 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 194 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 11 07 10 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-204-HN-C 
ISBN 92-78-32621-6 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg