Commission Regulation (EC) No 530/2008 of 12 June 2008 establishing emergency measures as regards purse seiners fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45 °W, and in the Mediterranean Sea
Date: 2008-06-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, fishing area, fishing controls, fishing regulations, fishing rights, sea fish, ship's flag

13.6.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 155/9

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 530/2008

of 12 June 2008

establishing emergency measures as regards purse seiners fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic
Ocean, east of longitude 45 °W, and in the Mediterranean Sea

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(4)

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

The Common Fisheries Policy is designed to ensure the
through
long-term viability of
the
resources
exploitation of
sustainable
based on the precautionary approach.

fisheries
living aquatic

sector

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of
20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploi-
tation of
the Common Fisheries
Policy (1), and in particular Article 7(1) thereof,

resources under

fisheries

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Council Regulation (EC) No 40/2008 of 16 January
2008, fixing for 2008 the fishing opportunities and asso-
ciated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of
fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and,
for
Community vessels,
in waters where catch limitations
are required (2) fixes the amount of bluefin tuna which
may be fished in 2008 in the Atlantic Ocean, east of
the Mediterranean Sea by
longitude 45 °W,
Community fishing vessels.

and

Commission Regulation (EC) No 446/2008 of 22 May
2008 adapting certain bluefin quotas in 2008 pursuant
to Article 21(4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93
of 12 October 1993 establishing a control
system
applicable to the Common Fisheries Policy (3), modifies
the amount of bluefin tuna which may be fished in 2008
in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45 °W, and the
Mediterranean Sea by Community fishing vessels.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1559/2007 of 17 December
2007 establishing a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin
tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and
amending Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 (4)
requires
Member States to inform the Commission of the indi-
vidual quota allocated to their vessels over 24 metres.

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59. Regulation as amended by Regulation

(EC) No 865/2007 (OJ L 192, 24.7.2007, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 19, 23.1.2008, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 134, 23.5.2008, p. 11.
(4) OJ L 340, 22.12.2007, p. 8.

In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No
if there is evidence of a serious threat to
2371/2002,
the
the
aquatic
living
Commission may decide on emergency measures which
shall last not more than six months.

conservation of

resources,

for bluefin tuna

fishing opportunities

The data in its possession, as well as the information
obtained by the Commission inspectors during their
missions in the Member States concerned, show that
in the
the
Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45 °W, and the Medi-
terranean Sea allocated to purse seiners flying the flag of
or registered in Greece, France, Italy, Cyprus and Malta
will be deemed to be exhausted on 16 June 2008 and
stock
that
allocated to purse seiners flying the flag of or registered
in Spain will be
exhausted on
23 June 2008.

fishing opportunities

deemed

to be

same

the

the

for

the International Commission for

Fleet overcapacity has been considered by the Scientific
the
Committee of
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as the main
factor which could lead to the collapse of the stock of
Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna. Fleet
overcapacity carries with it a high risk of fishing above
the daily catch
level. Furthermore,
the permissible
capacity of one single purse seiner is so high that the
permissible catch level can be attained or exceeded very
quickly. In these circumstances, any overfishing by this
fleet would pose a serious threat to the conservation of
the bluefin tuna stock.

of

has
all

been monitoring
requirements

closely
The
Commission
compliance with
relevant
Community rules by Member States during the 2008
bluefin tuna fishing campaign. The information in its
the information obtained by
possession, as well as
Commission
the Member
inspectors,
States concerned have not ensured full compliance
with the requirements established in Regulation (EC)
No 1559/2007.

shows

that

L 155/10

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

13.6.2008

(9)

(10)

It is therefore necessary that the Commission prohibits as
from 16 June 2008 the fishing for bluefin tuna in the
Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45 °W and the Medi-
terranean Sea by purse seiners flying the flag of or
Italy, Cyprus and Malta,
registered in Greece, France,
and as from 23 June 2008 the fishing for bluefin tuna
in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45 °W and in the
Mediterranean Sea by purse seiners flying the flag of or
registered in Spain.

Article 2

Fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude
45 °W, and the Mediterranean by purse seines flying the flag of
or registered in Spain shall be prohibited as from 23 June 2008.

It shall also be prohibited to retain on board, place in cages for
fattening or farming,
transfer or land such stock
caught by those vessels as from that date.

tranship,

In order to reinforce the effectiveness of these measures
designed to forestall a serious threat to the conservation
of the bluefin tuna stock, Community operators should
also be enjoined not to accept landings, placing in cages
for fattening or farming and transhipments of bluefin
tuna caught by purse seiners in the Atlantic Ocean,
east of longitude 45 °W, and the Mediterranean,

Article 3

as

for

Subject

to paragraph 2,

from 16 June 2008,
1.
landings, placing in
Community operators shall not accept
in
transhipments
or
cages
Community waters or ports of bluefin tuna caught
in the
Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45 °W, and the Mediterranean
Sea by purse seiners.

fattening

farming,

or

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

2.
It shall be allowed to land, place in cages for fattening or
farming and to tranship in Community waters or ports of
bluefin tuna caught in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude
45 °W, and the Mediterranean Sea by purse seiners flying the
flag of, or registered in Spain until 23 June 2008.

Fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude
45 °W, and the Mediterranean by purse seiners flying the flag of
or registered in Greece, France, Italy, Cyprus and Malta shall be
prohibited as from 16 June 2008.

Article 4

Entry into force

It shall also be prohibited to retain on board, place in cages for
fattening or farming,
transfer or land such stock
caught by those vessels as from that date.

tranship,

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publi-
cation in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply for six months.

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

Done at Brussels, 12 June 2008.

For the Commission

Joe BORG
Member of the Commission