Annual report 2016.
Date: 2019-02-20
Institutions: European Fisheries Control Agency
Subjects: European Fisheries Control Agency, activity report, fishing controls

ANNUAL REPORT 2016Legal basis:

Articles 14 and 23(2)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 768/20051 as last amended by 
Regulation (EC) No 2016/16262, Article 47 of the Financial Regulation of EFCA3. 

The  Annual  Report  2016  follows  the  Activity  Based  Management  System  under  the 
Multiannual Work Programme 2016-2020 and Annual Work Programme 2016 adopted 
on 15 October 2015 and amended on 10 March and 21 June 2016.

ISBN: 978-92-9209-062-3
ISSN: 2363-2151 
DOI: 10.2835/226478

© European Union, 2017
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
More information on the European Union is available on the internet (http://europa.eu). 

1 OJ of the European Union L 128 of 21.05.2005, p.1.
2 OJ of the European Union L 251 of 16.9.2016, p.80.
3 AB Decision No 13-W-09 of 31 December 2013.

Annual Report 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword by the Chair ................................................................................................................................. 8

Introductory Statement by the Executive Director .................................................................................. 10

Administrative Board's analysis and assessment .................................................................................. 12

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... 14

Part I. Achievements of the year ............................................................................................................... 17

1.1 Main initiatives within the multiannual framework 2016-2020 ......................................................... 17

1.1.1. Assistance to the European Commission and to the Member States for the implementation of

the CFP, and related maritime strategies ....................................................................................... 17

   1.1.2. Enhancement of capacity buildings instruments ..............................................................................20

1.1.3. EFCA Rationalisation ......................................................................................................................21

1.2 Operational Activities ........................................................................................................................... 22

1.2.1. Implementation of JDPs & Operational Plans .................................................................................23

1.2.2. Level playing field enhacement .......................................................................................................33

1.2.3. Programmes, plans and assessment ..............................................................................................42

1.2.4. Data Monitoring and Networks ........................................................................................................51

1.2.5. Training ...........................................................................................................................................59

1.3 Governance and representation ......................................................................................................... 64

1.3.1. Administrative Board .......................................................................................................................64

1.3.2. Advisory Board ................................................................................................................................65

1.3.3. Representation and Networks .........................................................................................................66

1.3.4. Communication ...............................................................................................................................67

Part II. Horizontal support .......................................................................................................................... 69

2.1 Major events.......................................................................................................................................... 69

2.2 Budgetary and financial management................................................................................................ 71

2.3 Human resources (HR) management ................................................................................................. 73

2.4 Budget implementation tasks entrusted to other services and entities ......................................... 74

2.5 Procurement ......................................................................................................................................... 75

2.6 IT ............................................................................................................................................................ 75

2.7 Facilities ................................................................................................................................................ 75

2.8 Data protection and access to documents ........................................................................................ 76

Part III. Building Blocks of Assurance ...................................................................................................... 77

3.1 Assessment by management .............................................................................................................. 77

3.2 Internal Control System ....................................................................................................................... 78

3.3 Legality and regulatory of transactions ............................................................................................. 81

3.3.1. Ex-ante and ex-post controls ..........................................................................................................81

3.3.2. Nonconformity management procedure ..........................................................................................81

3.4 Risk Management ................................................................................................................................. 81

3.5 Assessment of audit results during the reporting year .................................................................... 82

3.5.1. Internal Audit Service (IAS) .............................................................................................................82

3.5.2. Internal Audit Capability (IAC) .........................................................................................................82

3.5.3. European Court of Auditors (ECA) ..................................................................................................82

3.5.4. External Evaluations .......................................................................................................................83

3.6 Follow up of audit plans, audits and recommendations ...................................................................85

3.7 Follow up of observations from the Discharge authority ................................................................. 85

Part IV. Management assurance ................................................................................................................ 86

4.1 Review of the elements supporting assurance ................................................................................. 86

4.2 Reservations and overall conclusion on assurance ......................................................................... 86

4.2.1. Statement of the Internal Control Coordinator ................................................................................87

4.2.2. Declaration of Assurance ................................................................................................................88

ANNEXES.. .................................................................................................................................................. 89

Annex I. Operational activities: detailed information.............................................................................. 89

Annex II. Statistics on financial management ....................................................................................... 122

Annex III. Organisational Chart ............................................................................................................... 125

Annex IV. Establishment plan ................................................................................................................. 126

Annex V. Information on entry levels for each type of post ................................................................. 127

Annex VI. Human resources by job type ................................................................................................ 128

Annex VII. Procurement ........................................................................................................................... 129

Annex VIII. Administrative Board decisions .......................................................................................... 130

Annex IX. Materiality criteria ................................................................................................................... 131

Annex X. Annual accounts ...................................................................................................................... 132

Annex XI. Executive Director KPIs.......................................................................................................... 133

Annex XII. List of the most relevant acronyms and abbreviations ...................................................... 134

Annex XIII. List of terms and projects .................................................................................................... 137

Foreword by the Chair

 Reinhard Priebe, Chair of the Administrative Board

This Annual Report provides fisheries experts as well as 
the interested public with a comprehensive overview of the 
various activities the European Fisheries Control Agency 
(EFCA)  has  carried  out  in  2016.  The  report  illustrates 
once  more  how  essential  a  close  cooperation  amongst 
EU  Member  States  and  also  between  those  Member 
States  and  the  EU-institutions  is,  to  ensure  a  proper 
implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy according 
to the rules. Moreover, the report highlights the ever closer 
coordination between all European agencies – like EFCA 
- involved in maritime control issues under their respective 
mandates. 

2016 marked the opening of a new chapter for EFCA: its 
involvement  in  the  European  Coast  Guard  Function.  A 
recent amendment to EFCA’s founding regulation specifies 
EFCA’s contribution. The Coast Guard Function includes 
inter  alia  search  and  rescue  operations,  surveillance 
activities,  sea  border  and  fisheries  control,  detection 
of  pollution  and  compliance  with  maritime  regulations. 
EFCA  (together  with  the  European  Border  and  Coast 
Guard Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency 
each  within  its  mandate)  will  support  national  authorities 
in  carrying  out  these  activities  by  providing  information, 
equipment  and  training,  as  well  as  by  coordinating 
multipurpose operations.

8

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyWith regards to the international dimension of the Common 
Fisheries  Policy,  EFCA  has  assisted  the  European 
Union  in  cooperating  with  developing  countries  and  with 
international fisheries organisations to help combat illegal 
fishing. 

The  Annual  Report  gives  details  about  a  successful 
execution of the budget during 2016. EFCA managed its 
finances cost-effectively, whilst assuming more tasks than 
ever.  

As  chair  of  the  Administrative  Board,  in  which  Member 
States  and  the  Commission  are  represented,  I  am 
confident  we  will  continue  working  together  to  ensure  a 
level playing field in the management of fisheries control.

With all its expertise and commitment, ECFA is well placed 
to face this new challenge. During 2016, EFCA has made 
particular efforts to communicate with stakeholders on this 
upcoming  responsibility,  which  has  required  a  significant 
increase  in  resources.  The  2016 Annual  Report  outlines 
the main steps undertaken by EFCA to assume this new 
task.

Strict adherence to the rules is indispensable for achieving 
the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy. In the first 
place, it is for the Member States and their administrations 
to  implement  those  rules,  and  to  make  sure  that  they 
are  respected.  To  strengthen  observance  and  promote 
a  culture  of  compliance  with  the  EU  legal  framework, 
EFCA’s  daily  work  is  crucial  in  supporting  national 
administrations. With its central role as a facilitator, it will 
continue  developing  methods  and  strategies  for  further 
improving fisheries controls.

Working alongside regional groups of Member States, and 
also thanks to the cooperation with the Regional Fisheries 
Management  Organisations  (RFMOs),  EFCA  is  a  key 
player in the successful implementation of evaluation and 
monitoring measures.

9

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyIntroductory Statement by the Executive Director

and  Coast  Guard  Agency  (Frontex)  and  the  European 
Maritime  Safety  Agency 
(EMSA).  This  cooperation 
resulted in a significant information leverage offering EFCA 
a more comprehensive picture of the scene of action in the 
Central  Mediterranean  Sea.  An  important  landmark  was 
the amendment4 to the Agency founding regulation which 
legally  confirmed  the  name  of  the  European  Fisheries 
Control  Agency  (formerly  Community  Fisheries  Control 
Agency) and empowered it, in cooperation with Frontex and 
EMSA each in its mandate, to support national authorities 
carrying  out  coast  guard  functions  at  national  and  Union 
level and, where appropriate, at international level. 

 Pascal Savouret, Executive Director

The European Fisheries Control Agency Annual Report for 
2016 is prepared in accordance with the annual reporting 
framework  developed  by  the  European  Inter-Agencies 
Network and approved by the European Commission. This 
Annual  Report  provides  the  EFCA Administrative  Board, 
the  European  Parliament,  the  European  Council,  the 
European  Commission,  the  European  Court  of  Auditors 
and  the  European  citizens  with  a  comprehensive  and 
transparent  insight  into  the  achievements  of  the Agency 
in  accordance  with  its  Annual  work  programme  (AWP) 
for  2016. The  resources  granted  by  the  European  Union 
budget  have  been  fully  used  reaching  almost  100%  of 
commitment appropriations and 88.5% in payments. The 
Agency  also  benefits  from  synergy  with  other  agencies, 
from Commission framework contracts and also from the 
best practices stemming from the European Inter-Agencies 
Network.

