Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the first time Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 fixing for 2001 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required
Date: 2001-10-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU waters, conservation of fish stocks, fishery management, fishing fleet, fishing rights

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 29.10.2001
COM(2001) 614 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending for the first time Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 fixing for 2001 the
fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish
stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where
limitations in catch are required

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 fixes, among other stipulations,
the fishing
opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of stocks, applicable
in Community waters for 2001. Since the adoption of that regulation, new decisions on
fisheries management have been taken:

– Within the framework of the International Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission (IBSFC), new

conservation measures have been recommended for the cod fishery.

– At a special meeting of the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NEAFC), held
in 2001, a new quota table for redfish and new measures to protect haddock were adopted.

– At a special meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), held
limitations have been established for the northern prawn

in 2001, new fishing effort
fishery.

– In NEAFC and NAFO, the overlap of the north Atlantic redfish stock between the
regulatory area of both organisations has made it necessary to establish a mechanism to
ensure coherence between the measures, and their application, between the two areas.

– The definitive TAC for capelin in the North Atlantic in 2001 has been fixed and the
definitive Community quota for this stock in the waters of Greenland can therefore be
established.

– The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission has adopted, at its annual meeting held in
June 2001, catch limitations for yellowfin tuna and a follow up measure for bigeye tuna, to
be applied already in 2001.

– Within a total TAC of 220,000 tonnes for Norway pout, the Faroe Islands are entitled to a
higher quota than that allocated in Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000. The allocation
of that TAC in 2001 should be revised accordingly.

– The biological situation on the blue whiting stock gives reasons for concern, and additional

fishing in areas outside national jurisdiction in ICES area II should not be permitted.

– New fishing licences have been allocated in 2001 to Community fishermen in the

framework of the bilateral fishing agreement with the Faroe Islands.

This requires mainly the amendment of the annual TAC and quota Regulation (Council
Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000) as well as the amendment of the regulation on control
measures in the NEAFC area (Council Regulation (EC) No 2791/1999).

The Council is requested to adopt this proposal in order to allow fishermen to utilise the new
fishing opportunities and to continue fishing under appropriate conditions.

The Commission is requested to approve this proposal and transmit it to the Council for
adoption.

2

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending for the first time Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 fixing for 2001 the
fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish
stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where
limitations in catch are required

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 aquaculture1, and in particular Article 8, paragraph 4
thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission2,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

In accordance with the Agreed Record between the European Community and the
Faroe Islands, the Faroe Islands are entitled to a Norway pout quota higher than that
allocated in Coucil Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000. Therefore, the fishing possibilities
for 2001 on this stock need to be revised;

A definitive catch limitation for capelin in the North Atlantic has been fixed and,
consequently, the definitive Community catch quota for this stock within the waters of
Greenland should be fixed;

The area of distribution of redfish in the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
(NEAFC) area overlaps with certain areas of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
is therefore necessary to introduce a
Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area;
it
the same stock, as
mechanism to consider catches in both areas as part of
recommended by NEAFC and NAFO at their meetings in March 2001;

(4) Within the framework of NAFO, new limits on the number of days to fish for northern

prawn have been established in March 2001;

(5)

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) adopted, at
its annual
meeting in June 2001, catch limitations for yellowfin tuna; although the Community is
not a member of this organisation, it is necessary to implement those catch limitations
to ensure sustainable management of this fish ressource;

1

2

OJ L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1
OJ C , , p. .

3

(6)

In the framework of NEAFC, new protected areas were recommended in March 2001
to protect haddock;

(7) Within the framework of the International Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission (IBSFC),
new technical conservation measures have been recommended in March 2001 for the
cod fishery; those recommendations should be implemented by the Community;

(8)

(9)

(10)

In the framework of the fisheries relations between the European Community and the
Faroe Islands, certain fishing opportunities have been allocated to Community
fishermen;

Agreements have been reached between the European Community, Norway and the
Faroe Islands on arrangement of fishing licences;

The biological situation of the blue whiting stock does not allow any additional fishing
in areas outside national jurisdiction in ICES area II. Any catches in these areas should
be counted against the quotas for ICES area II;

(11) Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 fixing for 2001 the fishing opportunities and
associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in
Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations and catch
are required3 should therefore be amended accordingly.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 is modified as follows:

Article 1

(1)

(2)

The entry in Annex I to this Regulation shall replace the corresponding entry in
Annex Ib.

