Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 of 18 February 2019 establishing the list of mandatory research surveys and thresholds for the purposes of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors
Date: 2019-02-18
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, aquaculture, common fisheries policy, data collection, fishery management, fishery resources, fishing industry, research




L_2019145EN.01002101.xml










4.6.2019   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 145/21








            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2019/909
of 18 February 2019
         
establishing the list of mandatory research surveys and thresholds for the purposes of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 (1), and in particular the first and third subparagraphs of Article 4(1) thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


Pursuant to Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), the Member States are to collect biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data necessary for fisheries management. The multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (EU MAP) for the period 2017-2019 was adopted by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 (3) and will expire on 31 December 2019.












(2)


The multiannual Union programme is necessary for Member States to specify and plan their data collection activities in their national work plans. In accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) these national work plans are to be submitted to the Commission by 31 October preceding the year from which the work plan is to apply.












(3)


In order to prepare the review of the EU MAP after 2019, consultations with experts under the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries, regional coordination groups, Member State representatives and other relevant stakeholders are ongoing and will be finalised only at the end of 2019. As a result, the new EU-MAP taking into account the outcomes of these consultations cannot be adopted before 2021.












(4)


For the period from 2020 to 2021 it is, therefore, necessary to adopt the provisions on the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data, included in the current EU MAP, on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.












(5)


This decision therefore establishes, in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data based on their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea, as referred to in Article 5(1)(b) and (c) of that Regulation. Detailed arrangements on the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data by Member States, as referred to in Article 5(1)(a) of that Regulation, are provided for by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 (5).












(6)


For reasons of legal certainty, Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 should be repealed.












(7)


The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
For the purposes of multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries sector for the period 2020-2021, the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data based on their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea covering the parts of the multiannual Union programme referred to in points (b) and (c) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, is set out in the Annex to this Decision.


Article 2
Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 is repealed with effect from 1 January 2020.


Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2020.




Done at Brussels, 18 February 2019.


For the Commission


The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER
            





(1)  
            OJ L 157, 20.6.2017, p. 1.

(2)  Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22).

(3)  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 of 12 July 2016 adopting a multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors for the period 2017-2019 (OJ L 207, 1.8.2016, p. 113).

(4)  Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 149, 20.5.2014, p. 1).

(5)  Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 of 13 March 2019 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socio-economic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (see page 27 of this Official Journal).




ANNEX
CHAPTER I

Research surveys at sea

At least all research surveys at sea listed in the Table in this Annex (replacing Table 10 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251) shall be carried out, unless a review of surveys leads to the conclusion that a survey is no longer appropriate for informing stock assessment and fisheries management. On the basis of the same scientific review criteria, new surveys can be added to this list.
In the workplans referred to in Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014, Member States shall set out the research surveys at sea to be carried out and shall be responsible for these surveys.
Member States contributing to international research surveys shall coordinate their efforts within the same marine region.
In their national work plans Member States shall guarantee continuity with previous survey designs.
This Chapter is replacing Chapter IV of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251.
CHAPTER II

Thresholds









(1)


This Chapter shall apply to Union fisheries and is replacing the provisions of Chapter V of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251.












(2)


No biological data have to be collected where, for a certain fish stock or species:






(a)


a Member State's share of the related total allowable catch (TAC) is less than 10 % of the Union total, or










(b)


where no TAC is fixed, the total landings of a Member State of a stock or species are less than 10 % of the average total EU landings in the previous 3 years, or










(c)


the total annual landings of a Member State of a species is less than 200 tonnes. For species with a specific management need a lower threshold may be defined at marine region level.








When the sum of the relevant quotas of several Member States, whose share of a TAC is less than 10 %, is higher than 25 % of the share of the TAC for a certain stock, the 10 % threshold referred to under (a) shall not apply and Member States shall ensure task-sharing at regional level in order to ensure that the stock is covered by sampling in concordance with end-user needs.
No threshold shall apply to large pelagic species and anadromous and catadromous species.