I  can  declare  with  reasonable  assurance 
the 
resources  were  assigned  and  used  in  total  compliance 
with the principles derived from the Framework Financial 
Regulation applicable to agencies. 

that 

This  Annual Report provides a comprehensive presentation 
of  the  efforts  and  dedication  of  EFCA  staff  to  deliver  the 
Agency’s  AWP  2016,  as  adopted  by  the  Administrative 
Board. In accordance with the Agency’s mission statement, 
those efforts are directed to the Member States and to the 
European  Commission  through  coordination,  assistance 
and harmonisation. 

The Agency resolutely engaged in the preparation of the 
European  Coast  Guard  Capacity  implementing  the  Pilot 
Project  “Creation  of  a  European  Coast  Guard  Function 
(ECGF)”  in  close  cooperation  with  the  European  Border 

4 Regulation (EU) 2016/1626 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2016 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 establishing 
a Community Fisheries Control Agency

10

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyThe  European  Coast  Guard  Function  undertaking 
dramatically  boosted  the  cooperation  between  the  three 
agencies which had commenced in 2009. During this very 
intensive period, the EFCA also front-loaded the planning 
for 2017 of the additional resources authorised by the “fiche 
financiere” attached to the amending regulation. 

standard for electronic inspection report data. The Terms of 
Reference  (ToR)  were  agreed  between  EFCA,  European 
Commission  (EC)  and  the  MS.  EFCA  also  contributed  to 
the  data  management  meetings  and  associated  Working 
Groups  (WG)  hosted  by  the  European  Commission 
throughout the year. 

EFCA maintained the objective to improve the efficiency of 
the administrative procedures underpinning the horizontal 
support in order to muster the biggest part of its resources 
on the frontline. It strived to maximise synergy by searching 
solutions with the highest level of integration with existing 
systems  (Accrual  Based  Accounting  (ABAC))  along  with 
lowest  cost  of  customisation  and  maintenance  (systems 
developed by the EC).

The  second  semester  saw  considerable  efforts 
for 
contributing to the second five year independent external 
evaluation of the EFCA (2012-2016).

Overall,  2016  was  a  very  productive  and  intense  year, 
highlighted  by  the  enhanced  cooperation  with  EMSA 
and  Frontex  to  support  national  authorities  carrying  out 
coast  guard  functions  in  line  with  our  efforts  to  broker 
operational  coordination  in  fisheries  monitoring,  control 
and surveillance measures to achieve compliance, a level 
playing field and cost effectiveness in the implementation 
of the control regime of the Control Fisheries Policy.

EFCA coordination of Joint Deployment Plans (JDP) and 
other operational plans in support of the Member States, 
including  the  international  dimension,  reached  close  to 
19,500 inspections (from 17,000 in 2015) which identified 
665 suspected infringements. 

EFCA  has  placed  special  attention  to  making  fisheries 
controls in Europe more uniform through the development 
of an e-learning application based upon the Union Inspector 
Core Curricula (CC) and its involvement in the training of 
more than 550 inspectors including in assistance of some 
Member States training sessions. Specific emphasis was 
also put on the standardisation of the inspection processes 
related to the monitoring of the landing obligation.

The Agency continued its support to the regional groups of 
Member States in the framework of the Joint Deployment 
Plans  and  beyond  through  the  implementation  of  data 
collection programmes to evaluate, as far as possible, the 
catch  composition;  the  improvement  of  the  risk  analysis; 
the assessment of compliance and the dialogue with stake 
holders. Inter-regional cooperation was also enhanced. 

Following  the  amendment  to  the  Commission  Control 
Implementing Regulation in 2015, EFCA re-established and 
led the EIR Working Group (EIRWG) in agreement with the 
Administrative Board in order to prepare for a submission 
of an application for the establishment of a United Nations 
Centre for Trade Facilitation and E-business (UN/CEFACT) 

11

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAdministrative Board's analysis and assessment

The  Administrative  Board  analysed  and  assessed  the 
Authorising  Officer’s  (Executive  Director’s) Annual  Report 
for the financial year 2016.

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 of 
26 April 2005 and subsequent amendments,

Having regard to the Financial Regulation of the European 
Fisheries  Control  Agency  of  31  December  2013  and  in 
particular Article 47 therein,

Having  regard  to  the  Multiannual  work  programme  2016-
2020  and  Annual  work  programme  2016  adopted  by 
the  Administrative  Board  on  15  October  2015,  and  its 
amendments on 10 March and 21 June 2016.

The Administrative Board appreciates the results achieved 
by the Agency and notes in particular the following:

• 

• 

• 

The  Annual  Report  2016  provides  a  faithful  and 
comprehensive  account  of  the  work  undertaken  by 
the Agency  in  2016  and  reflects  the  achievements  of 
the Agency as set in the Multiannual work programme 
2016-2020  and  in  the Annual  work  programme  2016 
adopted  by  the  Administrative  Board  on  15  October 
2015, and its subsequent amendments. 

The Collaboration with other EU agencies towards the 
establishment  of  a  European  Coast  Guard  Capacity 
was a key priority.

The efforts of the Agency to assist the Member States 
and the European Commission in the implementation of 
the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy) with the support of 
the implementation of landing obligation at the forefront 
of the operational priorities.

•  Based on the results and outputs of the JDPs across 
the areas the level of compliance has been maintained 
if not undergone an increasing trend. The following can 
be underlined in this regard:

 -  the  significant  efforts  made  by  Member  States 
through  committed  means,  including  inspector 
exchanges, and the increasing trends in the number 
of inspections coordinated under the JDPs;
 - the secondments of EU inspectors to multinational 
inspector teams at sea and ashore continued to be 
a key element of the Member States’ cooperation, 
facilitating 
inspection 
the  standardisation  of 
procedures and promoting a level playing field for 
the fishing industry;
 -  the  promotion  of  the  simultaneous  presence  of 
different MS’ experts in the Coordination Centre of 
the  campaigns  has  been  positively  evaluated,  as 
allows for a “real-time” exchange of information and 
intelligence and a closer follow-up of the fisheries 
and deployed means; 
 - the improved information reporting, exchange and 
treatment,  contributed  to  a  greater  transparency 
between the Member States;
 - an analysis of suspected infringements detected 
in the framework of the JDPs across the different 
areas,  confirms  that  misrecording  of  catches  and 
technical measures are the most common types of 
infringement.

•  Cooperation  with  regional  bodies  through  the  PACT 
concept  (Partnership,  Accountability  (compliance), 
Cooperation and Transparency) allowed assistance to 
be given by EFCA to the Member States in accordance 
with provisions of articles 7 and 15 of EFCA’s founding 
regulation.

•  Cooperation  with  Control  Expert  Groups  (CEG)  of 
the  four  regional  bodies  created  in  the  framework  of 
regionalisation  and  carried  out  a  project  in  the  Black 
Sea.

•  EFCA  continued  its  assistance  to  the  European 
Commission and the Member States in the international 

12

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
dimension of the CFP, including in the fight against illegal, 
unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Surveillance  Information  System)  and  Copernicus 
in support of fishery inspection activities.

• 

The following operational facts and figures were found 
specifically relevant:

• 

implementation  reached  99.6% 

The  budget 
for 
commitment  appropriations  and  88.5%  for  payment 
appropriations; 

• 

• 

The Agency has continued to implement the staff cut 
foreseen in the establishment plan to comply with the 
Inter-institutional agreement;

The  information  provided  under  the  Annual  Report 
2016,  parts  III  “Building  Blocks  of Assurance”  and  IV 
“Management Assurance”.

Vigo, 05 04 2017

Reinhard Priebe
Chair of the Administrative Board

- five JDPs and a Joint Operational Programme

successfully implemented;

- number of coordinated inspections5 (at sea and 

ashore): close to 19.500;

- number of suspected infringements6 detected: 665;
- EFCA held 24 training events consisting of regional 
workshops,  exchange  of  best  practices,  training 
the  trainers,  Union  inspector  training,  Fisheries 
Information  System  training  and  training  for  third 
countries; 

- EFCA trained a total of 580 officials, of which 150 

through  e-learning,  and  almost  12%  of  the  Union 
inspectors;

- update of Core Curricula volume 1 (Inspection at 

(Port 

sea)  and  Volume  2 
inspection-Landing 
module) for the inclusion of the new legal provisions 
resulting  from  the  CFP  reform  (landing  obligation, 
discard plans, regionalisation), with a focus for Union 
inspectors  on  legislations  applicable  to  specific 
stocks/areas;

- support to the European Commission in the analysis 
of documents of five third countries and participation 
in three missions to third countries to prevent, deter 
and eliminate IUU fishing;

- the availability of the suite of collaborative and data 
exchange tools as Fishnet, the Electronic Reporting 
System  (ERS),  the  Electronic  Inspection  Report 
system (EIR); 

- intense collaboration with other agencies in the 

domain of data sharing for the purpose of creating an 
Integrated Maritime Picture and in projects exploring 
future  technologies  for  possible  use  in  fisheries 
control,  expanding  the  use  of  Marsurv  (Maritime 

5 & 6  2016 Provisional data based on the information provided by Member States up to January 2016.

13

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency  
Executive Summary

The preparation towards supporting European cooperation 
on coast guard functions has been an important factor in 
the Agency activities in 2016. In this context, the Agency 
MWP 2016-2020 and AWP 2016 were amended in March 
and June 2016, and EFCA’s competences were increased 
by  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  through 
Regulation (EU) 2016/1626.

The  overall  implementation  of  EFCA  activities  in  2016 
indicates  a  stable  and  consistent  trend,  with  97% 
completion  of  the  activities  and  97%  timely  achievement 
of  the  objectives  in  the AWP,  against  97.4%  and  96.2% 
respectively in 2015. 