The entries in Annex II to this Regulation shall replace the corresponding entries in
Annex Ic.

(3)

Annex Ie is modified as follows:

(i) The entry in Annex III to this Regulation shall replace the corresponding entry.

(4)

(5)

(ii) The entry in Annex IV to this Regulation shall be added.

The entry in Annex V to this Regulation shall be added in Annex If.

Annex V is modified as follows:

(i) The text under point 1 is replaced by the following:

"Notwithstanding the conditions set out in Annex V of Council Regulation (EC)
No 88/98, and in order to guarantee the selectivity of the trawls, Danish seines and
similar nets with special mesh openings as referred to in Annex IV of the same

3

OJ L 334, 30.12.2000, p. 1

4

Regulation, the two models of exit windows described in Appendix I and the
model described in Appendix II to this Annex shall be authorised in 2001".

(ii) A new point 9 shall be inserted with the following text:

"9. Haddock box

All fishing for haddock, except with longlines, shall be prohibited in waters
beyond the areas under national jurisdiction of Member States in the box bounded
by the following co-ordinates:

Point No

Latitude

Longitude

1

2

3

4

5

57°000

15°000

57°000

14°700

56°575

14°327

56°500

14°450

56°500

15°000"

(iii) Annex VI to this Regulation shall be added as Appendix II.

(6)

The entries in Annex VII to this Regulation shall replace the corresponding entries in
Annex VI Part I and Part II.

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

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

5

Species:

Norway pout

Zone:

IIa (EC waters), Skagerrak and Kattegat, North Sea
(EC waters)

Trisopterus esmarki

ANNEX I

Denmark
Germany
The Netherlands
EC

Norway
Faroe Islands

TAC
__________

(1)

(2)

189 820
40
140
190 000

10 000
20 000 (1)

220 000 (2)

To be counted against the quota for sandeel in IIa (EC waters), North Sea (EC waters).
Excluding Norway pout taken within the quotas for mixtures of sandeel, Norway pout and sprat (see sandeels in the North Sea).

6

Species:

EC

TAC

__________

Species:

Germany
France
EC

TAC

__________

Species:

Germany
Spain
France
Ireland
The Netherlands
Portugal
United Kingdom
EC

TAC

Capelin
Mallotus villosus

41 497(1)

125 996(2)

ANNEX II

Zone:

V, XIV (Greenland waters),

(1) Available to all Member States
(2) Of which 6 700 tonnes are allocated to Norway, 30 000
tonnes to Iceland and 10 000 tonnes to the Faroe Islands. The
Community share represents 70% of the Greenland share of the
TAC for capelin

Blue whiting
Micromesistius poutassou

Zone:

I, II (1)

(1) Including Norwegian waters and waters outside national
jurisdiction

500
500
1 000

Not relevant

Redfish
Sebastes spp.

Zone:

V, XII, XIV (1) (2),

9 367
1 645
875
3
4
1 966
23
13 883

95 000

__________
(1)

Community waters and areas beyond fisheries jurisdiction of other coastal States.

(2)

The quota may be taken in NAFO Division IF but should be counted against the quota for ,V,XII,XIV

7

ANNEX III

Zone:

NAFO 3M (1)

Species:

TAC
__________

Northern prawn
Pandalus borealis

(2)

(1)

Vessels may also fish this stock in Division 3L in the box bounded by the following coordinates:

Point N°
1
2
3
4

Latitude
47°20'0
47°20'0
46°00'0
46°00'0

Longitude
46°40'0
46°30'0
46°30'0
46°40'0

When conducting a fishery for shrimp in this box, vessels shall, whether or not crossing the line separating NAFO Divisions 3L and 3M, report in
accordance with point 1.3 of the annex to Regulation (EC) No 189/92 (O J L 21 of 30.1.1992, p .4).
Moreover, fishing for shrimp shall be prohibited from 1 June to 30 September 2001 in the area bounded by the following coordinates:

Point N°

Latitude N

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

47°55'0
47°30'0
46°55'0
46°35'0
46°35'0
47°30'0
47°55'0

Longitude
W
45°00'0
44°15'0
44°15'0
44°30'0
45°40'0
45°40'0
45°00'0

(2)

Not relevant. Fishery managed by limitations in fishing effort. The Member States concerned shall issue special fishing permits for their
fishing vessels engaging in this fishery, and shall notify those permits to the Commission prior to the commencement of the vessel's
activity, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1627/94. By way of derogation from Article 8 of that regulation, permits will only
become valid if the Commission has not objected within five working days following the notification.