(3)


Without prejudice to more specific provisions relating to international obligations under Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, no biological data should to be collected where, for a certain internationally exploited fish stock other than stocks of large pelagic or highly migratory species, the Union's share is less than 10 %.












(4)


Member States shall provide catch estimates from existing recreational fishery surveys, including those carried out under the Data Collection Framework or from an additional pilot study, within two years from the date on which this Decision takes effect. These surveys make it possible to assess the share of catches from recreational fisheries in relation to commercial catches for all species in a marine region for which recreational catch estimates are required under this multiannual Union programme. The subsequent design and extent of national surveys of recreational fisheries, including any thresholds for data collection, shall be coordinated at marine region level and shall be based on end user needs.




No threshold shall apply to recreational catches of fish stocks that are subject to recovery or multi-annual management plans such as those applying to large pelagic species and highly migratory species.








(5)


No social and economic data on aquaculture need to be collected if the total production of the Member State is less than 1 % of the total Union production volume and value. No data need to be collected on aquaculture for species accounting for less than 10 % of the Member State's aquaculture production by volume and value. Additionally, Member States with a total production of less than 2,5 % of the total Union aquaculture production volume and value may define a simplified methodology such as pilot studies with a view to extrapolate the data required for species accounting for more than 10 % of the Member States's aquaculture production by volume and value.




The reference data shall be the Member States' latest submission under Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) and corresponding data published by Eurostat.








(6)


No environmental data on aquaculture need to be collected where the total aquaculture production of the Member State is less than 2,5 % of the total Union aquaculture production volume and value.




The reference data shall be the Member States' latest submission under Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 and corresponding data published by Eurostat.








(7)


A Member State's participation (physical or financial) in research surveys at sea listed in the list of surveys at sea of this Annex is not mandatory when its share of a Union TAC of the survey target species is below a threshold of 3 %. Where no TAC is set, a Member State's participation (physical or financial) in research surveys at sea is not mandatory when its share of the total Union landings of the preceding 3 years of a stock or species is below a threshold of 3 %. Thresholds for multispecies and ecosystem surveys may be defined at marine region level.












(8)


Notwithstanding points 2 to 7, within the same marine region, Member States may agree on alternative thresholds.

List of research surveys at sea
 (2)










Name of the survey


Acronym


Area


Period


Main targeted species





Baltic Sea






Baltic International Trawl Survey


BITS Q1
BITS Q4


IIIaS, IIIb-d


1st and 4th Quarter


Cod and other demersal species




Baltic International Acoustic Survey (Autumn)


BIAS


IIIa, IIIb-d


Sep-Oct


Herring and sprat




Gulf of Riga Acoustic Herring Survey


GRAHS


IIId


3rd Quarter


Herring




Sprat Acoustic Survey


SPRAS


IIId


May


Sprat and herring




Rügen Herring Larvae Survey


RHLS


IIId


March-June


Herring





North Sea and Eastern Arctic (ICES areas I and II)






International Bottom Trawl Survey


IBTS Q1
IBTS Q3


IIIa, IV


1st and 3rd Quarter


Haddock, Cod, Saithe, Herring, Sprat, Whiting, Mackerel, Norway pout.




North Sea Beam Trawl Survey


BTS


IVb,IVc,VIId


3rd Quarter


Plaice, Sole




Demersal Young Fish Survey


DYFS


Coasts of NS


3rd and4th Quarter


Plaice, sole, brown shrimp




Sole Net Survey


SNS


IVb, IVc


3rd Quarter


Sole, Plaice




North Sea Sandeels Survey


NSSS


IVa, IVb


4th Quarter


Sandeels




International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Seas


ASH


IIa


May


Herring, Blue whiting




Redfish Survey in the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters


REDNOR


II


August- September


Redfish




Mackerel egg Survey
(Triennial)