The  EFCA’s  endeavour  to  promote  joint  efforts  in  the 
framework of its competences has, inter alia, the following 
highlights:

• 

Through 
the  JDPs  and  operational  plans 
coordination7  EFCA  provided  assistance  to  the 
MS  and  the  European  Commission  in  the  area  of 
control,  inspection  and  surveillance,  with  specific 
regard to activities enhancing the potential of national 
enforcement  services  to  apply  the  rules  of  the  CFP 
in  a  uniform  and  effective  manner.  This  contributed 
to optimal use of human and other resources by the 
MS in a coordinated manner. In 2016 the cooperation 
between MS has led to a 15% increase in inspections. 

All  JDPs  implemented  a  data  collection  programme 
to  facilitate  and  share  the  information  on  catch 
composition,  establish  the  basis  for  risk  assessment 
and contribute to the evaluation of compliance. 

In the operational activities special attention has been 
given to the risks for non-compliance. An analysis of 
suspected  infringements  detected  in  the  framework 
of the JDPs across the different areas, confirms that 
misrecording of catches and technical measures are 
the  most  common  types  of  infringement.  EFCA  is 

currently developing a series of compliance indicators, 
one  of  which  is  being  based  on  the  comparison  of 
reference fishing activity information (inspected or with 
CCTV or observers) versus non-inspected activity.

the  evaluation  of  JDP  costs,  EFCA 
Regarding 
conducted  the  third  assessment  in  2016. The  global 
cost of the JDPs has decreased from 46M€ in 2014 to 
42M€ in 2015.

To promote an effective and efficient implementation of 
the landing obligation specific monitoring schemes 
continued  in  the  Baltic  Sea  (BS),  Western  Waters 
(WW)  (Pelagic)  and  Mediterranean  Sea  (Adriatic) 
JDP areas, and a similar data collection scheme has 
been initiated to the North Sea (NS) JDP for demersal 
species.  At the same time EFCA has supported the 
regional  bodies  created  by  the  MS  (Scheveningen, 
BALTFISH, North Western Waters (NWW) and South 
Western  Waters  (SWW)),  has  encouraged  inter-
regional cooperation and has promoted the dialogue 
with stakeholders and the industry to boost a culture 
of compliance.

To  strengthen  cooperation  at  EU  and  international 
level  towards  a  European  coast  guard  capacity, 
EMSA, EFCA and Frontex, together with the European 
Commission, have collaborated in the implementation 
of  the  Pilot  Project  “Creation  of  a  European  coast 
guard  function”.  Within  this  framework  there  were 
more than 500 sightings of fishing vessels reported to 
EFCA by Frontex.

To  promote  a  level  playing  field  the  secondment 
of  EU  inspectors  to  multinational  inspection  teams 
continues as a mainstay, facilitating the standardisation 
of inspection procedures.
During  2016,  a  common  basis  to  further  cooperate 
in  areas  related  to  the  standardisation  of  inspection 

• 

• 

• 

7 Areas of cooperation: the North Sea, the Kattegat, the Skagerrak, the eastern Channel, the waters west of Scotland and the Irish Sea, the Baltic Sea, Western 
Waters, Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic, NAFO & NEAFC and Black Sea. 

14

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agencymethodologies  and  compliance  evaluation  was 
established.

• 

In the international arena, EFCA assisted the EU in 
its  relations  with  RFMOs,  namely  Northwest Atlantic 
Fisheries  Organisation  (NAFO),  Northeast  Atlantic 
Fisheries  Commission 
International 
Commission  for  the  Conservation  of  the  Atlantic 
Tuna (ICCAT) and General Fisheries Commission for 
Mediterranean (GFCM).

(NEAFC), 

In the NAFO JDP framework cooperation with Canada 
was enhanced through the exchange of best practice. 
Upon request from the European Commission, EFCA 
participated on a capacity building mission to Liberia, 
and  took  part  in  two  working  group  meetings  on 
monitoring, control and surveillance in coastal states8 
pelagic fisheries. 

in  evaluation  missions  under 

Throughout the year, EFCA supported the European 
Commission 
the 
framework  of  the  IUU-regulation  to  two  countries, 
Thailand,  and  Mauritius,  and  carried  out  an  analysis 
of  2.224  catch  certificates  and  741  “Annex  IV  - 
processing  statements”  and  approximately  10.000 
supporting documents for 5 third countries.

• 

In the domain of data monitoring and networks:

-  The  EFCA’s  web  integrated  platform  FISHNET 
continued  to  support  the  coordination  of  joint 
campaigns  and  the  Technical  Joint  Deployment 
Group  (TJDG)  tasks  in  the  EU  waters  JDPs  and 
was introduced in the JDPs in international waters. 
Fishnet facilitated the exchange of inspection data, 
the  planning  of  means,  the  exchange  of  target 
vessels  and  any  other  information  useful  to  the 
campaign. 
- EFCA Electronic Recording and Reporting System 
(EFCA  ERS),  available  to  all  JDP  participants, 
has  been  a  central  component  in  the  control  and 
monitoring  of  fishing  activity  with  timely  access 
to  this  data  being  essential  in  coordinated  control 
operations. 
In  2016  EFCA  generated  almost 
one  million  automated  data  requests  to  MS  ERS 
systems  involving  almost  four  thousand  fishing 
vessels.
- The EFCA was requested to re-establish and lead 
the Electronic Inspection Report Working Group in 
order to prepare for a submission of an application 
for the establishment of a UN/CEFACT standard for 
electronic inspection report data. 

to 

facilitate 

common  methodology 

the 
A 
implementation of an IUU risk management approach 
by  Member  States’  authorities,  as  well  as  a  pilot 
project  for  the  development  of  a  worldwide  EFCA 
Marsurv  Service,  were 
in  2016. 
Specific  Marsurv  functionalities,  which  are  currently 
under  development,  could  support  Member  States’ 
authorities in their verification of catch certificates by 
providing  a  worldwide  access  to  integrated  vessel 
information. 

implemented 

the  use  of 
Furthermore,  EFCA  started 
Copernicus services for fisheries control purposes in 
preparation for a wider operational use.

test 

to 

8 Coastal States: EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and Russia. 

15

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency- The volume of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) 
messages  being  processed  by  the  EFCA  VMS 
continues  to  increase  with  more  than  23  million 
messages, 10.5% more than in 2015.

• 

The  EFCA  has  given  guidance  to  Member  States, 
facilitated  the  exchange  of  best  practices,  updated 
several  Core  Curricula  (CC)  training  courses  and 
provided  training  to  MS  and  third  country  officials 
upon European Commission request, namely:

-  In  2016,  EFCA  completed  the  updating  of  CC 
volume  1  (Inspection  at  sea)  and  Volume  2  (Port 
inspection-Landing module). The updating process 
mainly  included  the  new  legal  provisions  resulting 
from  the  CFP  reform  (landing  obligation,  discard 
plans,  regionalisation),  with  a  focus  for  Union 
inspectors  on  legislations  applicable  to  specific 
stocks/areas.
- The EFCA has also finalised the development of 
a specific training handbook for fisheries inspectors 
from third countries, in particular from Sustainable 
Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs).
- Interactive tutorials, presentations and templates 
have  been  developed  and  published  in  EFCA’s 

e-learning platform. At the end of 2016, 150 users 
were registered on the platform.
- By the end of 2016, EFCA trained a total of 580 
officials,  of  which  150  through  e-learning,  almost 
12% of the Union inspectors and 14 officials from 
Liberia.
-  Within  the  IUU  domain  EFCA  participated  in  a 
training session in Thailand on the implementation 
of the EU catch certification scheme.

• 

In the field of administration, e-administration became 
one of the main projects for EFCA in order to improve 
the efficiency of the administrative procedures. Steps 
were taking towards the implementation of: Prior and 
ABAC Assets Order implementation, e-submission of 
all open calls for tendering, ABAC contracts, Mission 
management system and Sysper2 (HR IT tool).

Finally,  the  AR  2016  marks  the  milestone  of  10  year’s 
endeavour since EFCA started operations. In this respect, 
the Five Year independent external evaluation of the EFCA 
for the period 2012-2016 commenced in May 2016, and is 
planned to be completed in 2017.

16

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency Part I. Achievements of the year

1.1. Main initiatives within the multiannual framework 2016 - 2020

EFCA’s  multiannual  framework  is  guided,  inter  alia, 
by  the  implementation  of  the  features  of  the  CFP;  the 
recommendations  issued  by  the  Administrative  Board 
following the Five Year Independent External Evaluation of 
the European Fisheries Control Agency on 15 March 2012; 

the  revised  Framework  Financial  Regulation  (FFR)  and 
the Roadmap on the follow-up to the Common Approach 
on EU decentralised agencies.

1.1.1. Assistance to the European Commission and to the Member States for the implementation of the 
CFP, and related maritime strategies

Evolution of Joint Deployment Plans

In  accordance  with  the  Multiannual  work  programme 
(MWP) and the Five Year Independent External Evaluation 
of  EFCA  and  the  related  recommendations9  issued 
by  the  Administrative  Board,  EFCA  JDPs  are  a  year-
round activity, covering a wide range of species with the 
permanent exchange of information and intelligence.

Currently,  all  JDPs  are  multispecies,  multiannual  (same 
period as the Specific Control and Inspection Programme 
(SCIPs)) and continuous throughout the year with control 
activities planned on the basis of risk assessment results. 
Member States assess the risks with regard to the stocks 
and areas in accordance with the methodology established 

in cooperation with EFCA. The JDP planning carried out in 
2016 has been fully aligned to the EFCA risk assessment 
methodology for the strategic planning.

