Council Regulation (EC) No 782/98 of 7 April 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean
Date: 1998-04-07
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Mediterranean Sea, conservation of fish stocks, fishery resources, fishing net, fishing regulations, fishing vessel

L 113/6

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Official Journal of the European Communities

15. 4. 98

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 782/98

of 7 April 1998

amending Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures
for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and, in particular,
Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Whereas, according to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3760/92 of 20 December
1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture (4),
the general
objectives of the common fisheries policy is to protect and conserve living marine aquatic
resources;

Whereas the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) at
its 10th extraordinary session held in San Sebastian, Spain, from 22 to 29 November 1996,
adopted two recommendations concerning the fishing activity for bluefin tuna in the
Mediterranean; whereas ICCAT has also recommended certain specific rules on minimum
landing sizes of bluefin tuna; whereas all these recommendations are drawn up on
scientific advice;

in the framework of

Whereas
in
the Community’s
particular, taking into account the future accession of the Community to ICCAT, it is
appropriate to implement those recommedations, in order to avoid an excessive fishing
pressure on bluefin tuna;

international obligations and,

Whereas Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 (5) should consequently be amended,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 is hereby amended as follows:

Article 1

1.

the following Article shall be inserted:

‘Article 3a

It shall be forbidden to fish for bluefin tuna with purse seine during the period

1.
from 1 to 31 August.

It shall be forbidden to use airplanes or helicopters in support of

2.
operations for bluefin tuna during the period 1 to 30 June.’

fishing

(1) OJ C 337, 7. 11. 1997, p. 36.
(2) OJ C 104, 6. 4. 1998.
(3) OJ C 73, 9. 3. 1998.
(4) OJ L 389, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1.
(5) OJ L 171, 6. 7. 1994, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1075/96 (OJ L 142, 15.

6. 1996, p. 1).

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 113/7

2.

in Annex IV:

— the following text shall replace the corresponding entry:

‘Species

Minimum size

Thunnus thynnus

70 cm or 6,4 kg (**)

(**) However, it shall be authorised to land up to 15 % in number of individuals weighing between 1,8 kg

and 6,4 kg caught accidentally.’

— former footnote (**) shall be renumbered as (***).

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Communities.

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

Done at Luxembourg, 7 April 1998.

For the Council

The President

D. BLUNKETT