The maximum number of vessels and fishing time shall be:

Member State

Denmark
Spain
Portugal

of

Maximum number
vessels
2
10
1

of

maximum number
fishing days
115
225
60

Each Member State shall, within 25 days following the calendar month in which the catches are made, report monthly to the Commission the
fishing days spent in Division 3M and in the area defined in footnote (1) above.

8

ANNEX IV

Redfish
Sebastes spp.

Zone:

NAFO Div. IF(1),

9 367
1 645
875
3
4
1 966
23
13 883

95 000 (2)

Entry to Annex Ie

Species:

Germany
Spain
France
Ireland
The Netherlands
Portugal
United Kingdom
EC

TAC

__________

(1)

(2)

May be taken in NAFO Division IF but should be counted against the quota for V,XII,XIV

These quotas are set on the basis of the TAC of 95 000 tons established by NEAFC.

9

Species:

EC

TAC

__________

Yellowfin
Tuna
Thunnus albacares

(1)

250 000(2)

ANNEX V

Zone:

Eastern Pacific Ocean, IATTC's yellowfin regulatory
area (3)

(1) The TAC is unallocated
(2) The director of IATTC is authorised to increase this limit by
up to three successive increments of 20 000 tonnes each
(3) From the point on the mainland where the parallel of 40°N
latitude intersects the coast westward along the parallel of 40°N
latitude to 40°N latitude by 125°W longitude, thence southerly
along the meridian of 125°W longitude to 20°N latitude by
125°W longitude, thence easterly along the parallel of 20°N
latitude to 20°N latitude by 120°W longitude, thence southerly
along the meridian of 120°W longitude to 5°N latitude by
120°W longitude, thence easterly along the parallel of 5°N
latitude to 5°N latitude by 110°W longitude, thence southerly
along the meridian of 110°W longitude to 10°S latitude by
110°W longitude, thence easterly along the parallel of 10°S
latitude to 10° latitude by 90° longitude, thence southerly along
the meridian of 90°W longitude to 30°S latitude by 90°W
longitude, thence easterly along the parallel of 30°S latitude to
the point on the mainland where the parallel intersects the coast.

10

ANNEX VI

Appendix II to Annex V.

Specifications of Top Window Codend “BACOMA”

Specification of 120 mm, measured as inner diameter opening, square mesh window in a
codend with a 105 mm or larger mesh size in trawls, Danish seines or similar towed nets

The window shall be a rectangular section of netting in the codend. There shall be only one
window. The window shall not be obstructed in any way by either internal or external
attachments

Size of the codend, extension piece and the rear end of the trawl

The codend shall be constructed of two panels of equal size, joined together by selvedges one
on each side.

The carrying on board of a net having more than 100 open diamond meshes in any
circumference of the codend, excluding the joining or the selvedges shall be prohibited.

The number of open diamond meshes, excluding those in the selvedges, at any point on any
circumference of any extension or lengthening piece shall not be less or more than the
maximum number of meshes on the circumference of the front end of the codend stricto sensu
and the rear end of the tapered section of the trawl excluding meshes in the selvedges
(Figure 1).

Location of the window

The window shall be inserted into the top panel of the codend. The window shall terminate
not more than 4 meshes from the codline, inclusive of the hand braided row of meshes
through which the codline is passed (Figure 2.).

Size of the window

The width of the window, expressed in number of mesh bars, shall be equal to the number of
open diamond meshes in the top panel divided by two. If necessary, it will be allowed to
maintain at the most 20% of the number of open diamond meshes in the top panel divided
evenly on the both sides of the window panel (Figure 3).

Length of the window shall be at least 3.5 meters.