The results of the cooperation between MS regarding the 
implementation  of  the  JDPs  have  shown  an  increase  of 
inspections (see graph below) to close to 19.500 in 2016 
(from  17.000  in  2015).  This  is  mostly  related  to  the  rise 
in  landing  and  market  national  inspections  notified  by 
MS  within  the  scope  of  the  JDPs.  This  reflects  a  better 
integration of national control activities at EU regional level 
in priority areas as defined by the SCIP. 

9 http://www.efca.europa.eu/en/library-type/evaluation

17

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyThe ratio of suspected infringements by inspection in the 
different JDP areas as from 2012 is provided below. There 
is  no  noticeable  change  across  the  different  regional 

areas, with an overall decrease over the recent years, with 
the exception of the NAFO area.

A detailed analysis by type of the most significant suspected 
infringements found in 201610 (see table below), confirms 
that  misreporting  of  catches  and  technical  measures 
remain the most common non-compliance issues. These 
are generally considered to be the main threats together 
with  possible  non-compliance  with  the  requirements  of 

the landing obligation, and were further analysed at fleet 
segment  level  (as  defined  by  area,  species  and  gear) 
within the regional risk assessment to support the planning 
of the 2017 JDP activities (see section 1.2.2 “Level playing 
Field enhancement”).

SUSPECTED INFRINGEMENTS

Not fulfilling reporting obligations

Use of prohibited or non-compliant gear

Taking on board, transhipping or landing of undersized fish

Fishing in RFMO area inconsistent/in contravention with conservation and management measures

Fishing without a valid licence, authorisation or permit

Fishing in closed area, closed season or without quota

Other

TOTAL

TOTAL

342

67

23

45

13

26

149

665

%

51

10

4

7

2

4

22

100

10 Data available at the end of January 2017. Additional data may be received later from Member States.

18

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyImplementation of the landing obligation (LO)

One  of  the  main  priorities  for  EFCA  during  2016  was  to 
support  the  effective  and  efficient  implementation  of  the 
landing obligation, by:

•  Using  the  Joint  Deployment  Plans,  to  implement 
regional,  coordinated  joint  inspection  activities  and 
training workshops for inspectors in the same region.

European Border and Coast Guard Agency13 (Frontex). The 
Regulations were adopted on 14 September and published 
on 16 September 201614. These three regulations include 
a  similar  article  (in  the  case  of  EFCA  amending  article  3 
and inserting an article 7a), with the intention to strengthen 
cooperation at EU and international level between the three 
agencies,  within  their  respective  fields  of  competence, 
increasing European cooperation on coast guard functions15.

•  Supporting  the  regional  bodies  created  by  the 
Member  States  facilitating  control  cooperation  in 
all  the  areas.  In  particular,  a  specific  request  for 
EFCA  assistance  in  the  areas  of  risk  assessment, 
standardisation of inspection procedures, cooperation 
with industry and compliance evaluation was received 
from  BALTFISH,  Scheveningen,  and  for  the  North 
Western waters regional groups. 

Since  the  beginning  of  2016,  the  three  agencies  have 
been working together with the three “partner” Commission 
Directorate-Generals  (MARE,  HOME  and  MOVE)  in  the 
preparation  and  the  implementation  of  the  Pilot  Project 
“Creation  of  a  European  Coast  Guard  Function”  as 
established  by  the  European  Parliament  in  preparing 
the  implementation  of  the  “border  package”,  detailed 
information is provided under sections 1.2.1 and 1.2.5. 

•  Promoting  inter-regional  cooperation  through  the 
organisation of one seminar attended by the members 
of  the  EFCA  Administrative  Board  to  analyse  the 
implementation  of  the  landing  obligation  in  all  the 
inter-regional 
facilitate  dialogue.  An 
areas  and 
meeting  between  the  Scheveningen  and  the  North 
Western Waters regional groups was also organised 
by EFCA.

•  Supporting  the  dialogue  with  stakeholders  and 
compliance  by  Industry  with  the  participation  of 
EFCA  staff  in  the  different  fora  in  which  the  landing 
obligation is discussed (ACs, Scientific, Technical and 
Economic  Committee  for  Fisheries  (STECF),  other 
dedicated projects).

Towards a European Coast Guard Capacity

On  15  December  2015,  in  order  to  enhance  cooperation 
and  synergies  between  the  relevant  EU  agencies,  the 
Commission  adopted  three  legislative  proposals  (known 
as “border package”) amending the founding regulations of 
EMSA11 and EFCA12, and proposing the creation of a new 

In November 2016, EFCA organised a seminar in Catania 
(Italy)  with  its  Administrative  Board  (AB),  other  agencies 
and  stakeholders  to  present  the  state  of  play  of  the 
implementation  of  the  new  European  Union  Coast  Guard 
policy  and  analyse  the  future  EFCA  involvement.  During 
this  seminar  the  implementation  of  the  Pilot  Project  and 
activities  for  2017  were  discussed,  including  the  sharing 
of  VMS  information  and  the  future  tripartite  working 
arrangement  (TWA)  between  the  agencies  to  implement 
the new mandate. 

PACT Projects: Cooperation with regional bodies and 
Black Sea

The  PACT  approach 
(Partnership,  Accountability 
(compliance),  Cooperation  and  Transparency)  allows 
assistance  to  the  Member  States  in  accordance  with 
articles  7  and  15  of  EFCA’s  founding  regulation.  The 
current PACT projects delivered by EFCA on request from 
Member States were the following:  

11 COM (2015) 670
12 COM (2015) 669
13 COM (2015) 671
14 Regulations (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council 1624/2016, 1625/2016 and 1626/2016
15 Including,  but  not  limited  to,  maritime  safety,  security,  search  and  rescue,  border  control,  fisheries  control,  customs  control,  general  law  enforcement  and 
environmental protection.

19

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency•   Cooperation with regional bodies

EFCA has cooperated with the CEGs of the four regional 
bodies  created  by  Member  States  and  active  in  the 
framework of the CFP regionalisation:

  ○ Scheveningen Group (North Sea)
  ○ BALTFISH (Baltic Sea)
  ○ North Western Waters
  ○ South Western Waters

EFCA was available to extend such cooperation upon the 
request of other regional groups active in the Mediterranean 
Sea but no such request was received.

•   Black Sea Project

Following  a  request  from  Bulgaria  and  Romania,  EFCA 
continued to support these Member States mainly through 
joint control and inspection operations related to the turbot 
fisheries, and through training activities. 

An  evaluation/planning  meeting  between  Bulgaria, 
Romania, EFCA and the European Commission took place 
in January 2016. The state of play and implementation of 
the  on-going  3  year  Operational  Plan  was  discussed  in 
its four main areas including: enforcement guidelines, risk 
analysis, training and the coordination of joint inspection/
control activities.

Support  the  Union  in  the  international  dimension  of 
the CFP and the fight against IUU activities

EFCA assisted the EU in its relations with RFMOs, namely 
Northwest  Atlantic  Fisheries  Organisation,  Northeast 
Atlantic  Fisheries  Commission,  International  Commission 
for  the  Conservation  of  the  Atlantic  Tuna  and  General 
Fisheries Commission for Mediterranean, to:

1.  facilitate  compliance  of  the  EU  with  their  commitments 
at international level (inspection effort deployment, training 
and notifications), through EFCA JDPs;

2.  support  the  EU  delegation  in  the  different  meetings 
organised by each RFMO;
3.  facilitate  cooperation  with  third  countries  (exchange  of 
inspectors and training);
4.  upon  request  of  the  EC,  EFCA  organised  specific 
cooperative  actions  with  the  Indian  Ocean  Commission, 
the  GFCM  and  the  West  African  sub-regional  Fisheries 
Commission.

In June 2016, EFCA initiated a pilot project, as requested 
by  the  European  Commission,  on  expanding  the  use 
of  Marsurv  to  cover  all  waters  and  to  further  enhance  its 
capability  to  support  the  verification  of  Catch  Certificates 
as  stipulated  in  the  IUU  Regulation.  A  user  group  was 
formed  with  representatives  from  the  Member  States  to 
assist EFCA with the specification of new features and the 
subsequent verification and testing of the same. 

1.1.2. Enhancement of capacity building instruments

During 2016, EFCA has placed emphasis on the continued 
evolution  of  the  e-learning  tool  and  the  courses  made 
available  to  stakeholders  through  the  tool. The  e-learning 
courses  on  Inspection  at  sea  and  Port  inspection  were 
made available on the EFCA e-learning platform16. Member 
States, Commission and EFCA officials can have access to 
the platform by using their professional e-mail address and 
by generating their own password. They then have a free 
access  to  these  modules  and  to  other  training  resources 
such as video tutorials, presentations and templates. The 
structure  of  the  platform  anticipates  the  development  of 
multilingual  courses  as  well  as  new  courses  including  in 
particular “Introduction to inspection at sea and in port for 
inspectors from third countries”.

A  contract  was  signed  to  upgrade  and  enhance  Fishnet, 
EFCA´s JDP collaboration platform. 

A major advance was made in setting up EFCA´s disaster 
recovery  site.  A  successful  Proof  of  Concept  (PoC)  was 
concluded  with  the  European  Union  Intellectual  Property 
Office (EUIPO).

16 https://training.efca.europa.eu/

20

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencySubsequently, the two agencies signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding establishing the EUIPO as host of EFCA’s 
disaster  recovery  site.  Thereafter,  staff  of  both  agencies 
proceeded with the setting up of the site.

