Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species
Date: 2002-07-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: conservation of fish stocks, exchange of information, fishing area, fishing regulations, technical regulations

C 291 E/210

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.11.2002

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 laying down certain
technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species

(2002/C 291 E/11)

COM(2002) 420 final — 2002/0189(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 24 July 2002)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The European Community participates in a number of regional fisheries organisations (RFOs) which
provide a framework for regional cooperation on the conservation and management of fishery resources.

Since 14 November 1997 the Community has been a Contracting Party to the International Convention
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (hereinafter called the ICCAT Convention).

The technical measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
(ICCAT) were been transposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 of 14 May 2001 laying down
certain technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species.

At its 17th ordinary meeting, the ICCAT adopted new technical measures for certain stocks of highly
migratory species in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

The purpose of this proposal
amending Regulation (EC) No 973/2001.

is thus to transpose these recommendations into Community law by

The Commission proposes that the Council adopt this proposal.

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 is amended as follows:

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

1. In Article 3(4), the words ‘Until 31 December 2002,’ are

deleted.

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

2. Paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 9 are deleted.

Whereas:

3. Article 10(5) is replaced by the following:

(1) The International Commission for the Conservation of
ICCAT), has
the
Atlantic Tunas
adopted a number of
recommendations on technical
measures which have been transposed into Community
law by Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 (1).

(hereinafter

called

(2) At its 17th ordinary meeting in 2001, the ICCAT recom-
mended certain new technical measures for certain stocks
of highly migratory species in the Atlantic and the Medi-
terranean. Since these recommendations are binding on the
Community, they should be implemented.

(3) Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 should therefore be amended

accordingly,

(1) OJ L 137, 19.5.2001, p. 1.

‘Before 15 May each year, each Member State shall transmit
to the Commission a list of the vessels flying their flag and
fishing for albacore in the North Atlantic. The Commission
shall
the
forward this information to the Secretariat of
ICCAT before 30 May each year.’

4. The following Article is inserted after Article 10:

‘Article 10a

Before 15 July each year,

1.
the Member States shall
transmit to the Commission, in electronic form, a list of
the vessels flying their flag and registered on their
all
territory with a length overall of more than 24 metres
which hold licences to fish tuna and tuna-like fish in the
Convention area for the current year. The Commission shall
forward this information to the Secretariat of the ICCAT
before 31 August each year.

26.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 291 E/211

The list referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain the

2.
following information:

5. The following Article is inserted after Article 12:

‘Article 12a

(a) the internal number of the vessel, as defined in Annex I

to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2090/98 (*);

(b) name and registration number of the vessel;

(c) previous flag(s), if any;

(d) international call sign, where applicable;

(e) vessel type, length and GRT;

(f) name and address of the owner(s), operator(s) and/or

charterer(s).

___________
(*) OJ L 266, 1.10.1998, p. 27.’

The Member States shall do their utmost to encourage
1.
the release of live sharks caught accidentally, in particular
juveniles.

The Member States shall encourage the reduction of

2.
discards of sharks.’

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day
following 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.