NSMEGS


IV


May-July


Mackerel egg production




Herring Larvae survey


IHLS


IV,VIId


1st and 3rd Quarter


Herring, Sprat Larvae




NS Herring Acoustic Survey


NHAS


IIIa, IV,VIa


June, July


Herring, Sprat




Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 3&4)


NTV3&4


IIIA


2nd or 3rd Quarter


Nephrops




Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 6)


NTV6


IVb


September


Nephrops




Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 7)


NTV7


IVa


2nd or 3rd Quarter


Nephrops




Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 8)


NTV8


IVb


2nd or 3rd Quarter


Nephrops




Nephrops TVsurvey (FU 9)


NTV9


IVa


2nd or 3rd Quarter


Nephrops





North Atlantic (ICES Areas V-XIV and NAFO areas)






International Redfish Trawl and Acoustic Survey (Biennial)


REDTAS


Va, XII, XIV; NAFO SA 1-3


June/July


Redfish




Flemish Cap Groundfish survey


FCGS


3M


July


Demersal species




Greenland Groundfish survey


GGS


XIV, NAFO SA1


October/November


Cod, redfish and other demersal species




3LNO Groundfish survey


PLATUXA


NAFO 3LNO


2nd and 3rd Quarter


Demersal species




Western IBTS 4th quarter
(including Porcupine survey)


IBTS Q4


VIa, VII, VIII, IXa


4th Quarter


Demersal species




Scottish Western IBTS


IBTS Q1


VIa,VIIa


March


Gadoids, herring, mackerel




ISBCBTS September


ISBCBTS


VIIa f g


September


Sole, Plaice




WCBTS


VIIe BTS


VIIe


October


Sole, Plaice, Anglerfish, Lemon sole




Blue whiting survey


 


VI, VII


1st and 2nd Quarter


Blue whiting




International Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Survey
(Triennial)


MEGS


VIa, VII,VIII, IXa


January-July


Mackerel, Horse Mackerel egg production




Sardine, Anchovy Horse Mackerel Acoustic Survey


 


VIII, IX


March-April-May


Sardine, Anchovy, Mackerel, Horse Mackerel abundance indices




Sardine DEPM
(Triennial)


 


VIIIc, IXa


2nd and 4th Quarter


Sardine SSB and use of CUFES




Spawning/Pre spawning Herring/Boarfish acoustic survey


 


VIa, VIIa-g


July, Sept, Nov, March, Jan


Herring, Sprat




Biomass of Anchovy


BIOMAN


VIII


May


Anchovy SSB (DEP)




Nephrops UWTV survey (offshore)


UWTV
(FU 11-13)


VIa


2nd or 3rd Quarter


Nephrops




Nephrops UWTV
Irish Sea


UWTV
(FU 15)


VIIa


August


Nephrops




Nephrops UWTV survey
Aran Grounds


UWTV
(FU 17)


VIIb


June


Nephrops




Nephrops UWTV survey
Celtic Sea


UWTV
(FU 20-22)


VIIg,h,j


July


Nephrops




Nephrops Survey
Offshore Portugal NepS


UWTV
(FU 28-29)


IXa


June


Nephrops





Mediterranean waters and Black sea






Pan-Mediterranean Acoustic Survey ()


MEDIAS


GSA 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22


Spring-summer (qtrs 2-3)


Small pelagic species




Bottom trawl survey in Black Sea,


BTSBS


GSA 29


Spring - autumn (qtrs 2,3,4)


Turbot




Pelagic trawl survey in Black Sea,


PTSBS


GSA 29


Spring-autumn (qtrs 2,3,4)


Sprat and Whiting




International bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean (),


MEDITS


GSA 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25


Spring-summer (qtrs 2-3)


Demersal species










(1)  Regulation (EC) No 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 788/96 (OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 1).

(2)  The list of research surveys at sea is replacing Table 10 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251.