1.1.3. EFCA Rationalisation

The  resources  for  complying  with  ECFA  priorities  were 
obtained  by  means  of  simplification,  scalability  and 
streamlining;  through  savings  and  benefits  of  EMFF 
(European  Maritime  and  Fisheries  Fund)  for  Member 
States;  better  mobilisation  and  profiling  of  EFCA  staff; 
organisational adaptations; a move to e-administration and 
e-training and additional synergies with other agencies as 
follows:

•  Administration:

In  2016,  e-administration  became  one  of  the  main 
projects  for  EFCA  in  the  field  of  administration.  The 
objective  continues  to  be  the  improvement  in  the 
efficiency  of  the  administrative  procedures  of  EFCA, 
and  the  simultaneous  improvement  in  the  reliability 
of  data.  In  this  respect,  EFCA  focuses  on  solutions 
with  the  highest  level  of  integration  with  already 
existing  systems  (ABAC)  along  with  lowest  cost  of 
customisation  and  maintenance  (systems  developed 
by  the  EC).  Particularly  in  2016,  EFCA  carried 
out  all  its  open  calls  for  tender  fully  electronically 
(e-Submission), with order forms now being prepared 
and circulated electronically. The main local suppliers 
are prepared to use e-Invoicing starting in 2017. The 
implementation of an electronic mission management 
system is leading to additional efficiency in the process 
of mission approval and reimbursement to staff. 

Further  rationalisation  efforts  have  been  made  in 
the  financial  management  area.  In  addition  to  the 
efficiencies  already  identified  in e-administration,  the 
ex-ante  verification  has  been  further  substituted  by 
ex-post quarterly verifications; also some simple, low 
risk transactions have been processed paperless with 
the ABAC system. 

21

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency1.2. Operational Activities

EFCA is the European body responsible for organising 
operational  coordination  of  control  activities  and 
providing assistance in that area to the Member States 
and  the  Commission.  These  activities  are  conducted 
mainly 
include 
assistance to the European Commission on its relations 
with 
the 
international  fisheries  organisations  and 
organisation of training activities.

regional  JDPs,  but  also 

through 

The  JDPs  are  established  for  fisheries/areas  that  are 
considered  a  priority  by  the  European  Commission  and 
the concerned Member States. They can refer to:

- European waters to which a SCIP adopted by the 
Commission  in  concert  with  the  Member  States 
applies, or
-  International  waters  under  the  competence  of  an 
RFMO, where EFCA is requested to coordinate the 
implementation of the European obligations under a 
Joint Inspection and Surveillance Scheme (JISS).

The  JDPs  life  cycle  consist  of  three  phases:  planning, 
implementation and assessment.

1.  The  JDPs  establish  the  planning  of  the  deployment 
of fisheries control means of the Member States at sea, 
in  the  air  and  ashore  based  on  a  regional  risk  analysis 
developed  by  the  Member  States  and  EFCA;  the 
information to be shared; the communication details and 
common rules to ensure a cooperative deployment of the 
control means in the area. 
2.  The  JDPs  establish  that  the  deployment  of  pooled 
through 
national  means 
coordination  centres  in  charge  (CCIC)  in  a  Member 
State or the presence of national coordinators at EFCA 
premises. It is implemented through two common groups:

is  coordinated  by  EFCA 

a) A Regional Steering Group (RSG) composed 

of  Commission,  Member  States  and  EFCA 
representatives is in charge of ensuring the proper 
implementation of the JDP;

b)  A TJDG, composed of Member States and EFCA 

staff,  is  in  charge  of  the  follow-up  of  the  daily 
control activities and adopts the decisions needed 

22

to guarantee an effective deployment of the control 
means.

3. The JDP is evaluated and assessed yearly by EFCA 

in  cooperation  with  the  Member  States.  Special 
attention is given to the risks for non-compliance which 
then are considered in the risk analysis of the following 
period.

The  cooperation  between  MS  has  been  achieved  to  the 
full extent. As reflected by the existing indicators, number 
of  campaigns  coordinated  from  EFCA  (which  entails  the 
participation  of  several  Member  States  in  the  centre)  and 
the  exchange  of  inspectors,  the  cooperation  between 
Member  States  has  been  very  constructive,  efficient  and 
guaranteed  the  smooth  implementation  of  the  JDPs  as 
also demonstrates the effective deployment of control and 
inspection platforms.

In the context of the JDPs, EFCA is also providing assistance 
to the Member States and the European Commission in the 
area  of  control,  inspection  and  surveillance,  with  specific 
regard  to  activities  enhancing  the  potential  of  national 
enforcement  services  to  apply  the  rules  of  the  CFP  in  a 
uniform  and  effective  manner.  These  activities  include 
reporting  and  exchange  of  data  on  fishing,  control  and 
inspection activities, arranging the accessibility of those data 
to the CCIC and Associated Coordination Centres (ACCs), 
developing and coordinating training programmes, fighting 
against  IUU  and  the  possible  acquisition  of  equipment 
necessary for the implementation of JDPs or on the request 
of Member States. The objective is to provide shared and 
cost effective data availability to Member States inspection 
and surveillance means in the JDPs and Operational Plans.

The  cooperation  between  the  European  Commission  and 
EFCA has been productive and excellent, as confirmed in 
the  performance  indicators  provided  in  the  annual  report 
2016  (EUCG  Pilot  Project,  assistance  to  DG  Mare  in  the 
fight  against  IUU  activities,  contributions  to  DG  DEVCO, 
etc.).

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
1.2.1. Implementation of JDPs & Operational Plans

Standard Budget all revenue 
(subsidy)

ABMS 1.1

Staff

Planned

185.000€

1.490.269€

Consumed

220.588€

1.358.904€

Implementation rate /
staff variation

119%

91%

AD

0.5

AST

SNE

CA

3

4

AD

0.5

AST

SNE

CA

AD

AST

SNE

CA

2.8

2.7

-0.2

-1.3

Note: Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of this fund source (R0 fund source)

Planned

Achieved

DELIVERABLES

Regional JDPs and Operational Plans for 2016 in North Sea, Baltic Sea, Western Waters, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea 
implemented

JDPs in International waters managed by NAFO, NEAFC, ICCAT and GFCM implemented

Joint campaigns reports delivered

PACT regional projects implemented

Collaboration with Frontex, EMSA, SATCEN (European Union Satellite Centre) and other related agencies in the process of 
establishing a European Coast Guard Capacity in area of capacity sharing

Provide  shared  and  cost  effective  data  availability  to  Member  States’  inspection  and  surveillance  means  in  the  JDPs  and 
operational plans

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

System availability rate for the real/time exchange of data, documents and information in relation to JDPs/operational plans

Yes (99%)

Improved operational monitoring capabilities for JDPs/operational plans

Management and use of tailored software applications (e.g. Marsurv) in different JDPs/operational areas.

Collaboration with Frontex, EMSA and other related agencies in the process of establishing a European Coast Guard Capacity 
in the area of sharing information.

Procuring offshore vessel(s)/aircraft capacity

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

23

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyIntroduction 
Through the JDPs, EFCA ensures the best use of human 
and  material  resources  pooled  by  the  Member  States 
in  a  coordinated  manner  to  improve  compliance  in  the 
concerned fisheries and to guarantee the level playing field 
in accordance with the specific objectives as proposed by 
each  Regional  Steering  Group.  The  implementation  of 
JDPs  was  carried  out  in  tight  cooperation  with  Member 
States’ experts in the TJDG, under a responsive system 
able to adapt the joint control plans to the varying fisheries 
situations as they occurred.

Objectives 

the 

1.  Coordinate 
implementation  of  JDPs  and 
Operational  Plans,  including  PACT  regional  projects 
by the MS in EU waters, and provide input to the Pilot 
Project “Creation of a European Coast Guard Function”. 
Areas of cooperation include:

  ○ The  North  Sea,  the  Kattegat,  the  Skagerrak,  the 
eastern Channel, the waters west of Scotland and 
the Irish Sea (North Sea JDP)
  ○ The Baltic Sea (Baltic Sea JDP)
  ○ Western Waters (Western Waters JDP)
  ○ Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic (Med and 

E Atlantic JDP)

  ○ Black Sea

2. Coordinate the implementation of the EU contribution 
to the International Control and Inspection Programmes 
in RFMOs, namely:

  ○ NAFO & NEAFC

  ○

ICCAT

3. Provide shared and cost effective data which shall be 
available to Member States inspection and surveillance 
means in the JDPs and Operational Plans.

Main activity results

A - Implementation of JDP and Operational Plans in 
European Union waters
As in the previous years, all JDPs were implemented 
on  a  year-round  basis  permitting  optimal  coverage  of 
the relevant fisheries, adaptable to spatial and temporal 
needs  as  defined  by  the  regional  risk  management 
process. The organisational arrangements were based 
on the permanent exchange of information through the 
TJDG which assured the flexible deployment of control 
means, able to adapt to the varying fisheries situations 
as they occurred. 

EFCA involvement in JDP inspections
In  this  sense,  EFCA  organises  every  fortnight  a  Video 
conference  with  the  TJDG  via  the  FISHNET  platform  to 
reassess  priorities,  discuss  the  detailed  planning  and 
promote  the  exchange  of  risk  targets  between  MS.  The 
FISHNET  platform  is  instrumental  in  supporting  the 
TJDG activities, as it provides a common access platform 
for  common  operational  systems  such  as  ERS  and 
Marsurv. It should be noted that the JDP is in this sense 
a key instrument in promoting transparency and a better 
knowledge-base for risk assessment, as it provides a basis 
for full exchange of VMS and ERS data beyond the flag/
coastal  Member  States  remits  of  the  Control  regulation. 
EFCA plays a crucial role in ensuring a smooth exchange 
of data and intelligence between MS in this respect. The 
FISHNET  platform  is  also  used  to  exchange  information 
on  vessels  targets  and  results  of  inspections  activities, 
which are then stored in a common EFCA database JADE.  