The netting of the window

The meshes shall have a minimum mesh opening of 120 millimetres. The meshes shall be
square meshes i.e. all four sides of the window netting will be cut all bars. The netting shall
be mounted such that the bars run parallel and perpendicular to the length of the codend. The
netting shall be knotless braided single twine or a netting with similar proven selective
properties (stiffness, strengths and stability). The diameter of the single yarn shall be at least
4.9 millimetres.

11

Other specification

The mounting specifications are defined in Figures 4a-c. The length of the lifting strap shall
not be less than 4 m.

12

Side

Top

Lifting
bag

Trawl body (=net cone)
Tapered section

Extension piece
Untapered section

Codend
Untapered section

Figure 1.
A trawl gear can be divided into three different sections according to their
shape and function. Trawl body is always a tapered section often between 10 and 40 m long.
Extension piece is untapered section normally manufactured of either one or two pieces of
49.5 mesh long nets giving a stretched length between 6 or 12 m. Codend is also an untapered
section often made of double twine in order to have a better resistance against heavy wearing.
The length of codend is often 49.5 meshes i.e. ca 6 meter although shorter codends (2-4)
exists in smaller vessels. The part below lifting strap is called lifting bag.

13

Top panel
cut 3.5 mesh
deep

Hand-braided

1

2

3

4

1 mesh

1 mesh

1 mesh

0.5 mesh
0.5 mesh

Figure 2.
3.5 diamond meshes in the upper panel and one 0.5 mesh deep hand-braided “codline” row.

from codline is 4 meshes. There are

The distance of window panel

14

1 2 3

4 5 6

2 0% o f d ia m o nd m e she s in the up p e r p a ne l
a lo ng a p e rp e nd ic ula r m e sh ro w

1

1 0

20

30

Figure 3.
Twenty percent of diamond meshes in the upper panel along a perpendicular
row running from one selvedge to another may be maintained. For example (like in figure) if
the upper panel would be 30 open meshes wide 20% of that would be 6 meshes. Then three
open meshes is divided on both sides of the window panel. Consequently the width of the
window panel would then become 12 mesh bars (30 – 6 = 24 diamond meshes divided by two
is 12 mesh bars).

15

Lower panel

50
(Max. open meshes)

AN

Diamond mesh panel

105 mm inside

49 ½ md

½ 49 ½

1 row of codline meshes

Figure 4a:

Showing the construction of lower panel made of 49.5 meshes deep netting

16

Upper panel

(without diamond meshes between
selvedge and square mesh panel)

105 mm inside

16 ½ md

50
(Max. open meshes)

AN

½ 49 ½

25 bars

Joining: 2 diamond meshes/

1 bar in square panel

(29 ½ md)

3,54 met.

105 mm inside

3 ½ md

25 bars

50
½ 49 ½

Joining: 1 bar in square panel/

2 diamond meshes

AN

1 row of codline meshes

Figure 4b:

the construction of upper panel, size and position of the window panel in case when
the escape panel runs from selvedge to selvedge

17

Upper panel

(with diamond meshes between
selvedge and square mesh panel)

50
(Max. open meshes)

½ 49 ½

19 bars

5

Joining: 2

diamond
1 bar in square panel

meshes/

2 knots in joining square panel to max
5 open diamond meshes on both sides
of square panel

AN

19 bars

50
½ 49 ½

5

Joining: 1 bar

in square panel/
meshes

diamond

2

105 mm inside

16 ½ md

5

5

(29 ½ md)

3,54 met

105 mm inside

3 ½ md

1 row of codline meshes

Figure 4c:

The construction of upper panel in case 20% of diamond meshes in the upper panel
are maintained and equally divided on both sides of the window

18

ANNEX VII

Part I

Quantitative limitations of licences and fishing permits for Community vessels fishing in Third Country waters.

Area of fishing

Fishery

Norwegian waters
and
fishery zone
around Jan Mayen
Waters of the Faroe
Islands

Herring, North of 62°00' N

Herring, North of 62°00' N

Number of
licences

Maximum number
of vessels present at
any time

40

21

30

21

Part II

Quantitative limitations of licences and fishing permits

for third countries vessels in Community waters.

Flag State

Fishery

Norway
Faroe Islands

Herring, North of 62°00' N
Herring, North of 62°00' N

Number of
licences

Maximum number
of vessels present at
any time

10
21

10
21

19