Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) allocating, for 1996, Community catch quotas in Greenland waters
Date: 1995-12-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, Greenland, authorised catch, catch quota, fishing agreement, fishing area

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  15.12.1995 
COM(95) 714 final 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 

allocating,  for  1996, Community  catch quotas  in Greenland  waters 

(presented  by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

The European  Community and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule  Government 
of Greenland  agreed  to extend their  Fisheries  Agreement  in  1994 for  an additional period of 
six  years  until  31 December  2000.  The  Parties  to the Agreement  subsequently  agreed  on a 
Third  Fisheries  Protocol  covering  the  same  six  years  and  laying  down  the  terms  and 
conditions  for  fishing  by Community vessels  in Greenland  waters,  in particular  catch  quotas 
for  the  Community  for  each  year  of  the  Protocol.  They  also  agreed  to  allow  for  the 
establishment  of joint  ventures  and  temporary  associations. 

The  Agreement  allows  for  the  quantities  to be taken by vessels  which  do not  fly  the  flag  of 
a  Member  State  of  the  Community,  to  extent  where  this  is  necessary  for  the  proper 
functioning  of  the  fisheries  agreements  concluded  by  the  Community  with  other  Parties. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Fisheries  Protocol,  the  authorities  responsible  for  Greenland 
undertake  to offer  to the Community,  by  15 November  each year,  such supplementary  catch 
possibilities  as referred  to in Article  8 of  the Agreement,  which at that time are  expected  to 
be  available  in  the  following  year.  On  15  November  1995,  the  Greenland  Home  Rule 
authorities  offered  supplementary  quantities  for  1996: 

Cod 
Redfish  (pelagic  trawl) 
Greenland  halibut 
Greenland  halibut 
Halibut 
, 
Halibut 
' 
Catfish 
Blue  whiting 
Round nose  grenadier 
Roundnose  grenadier 

NAFO  0,1; ICES  V,  XIV 
ICES  V,  XIV 
NAFO  0,1 
ICES  V,  XIV 
NAFO 0,1 
ICES  V,  XIV 
NAFO 0,1 
ICES  V,  XIV 
NAFO 0,1 
ICES  V,  XIV 

2,000  t 
15,0001 
1,750 t 
1,8001 
200 t 
200 t 
1,8001 
10,0001 
1,7501 
1,8001 

Depending  on  the  outcome  of  negotiations  between  the  Community  and  Norway  and 
considering  the  quantities  of  the  species  concerned  already  available  to  the  Community  for 
1996 under  the Fisheries  Protocol,  it may be felt to be in the Community's  interest  to accept 
one  or  more  of  the  supplementary  quantities  offered  by  the  Greenland  Home  Rule 
Government.  To  that  end,  the  Commission  will  complete  its  proposal  as  soon  as  possible. 

Therefore,  the Commission  proposes  that the Council should  agree  to react  appropriately  to 
the supplementary  catch possibilities  referred  to above and to allocate the annual catch quotas 
in  Greenland  waters  by  adopting  the  attached  regulation. 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION  (EC) No 

/95 

of....  December  1995 

allocating,  for  1996, Community catch quotas in Greenland  waters 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European  Community, 

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92 of 20 December  1992 establishing 
a Community system for  fisheries  and aquaculture(1) and, in particular,  Article 8(4) thereof, 

Having regard  to the proposal  from  the Commission, 

Whereas the Agreement on fisheries between the European Community, on the one hand, and 
the Government  of  Denmark  and  the  Home Rule Government  of  Greenland,  on the other 
hand(2), has been extended  for  an additional period  of six years,  until  31 December 2000; 

Whereas  the European Community,  on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and 
the Home Rule Government  of  Greenland,  on the other  hand,  have subsequently  approved 
the Third  Fisheries  Protocol,  establishing  the conditions  for  fishing  and,  in particular,  the 
catch quotas for Community vessels in Greenland waters for the period from  1  January  1995 
to 31 December 2000; 

Whereas  these quotas  may be used by vessels  not flying  the flag  of a Member  State of the 
Community,  to the extent  that  this  is necessary  for  the proper  functioning  of  the  fisheries 
agreements  which the Community  has concluded  with third countries; 

Whereas  it  is  appropriate  to  react  [positively]  [partly  positively]  [negatively]  to  the  offer 
regarding supplementary catch possibilities made by the authorities responsible for Greenland 
pursuant  to Article  8 of the Agreement  on  15 November  1995; 