24

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFurther to the coordination of the TJDG work, EFCA has in 
recent years assumed an increased role in coordination of 
campaigns from its coordination centre in Vigo. 

EFCA coordinators are actively participating in a series of 
specific missions at sea, namely:

-  Missions  at  sea  in  the  context  of  the  EU  waters 
JDPs  to  support  the  exchanges  between  MS 
inspectors  and  the  “last-haul”  inspections  carried 

out  in  the  context  of  the  implementation  of  the 
landing obligation;
-  Participation  in  all  NAFO  missions  when  an  EU 
control platform has been deployed in the area;
- Participation in several NEAFC sea missions; 
- Participation to the special mixed teams of national 
inspectors  in the MED JDP in farming operations;
- During the Pilot Project for European Coast Guard 
EFCA coordinators have participated in several air 
and sea missions in Frontex control means.

25

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyPACT  regional  projects  were  also  implemented  in  the 
context of EU waters. In the Black Sea an Operational Plan 
was established and a total of 16 missions of 3 days each 
were carried out encompassing a total of 153 inspections. 
EFCA  also  supported  4  Member  States’  Control  Expert 
Groups (see section “Level playing field enhancement” for 
more details).

Performance indicators

Target

Achieved

Number of PACT regional
projects implemented

1

1

A detailed analysis of the activities of each JDP, including 
inspections  and  suspected  infringements  detected,  is 
presented  in Annex  I.  In  all  areas,  MS  deployed  control 
assets  beyond  the  commitments  agreed  in  the  JDPs 
thereby  ensuring  an  increased  operational  coverage. 
This follows the trend of a greater and more cost-effective 
integration of means in the wider maritime scenario.

The  use  of  “associated  vessels”  (vessels  that  are 
primordially planned for national control activities outside 
JDPs)  is  a  stable  trend  over  the  past  years  and  greatly 
contributes  to  the  inspections  reported  in  the  framework 
of JDPs.

Risk Analysis

In accordance with the protocols developed in the context 
of the regional risk management project (see section “1.2.3 
Programmes, plans and assessment”), all activities were 
implemented  in  accordance  with  risk  based  planning. At 
the tactical level of coordination of JDP campaigns, there 
was  a  further  improvement  of  the  availability  target  lists 
of fishing vessels provided by Member States in the JDP 
campaigns.  

Exchange of inspectors

standardisation of inspection procedures and promoting a 
level playing field for the fishing industry. There were more 
than 1,100 man/days of exchanges achieved in the JDPs, 
confirming  that  exchanges  of  different  Member  States’ 
inspectors at regional level is now a common practice.

Coordination of campaigns

Four  out  of  five  JDP  campaigns17  in  EU  waters  were 
coordinated at some stage from EFCA. This permitted a 
stronger coordination of the tactical risk assessment and 
of  the  deployment  of  the  control  and  inspection  means, 
with  Member  States’  experts  seconded  to  EFCA.  There 
was  an  increase  in  the  number  of  Member  States  that 
carried  out  the  coordination  of  joint  operations  from  the 
EFCA operational rooms in Vigo. This included: BE, DE, 
EE, FI, IE, LT, LV, NL, PL, PT, SE and UK.

It  is  worthwhile  outlining  that  some  campaigns  were 
coordinated from EFCA with the simultaneous presence of 
different MS’ experts (e.g. the blue whiting and mackerel 
campaign in WW JDP), allowing for a “real-time” exchange 
of  information  and  intelligence  and  a  closer  follow-up  of 
the  fisheries  and  deployed  means.  This  experience  was 
positively  evaluated  by  several  MS  which  encouraged 
EFCA  to  further  explore  and  facilitate  this  model  of 
cooperation in JDPs. 

The  web  integrated  platform  FISHNET  continued  to 
support  the  coordination  of  joint  campaigns  and  the 
TJDG  tasks,  including:  the  exchange  of  inspection  data, 
the  planning  of  means,  the  exchange  of  target  vessels 
and any other information useful to the campaign. A new 
common  structure  of  the  information  in  the  platform  has 
been agreed with the members of each regional TJDG so 
as to promote standardisation across all EU waters JDPs 
and facilitate the exchange of information.

In 2016, the secondments of EU inspectors to multinational 
inspector teams at sea and ashore continued to be a key 
element of the Member States’ cooperation, facilitating the 

Performance indicators

Target

Achieved

Number of campaigns coordinated
by EFCA

518

719

17 Two campaigns in North Sea and WW JDPs, one in the Baltic Sea JDP.
18 Target defined for all JDPs (including EU and international waters).
19 Of which 4 in EU waters.

26

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyJDP implementation in support of the Landing obligation

In  order  to  support  the  implementation  of  the  CFP 
provisions  related  to  the  landing  obligation,  all  JDPs 
implemented  a  data  collection  programme  to  facilitate 
and share the information on catch composition, establish 

the  basis  for  risk  assessment  and  to  contribute  to  the 
evaluation  of  compliance.  Inspection  teams  deployed  at 
sea collected catch data of the “last observed haul”. This 
information facilitated a comparison of catch composition 
between inspected and not inspected fishing trips. 

Number of last haul inspections performed in the different JDPs during 2016

EFCA  actively  contributed  to  this  exercise  during  sea  campaigns,  providing  methodological  support  and  guidance  to 
Member States inspectors. 

27

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyUpon request of the North Sea RSG, a pilot project was 
carried  out  to  assess  the  viability  of  using  sales  note 
information  (grade-size)  in  order  to  detect  possible  high 
grading of cod in the North Sea. This study confirmed the 
possible high-grading of cod and thus this type of analysis 
should be performed in the future. 

In  the  North  Western  Waters  campaign  of  the  Western 
Waters JDP, a protocol to collect gramme size data from 

landings/factories was implemented in the context of the 
mackerel fisheries. On this basis, a spatial and temporal 
mapping of average gramme size data was done to form a 
baseline for risk assessment. This could also facilitate the 
identification of possible high-grading practices.

These  initiatives  have  supported  the  different  JDP  and 
regional Member States CEGs risk analysis (see section 
“1.2.3. Programmes, plans and assessment”).

Performance Indicators

Number of campaigns days per JDP

Percentage of control and inspection means deployed in accordance with 
the JDP schedule (% of total planned)

Man/days in joint inspection teams

Availability of fishing vessels target list in joint campaigns in EU waters 
JDPs

Target

>300

90%

75

80%

Achieved

Baltic Sea

North Sea

Western Waters

350

>100%

>75

100%

350

97%

>75

88%

350

93%

>75

88%

Multiannual index to be used as a tendency for 
compliance evaluation purposes20 JDP in EU waters

Number of inspections (sea and land)

Number of inspections with at least 1 suspected infringement

Ratios for inspections with at least 1 suspected infringement detected by JDP

Baltic Sea

North Sea

Western Waters

5.601

131

2.3%

9.194

224

2.6%

2.774

118

4.3%

20 Data available at the end of January 2017. Additional data may be received later from Member States.

28

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyB - Implementation of JDPs in international waters
EFCA  coordinated  the  EU  contribution  to  the  JISS  of  NAFO,  NEAFC  and  ICCAT  through  the  NAFO/NEAFC  and 
Mediterranean JDPs. The European Union has committed to an inspection presence based upon the number of EU 
fishing vessels in the area. These commitments were fully achieved via EFCA JDPs.

A detailed analysis of activities of each JDP, including inspections and suspected infringements detected, is presented in 
Annex I. Overall, the deployment of control means was carried out in accordance with plans. In the case of the Eastern 
Atlantic/Mediterranean JDP, the deployment of aerial assets was further enhanced through cooperation with Frontex in 
the framework of the CG Pilot Project.

29

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyRisk Analysis

Coordination of Campaigns

EFCA continued to implement a standardised assessment 
of  risk  for  NAFO  vessels  to  be  submitted  by  the  flag 
Member  State  of  the  fishing  vessel  to  the  port  Member 
State  of  landing  in  the  context  of  the  JDP.  In  respect  of 
landings  from  a  fishing  vessel  from  another  Contracting 
Party, EFCA prepared and sent the risk analysis to the port 
Member State. 

With  regard  to  the  Eastern  Atlantic/Mediterranean  JDP, 
a  risk  assessment  was  carried  out  to  facilitate  the  JDP 
planning  (identification  of  main  threats,  priority  fisheries 
segments and spatial/temporal distribution of fisheries).

Exchange of inspectors

In 2016, the secondments of EU inspectors to multinational 
inspector  teams  continued  to  be  a  key  element  of  the 
cooperation by Member States. Close to 800 man/days of 
secondments were achieved, a value above the minimum 
established  target.  This  was  mostly  due  to  the  fact  that 
NAFO/NEAFC sea campaigns are of a long duration and 
always involving a joint team of EU inspectors. 

Mixed  team  inspections  in  the  Member  States’  ports 
are  not  benchmarked  in  the  NAFO  JDP.  In  accordance 
with  the  decision  of  the  TJDG,  EFCA  coordinated  the 
deployment  of  mixed  teams.  Three  mixed  teams  were 
actually deployed. 

An action during the 2016 Eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean 
JDP  was  the  deployment  of  a  Special  Mixed  Team 
(SMT)  in  the  Bluefin  tuna  campaign,  including  at  the 
time of inspection of caging activities. This facilitated the 
representation  of  both  the  fishing  and  farming  Member 
States  throughout  the  inspection  activities  involving  the 
use  of  stereoscopic  cameras  to  define  the  number  and 
weight of Bluefin tuna being caged. The SMT was deployed 
in  Spanish  farms  over  26  days  and  in  Maltese  farms  for 
25  days. As  provided  for  in  the  JDP,  EFCA  coordinators 
participated where possible in these deployments.

The  NAFO,  NEAFC  and  the  Eastern  Atlantic/MED  JDP 
campaigns were coordinated from both EFCA and MS on 
a  rotational  basis.  The  Eastern  Atlantic/MED  campaign 
also included hosting at EFCA of the TJDG between May 
and June 2016. There was an increase in the number of 
Member  States  that  carried  out  the  coordination  of  joint 
operations  from  the  EFCA  operational  rooms  in  Vigo, 
including: CY, ES, FR, EL, HR, IT, MT.

The web integrated platform FISHNET was introduced to 
support the coordination of joint campaigns and the TJDG 
tasks,  including:  the  exchange  of  inspection  data,  the 
planning of means, and any other information useful to the 
campaign. 

Performance indicators

Target

Achieved

Number of campaigns coordinated
by EFCA

521

722

Participation  of  Agency  staff  as  Union  inspectors  in 
international waters

During  2016  EFCA  coordinators  participated  in  all  4 
missions  on  board  MS  Fishing  Patrol  Vessels  (FPVs) 
in  NAFO  Regulatory  Area  and  in  3  missions  in  NEAFC 
Regulatory Area. In 2 of the 4 missions in NAFO Regulatory 
Area and in all missions in NEAFC Regulatory Area, EFCA 
coordinator  acted  as  EU  NAFO/NEAFC  inspector  and 
participated in boarding of fishing vessels.

Performance indicators

Target

Achieved

NAFO
NEAFC

MED

Number of campaigns days per JDP

> 300

366

346

Percentage of control and inspection 
in  accordance 
means  deployed 
with  the  JDP  schedule  (%  of  total 
planned)

90%

99%

91%

Man/days in joint inspection teams

75

>75

>75

21 Target defined for all JDPs (including EU and international waters)
22 Of which 3 in International waters

30

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyMultiannual index to be used as a tendency 
for compliance evaluation purposes23

NAFO
NEAFC MED

Number of inspections 

76

1733

Number  of  inspections  with  at  least  1  suspected 
infringement

7

119

Ratios  for  inspections  with  at  least  1  suspected 
infringement detected/ per activity day

9.2%

6.9%

C  -  Provide  shared  and  cost  effective  data  which 
shall be available to Member States inspection and 
surveillance  means  in  the  JDPs  and  Operational 
Plans  and  provide  input  to  the  Pilot  Project 
“Creation of a ECGF”
Collaboration  with  other  EU  agencies  towards  the 
establishment of a European Coast Guard Capacity

The Budgetary authority decided in the framework of the 
adoption  of  the  Budget  for  2016  to  provide  750k€  for  a 
pilot project which aims to enhance coordination between 
national coast guards or entities carrying out coast guard 
functions, the Commission and the EU agencies Frontex, 
EMSA  and  EFCA,  in  order  to  create  synergies  between 
their respective activities. The Pilot Project and the funds 
are  managed  by  DG  MARE.  The  activities  have  been 
carried out during the entire 2016. The interim report was 
delivered in December and the final report will be delivered 
in June 2017, which is also the end date of the project.

The three agencies have been working together with the 
Commission three partner DGs (MARE, HOME and MOVE) 
in the preparation of the Pilot Project implementation. The 
project is divided into four tasks: 

Task  1:  Sharing  information  generated  by  fusing  and 
analysing  data  available  in  ship  reporting  systems  and 
other information systems hosted by or accessible to the 
agencies, in accordance with their respective legal bases 
and without prejudice to the ownership of data by Member 
States.

EMSA  is  the  agency  responsible  for  driving  the  work 
related  hereto,  with  the  contributions  of  EFCA  and 
Frontex. The sharing of information is closely linked with 
the  already  established  services  which  EMSA  provides 
separately to EFCA and to Frontex, tailored to their needs, 
and  of  services  provided  by  Frontex  and  EFCA  to  their 
users. The EMSA services were developed in accordance 
with  the  respective  needs  of  EFCA  and  Frontex. All  the 
services  mentioned  were  tested  in  a  real  operational 
scenario within a multipurpose operation, thus serving the 
implementation of Task 4.

Task  2:  Providing  surveillance  and  communication 
services  based  on  state-of-the-art  technology,  including 
space-based  and  ground  infrastructure  and  sensors 
mounted on any kind of platform, such as remotely piloted 
aircraft systems.
EMSA  and  Frontex  were  coordinators  of  this  task.  The 
task focussed on the assessment of the potential added 
value of using Remotely Piloted Aircrafts Systems (RPAS) 
and piloted fixed wing aircraft for multipurpose operations. 
Any  information  stream  should  be  shared  between  the 
agencies and their respective MS services and integrated, 
as far as possible, into already established systems. 

On  10  August  2016,  EMSA  published  an  open  call  for 
the provision of RPAS services in the framework of Task 
2  of  the  EUGC  Pilot  Project.  EFCA  provided  extensive 
input  with  regards  to  the  technical  requirements,  sensor 
capacity  and  business  model  for  RPAS  services  from  a 
fishery control perspective. 

Task  3:  Capacity  building  by  elaborating  guidelines, 
recommendations  and  best  practices  as  well  as  by 
supporting the training and exchange of staff, with a view 
to enhancing the exchange of information and cooperation 
on coast guard functions.
In  order  not  to  duplicate  work  already  being  funded 
and  executed  in  other  projects,  the  three  agencies  are 
elaborating  the  outline  of  guidelines  for  the  operational 

23 Data available at the end of January 2017. Additional data may be received later from Member States.

31

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agencycollaboration between the agencies in the context of the 
European  coast  guard  functions  and  more  precisely  on 
the  four  tasks  as  described.  EFCA  was  in  charge  of  the 
coordination of this task24.

In  total,  510  sightings  were  sent  by  Frontex  coordinated 
means and received by EFCA between 01 January 2016 
and  31  October  2016  of  which  382  were  submitted  on 
the same day as they were recorded. On the basis of this 
information it can be noted that:

a  timely  and  direct  reporting  of  sighting  information 
from Frontex assets is both appreciated and valuable,
photographs and associated intelligence are extremely 
useful  for  EFCA  to  follow  up  on  the  information 
reported, both from aerial and sea assets, 

•  within the constraints of the operations, clear images 
of the name of the vessel and external markings are 
extremely  important  in  order  for  EFCA  to  be  able  to 
provide a useful and timely follow-up which includes 
the  reporting  of  relevant  information  concerning  the 
vessel back to Frontex.

In  accordance  with  the  deployment  procedures  and 
framework mentioned, EFCA officials were deployed both 
on Frontex aerial and surface assets, in the framework of 
the following Frontex joint operations:

• 

• 

in  Triton 

(central  Mediterranean), 

5  sea  missions  (from  January  2016  to  November 
2016 
Indalo 
(Western  Mediterranean)  and  Poseidon  (Eastern 
Mediterranean) areas), 
5 air missions (from January 2016 to November 2016 
in Triton, Indalo and Poseidon areas).

To  reinforce  and  support  multipurpose  operations  EFCA 
officials  have  undertaken  9  operational  briefings  to  ICC 
(Frontex)  staff  (Triton  5;  Indalo  2,  Poseidon  2).  Such 
briefings were reported to be well received and valuable 
by the officials concerned. 

Performance indicators

Target

Achieved

Timely  delivery  of  EFCA  input  to  the 
interim report of the EU CG Pilot Project 
task 325

Timely  delivery  of  EFCA  input  to  the 
interim report of the EU CG Pilot Project 
task 4

December 2016

YES

December 2016

YES

Task  4:  Capacity  sharing,  including  the  planning  and 
implementation  of  multipurpose  operations  and 
the 
sharing  of  assets  and  other  capabilities  across  sectors 
and borders.

• 

• 

This  task  was  coordinated  by  Frontex  and  EFCA.  The 
agencies  established  cooperation  in  order  to  implement 
multipurpose operations throughout the EU Coast Guard 
Pilot Project activities in 2016. 

To facilitate planning and implementation of multipurpose 
operations,  weekly  situation  reports  (SITREP)  were 
exchanged  between  EFCA  and  Frontex  coordination 
centres containing the planning of all assets for the following 
week(s). Based on feasibility, location, personnel available 
and  respective  areas/targets  of  interest,  personnel  were 
subsequently  deployed  and  when  needed  the  relevant 
security and administrative procedures, including:

• 

• 

• 

• 

deployment  of  EFCA  officials  on  Frontex  assets 
(vessels and aircraft),
exchange of operational and other related data (e.g. 
sightings information, intelligence, photos),
deployment  of  Frontex  liaison  officers  to  EFCA’s 
operational centre during the BFT fishing campaign,
deployment  of  EFCA’s  staff  to  Frontex  operational 
structures and centres.

All information was exchanged and treated in accordance 
with  the  agreed  procedures  laid  down  in  the  respective 
SOPs.  In  addition  to  the  use  of  conventional  reporting 
procedures,  electronic  procedures  were  undertaken 
where  possible  in  order  to  expedite  the  data  exchange 
and, hence, the potential utility of the information. This will 
continue to be explored and implemented in 2017.