Whereas,  to ensure efficient  management of the catch possibilities  available, they should be 
allocated  among  Member  States  by  means  of  quotas  in  accordance  with  Article  8  of 
Regulation  (EEC)  No 3760/92; 

Whereas  the fishing  activities covered by this Regulation are subject  to the relevant control 
measures  provided  for  by  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2847/93  of  12  October  1993, 
establishing  a control  system  applicable to the common fisheries  policy(3), 

a)  OJNoL389,  31.12.1992, p. 
(2)  OJNoL29,  1.2.1985,  p. 9. 
(3)  OJNoL252,  15.9.1993, p. 2. 

"S 

HAS ADOPTED  THIS  REGULATION 

Article  1 

For  1996, the allocation of the Community catch quotas in Greenland waters shall be as set 
out in the Annex. 

Article 2 

Should the authorities responsible for Greenland make an offer regarding supplementary catch 
possibilities,  as  referred  to  in Article  8 of  the Agreement  on fisheries,  the Council  shall, 
acting by a qualified  majority  on a proposal  from  the Commission,  take a decision on that 
offer  within six weeks of receipt thereof. 

This  Regulation shall enter  into force  on  1  January  1996. 

Article 3 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member 
States. 

Done at Brussels,  ....  December  1995. 

For  the Council 
The President 

<i 

ANNEX 

Allocation  of  Community  catch  quotas in  Greenland  waters  for  1996 

Species 

Geographical 
area 

Community 
catch 
quotas 
(in  tonnes) 

Quotas  allocated  to  Member 
States 

j  Quantities 
!  allocated 
!  to  Norwav 

Quantities 
allocated 
to  Iceland 
IS) 

Faroese 
quotas 
under  EC/ 
Greenland 

Cod 

all  zones 

Redfish  (l) 

NAFO  0/1 

ICES xrv/v 

Greenland 
halibut 

NAFO  0/1 
ICES xrv/v 

Deep-water 
prawns 

Atlantic 
halibut(2) 

Catfish 

Blue  whiting 

ICES xrv/v 

(5) 

NAFO  0/1 
ICES xrv/v 

NAFO  0/1 
ICES xrv/v 
ICES xrv/v 

31  000 

Germany 
United  Kingdom 

5  500 

46  820 

Germany 
United  Kingdom 
Germany 
France 
United  Kingdom 

1  350 
4  650 

Germany 
Germany 
United  Kingdom 

4  525 

France 
Denmark 

200 
200 

1  000 
1  000 

Germany 
Germany 

30  000 

Denmark 
France 
Germany 

Capelin 

ICES xrv/v 

63  150(6) 

Roundnose 
grenadier 

NAFO  0/1 
ICES xrv/v 

Roundnose 
grenadier  (3) 

all  zones 

Polar  cod  (4) 

all  zones 

1  350 
4  650 

2  000 

2  000 

Germany 
Germany 
United  Kingdom 

i 

25  360 
5  640 

5 395 
105 
46  270 
330 
220 

550 
4 040 

210  | 

! 
1 012  j 
1 012  ! 
1 

1 000 
1 000 

3 000 
3  000 
24  000 

550 
4  400 
250 

1 
s 
< 
i 

500 

150 
150 

1  150 

pm{7) 
pm  (7) 

pm 

p mn) 
pm(7> 

S 
j 
! 
: 

| 
i 

pm 

pm 

30  000 

10 000 

A maximum of 20 000 tonnes may be fished  by pelagic trawl. Catches from  the bottom trawl  fishery  and the pelagic trawl  fishery  shall 
be  reported  separately. 
If by-catches  of Atlantic halibut in trawl  cod  and redfish  fisheries  imply  over-runs of this quota,  the Greenland  authorities will  provide 
solutions  to  the  effect  that  Community  cod  and  redfish  fisheries  can  nevertheless  continue  until  the  respective  quotas  have  been 
exhausted. 
Experimental  fishery,  to be  conducted  at depths  greater  than  1 500 metres.  The maximum  by-catch  of Greenland  halibut will  be 40% 
and  will  be  counted  against  this  quota. 
To be fished  only  by pelagic  trawl or  longline. A by-catch  of up  to  10%, excluding deep-water  prawns and  Greenland  halibut,  will  be 
admitted.  The  by-catch  will  be  counted  against  this  quota. 
Up  to  1 000  tonnes  can  be  caught  in NAFO  areas  0/1  under  agreement  with  Greenland  license  holders. 
70%  of the Greenland  share of the TAC  for  capelin minus  10 000 tonnes to the Faroe  Islands. Calculated  on the basis of a  provisional 
TAC  of  950  000  tonnes.  Upon  revision  of  this  TAC  in  the  course  of  1996,  the  Community  quota  shall  be  revised  accordingly. 
To  be  fished  only  with  longline. 
Shown  for  information  only. 

F I N A N C I AL 

S T A T E M E NT 

1. 

TITLE: 

Proposal  for  a  Council  Regulation  (EC)  allocating,  for  1996, 
Community  catch  quotas  in Greenland  waters. 

2.  BUDGETARY LINE CONCERNED: 

B7-800 

3. 

LEGAL BASIS: 

Article  8 (4) of Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No.  3760/92 

4. 

DESCRIPTION: 

4.1  General  objective: 

To  establish  the definitive  fishing  quotas  for  Norway  in Greenland  waters  after  the 
conclusion  of the bilateral  arrangement  on mutual  access  fishing  rights  between  the 
Community  and  Norway  for  1996. 

4.2 

Period covered: 

Until  31 December  1996. 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF EXPENDITURE: 

C D.  Obligatory  expenditure. 

6. 

TYPE OF EXPENDITURE: 

The expense is the payment for supplementary catch possibilities  in Greenland waters, 
under  the  terms  and  conditions  of  Article  8  of  the  bilateral  Fisheries  Agreement 
between  the  Community  and  Greenland.  The  maximum  supplementary  catch 
possibilities required will include 1,200 tonnes of Greenland halibut and 1,300 tonnes 
of  roundnose  grenadier. 

7. 

AMOUNT  OF EXPENDITURE: 

The  amount  required  to  be  committed  in  1996  and  to be  paid  for  1,200  tonnes  of 
Greenland halibut and  1,300  tonnes of roundnose grenadier  is calculated on the basis 
of a contribution of 319.58 ECU per ton of cod-equivalent,  taking into account a cod 
equivalent  of  0.8  for  Greenland  halibut and 0.6  for  roundnose  grenadier: 

1,200  tonnes  Greenland  halibut  .  . . 
1,300  tonnes  of roundnose  grenadier 

x  0.8  x  319.58  =  306,796  ECU 
x  0.6  x  319.58  =  249,272  ECU 

Total 

556,068  ECU 

L 

8. 

ANTI-FRAUD PROVISIONS: 

Under the Fisheries Agreement between the Community and Greenland, the financial 
contribution  from  the Commission  is not subject  to any specific  provision  as  to the 
end use of  funds. 

9. 

ELEMENTS OF COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS: 

The  bilateral,  mutual-access  Agreement  between  the  Community  and  Norway  is 
managed  on an annual  basis,  by calculating  the balance between  Community  catch 
possibilities  in Norwegian  waters  and Norwegian  catch possibilities  in  Community 
waters  for  different  species. This arrangement  is variable annually according  to the 
state of the different  fish stocks concerned.  For  1996, the arrangement with Norway 
is particularly  difficult  to achieve due to the poor state of some of the fish  stocks in 
Community  waters.  This  fact  makes it extremely  difficult  to compensate  the access 
of  Community  vessels  to Norwegian  resources  with Norwegian  access  to the poor 
Community  resources.  For  this reason,  it will be necessary  to compensate  Norway 
with some of the Community catch possibilities  in Greenland waters under the terms 
of the bilateral  Agreement between the Community and Greenland. 

In spite of the improvement of the catch possibilities under the Third  Protocol of the 
Agreement  with  Greenland,  some  of  the concessions  made  to  Norway  require  the 
purchase  of additional  fishing  possibilities  from  Greenland. 

For  this reason,  the purchase of such fishing  possibilities  from  Greenland  has been 
the  only  way  to  find  a satisfactory  solution  to the mutual-access  arrangement  with 
Norway,  without jeopardizing  the conservation  of  some  fish  stocks  in  Community 
waters. 

10.  ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES: 

None 

1 

JSSJSI  0254-1475 

COM(95) 714  final 

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