24 Additional information is provided under the Training section of this report. 
25 Performance indicator in the AWP fiches under training.

32

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyProcurement  of  offshore  vessels  and  aircraft 
capacity

The  12  July  EFCA  published  an  open  call  for 
tender for the chartering of two offshore vessels for 
multipurpose activities. Following the call for tender 
proceedings  and  its  subsequent  evaluation  of  the 
offers, the procedure was deemed infructuous. 

A  new  open  call  for  the  chartering  of  an  offshore 
fisheries patrol vessel, with amended specifications, 
was subsequently published on 28 December. 

1.2.2. Level playing field enhancement

Performance indicators

Target

Achieved

VMS, ERS, EIR, FISHNET, JADE when applicable:
-Availability rate
-Connected MS rate for VMS/ERS/EIR
-Connected MS rate for FISHNET

96%
100% per JDP
75%

99,46%
64%26
100%

User  evaluation  of  the  ERS,  EIR  and  Marsuv 
applications, 
including  at  EFCA  Operations 
coordination centre

>90% 
Satisfaction by 
participating MS

98%27

Number of issued credentials for Marsuv

≥1 login 
credential per 
coastal MS

≥1 per MS

Timely delivery of EFCA input to the interim report 
of the EUGC Pilot Project. Task 1-2

Dec-2016

100%

Procurement procedure launched

Jul-2016

100%

Standard Budget

ABMS 1.2

Staff (FTE)

Planned

344.000€

2.397.709€

Consumed

386.323€

2.577.143€

Implementation rate /
staff variation

112%

107%

AD

3,5

AST

SNE

CA

8,5

0

0

AD

3,5

AST

SNE

CA

AD

AST

SNE

CA

8,3

0,3

0

0

-0,2

+0,3

0

Note: Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of this fund source (R0 fund source)

Planned

Achieved

DELIVERABLES

Assistance  to  MS,  including  to  regional  bodies,  and  the  Commission  in  projects  related  to  the  implementation  of  the  CFP, 
including PACT regional projects

Organisation and reports of the regional steering group meetings

Planning and assessment of the regional control operations, including PACT regional projects 

Support to MS on pilot projects or ToR for evaluation of emerging technologies. 

Provide expertise on the control aspects in preparation of new or updating existing regulation upon EC request

Provide assistance to the European Commission and the Member States in order to ensure uniform and effective application 
of the rules of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 and fight IUU fishing

Mission preparation, on the spot visits and reports on evaluation missions in third countries.

Analysis of catch certificates and processing statements

Development of a common methodology to facilitate the implementation of an IUU risk management approach by Member 
States authorities

Participation in the working group on the development of an EU IT system/database to support the implementation of the IUU 
Regulation and the catch certification scheme.

Organisation and reports on the IUU steering group meetings

Report of results of assistance in relation with third countries and RFMOs

Report on the implementation of the tasks delegated to EFCA in relation to RFMOs

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

26 VMS 100%, ERS 86% and EIR 5% (Belgium only).
27 EIR not included.

33

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyIntroduction 

This  activity  relates  to  the  coordination  in  line  with  the 
implementation of the control policy at EU and international 
level,  and  promotes  the  joint  planning  and  evaluation 
of  control  activities,  with  the  objective  of  promoting  a 
level playing field and maximising the benefits of control 
operations. Furthermore, it levels the playing field between 
operators from inside and outside the EU.

Objectives 

the  European 
1.  To  assist  Member  States  and 
Commission  in  harmonising  the  application  of  the 
Common  Fisheries  Policy,  including  through  PACT 
regional projects.
2. To provide assistance to the European Commission 
and the Member States in order to ensure the uniform 
and  effective  application  of 
the  rules  of  Council 
Regulation  (EC)  No.  1005/2008  and  the  fight  against 
IUU fishing.
3. To promote a level playing field at EU level and vis-à-
vis RFMO’s and third countries.

Main activity results

A - Organisation of regional Steering Groups
During 2016 EFCA successfully conducted the different 
regional RSG meetings as planned in in accordance to 
the below table:

RSG Meeting

Date

NS/BS/WW

24-26 May 2016

06-08 September 2016

NORTH SEA-WW 

23-24 November 2016

MED

NAFO/NEAFC

16 February 2016

18-19 May 2016

08 June 2016

27-28 September 2016

20 April 2016

23 November 2016

Place

Estonia

Vigo

Brussels

Barcelona

Madrid

Athens

Vigo

A specific workshop was organised with the Mediterranean 
RSG regarding the control of recreational fisheries in the 
area. The Agency aimed at including sport and recreational 
fisheries  in  the  regional  risk  assessment  to  improve 
knowledge of the fisheries activities and compliance.

B - Adoption of Regional JDPs and Joint Operational 
Plans
The  RSG  successfully  concluded  the  planning  of  the 
fisheries control means to be deployed in 2017 by the 
Member States at the air, sea and ashore. This planning 
was  done  on  a  risk-based  approach,  supported  by  a 
regional risk assessment workshop (see point 1.2.2 f).

The table below shows details of the adoption date of 
the different JDPs and provides a short description of 
the common main features.

2017 JDPs

Adoption date

Main features

BALTIC SEA

02 December 2016

NORTH SEA

08 December 2016

WESTERN 
WATERS

02 December 2016

NAFO AND NEAFC

13 July 2016

MEDITERRANEAN 
AND EASTERN 
ATLANTIC JDP

20 April 201628
09 December 2016

- Year-round campaign with 
permanent exchange of VMS, 
ERS, inspection information 
and intelligence

- Risk management based 
approach for the long term 
planning and for tactical 
coordination (exchange of 
target vessels)

- Specific actions foreseen on 
a risk-based approach aiming 
at specific segments for the 
main threats (non-compliance 
with LO, misrecording 
of catches and technical 
measures)

- Operational coordination at 
TJDG level

- Coordination centres both in 
Member States and EFCA

- Deployment of control means 
on the basis of the flexible, 
risk-based planning

- Joint/mixed teams of 
inspectors which may also 
include EFCA coordinators

- Standardised information 
exchange workflow 
(FISHNET)

- Development and 
implementation of common 
inspection protocols

28 JDP May-December 2016.

34

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
Cooperation with Romania and Bulgaria in the Black Sea

The joint operational plan continued to be implemented in 
activities related to:

joint control and inspection actions,
risk analysis,
training.

• 
• 
• 
Annex I presents, in detail, the different meetings in which 
cooperation with CEGs was established.

D - Cooperation with Italian authorities:
EFCA has been requested to assist the Italian authorities 
in drafting a joint inspection plan for the management 
of  discards  of  stock  of  clams  (Venus  spp).  An  initial 
meeting  between  EFCA  staff  and  the  Italian  national 
authorities  took  place  in  November  2016  in  Rome  to 
discuss collaboration in the drafting of the joint control 
and  inspection  plan  and  the  clarification  of  certain 
technical aspects defined in the management plan. 

C  -  Cooperation  with  Regional  Groups  (PACT 
regional projects)
The cooperation and support to the CEGs of regional 
MS  groups  has  been  a  central  area  of  EFCA  activity 
during  2016.  This  cooperation  was  organised  upon 
request of the Member States groups directed to EFCA 
in accordance with the below table.

Regional
Group

Date

Scheveningen

28 April 2016 (2016 request)

BALTFISH

30 September 2016 (request for continuous assistance)

E - Cooperation with Advisory Councils
EFCA promotes a close dialogue with all stakeholders in 
order to promote a culture of compliance. During 2016, 
EFCA  attended  and  contributed  to  several  meetings 
of the different ACs as summarised in the table below. 
Particular  focus  was  given  to  the  meetings  related  to 
the introduction of the landing obligation. 

Advisory 
Council

Joint AC meeting

Activity

Date

Place

MIACO - Meeting of 
ICES with ACs and 
Observers

14-15 Jan

Copenhagen

NWW

27 April 2016 (2016 request)

SWWAC

WG meetings

20 Jan

Madrid

SWW

 03 September 2015 (request for continuous assistance)

BSAC

BS Advisory Council 
& BALTFISH WG 
Meeting

26-28 Jan

Gdynia

NWWAC

WG meetings

02-03 Feb

Paris

Cooperation  with  these  groups  mostly  concerned  risk 
assessment  in  the  context  of  the  implementation  of  the 
landing  obligation.  During  2016,  a  common  basis  to 
further  cooperate  in  areas  related  to  the  standardisation 
of  inspection  methodologies,  compliance  evaluation  and 
cooperation with the industry was established. The table 
below summarises the dates when cooperation meetings 
for some of these areas have taken place:

Activities

Scheveningen BALTFISH

NWW

SWW

Risk 
Assessment29

Workshop for 
inspectors

14-15 June

07-08 June

08-09 March

05-06 
October

23-24 
August

05-06 
April

25 August

05-06 April

29 Jointly undertaken with the EFCA JDPs.

WG meetings

09 Feb

Copenhagen

NSAC

PelAC

NSAC

WG meetings

WG meetings

MedAC

WG meetings

NWWAC-NSAC

Joint meeting NWW-
NSAC & Scheveningen 
CEG

25 Feb

12 Apr

20 Apr
13-14Oct

Den Haag

Den Haag

Split

16-17 May

Amsterdam

PelAC

NWWAC

PelAC

NSAC

PelAC

PelAC

Seminar on LO

WG meetings

05 July

07 July

Brussels

Edinburgh

WG meetings

12-13 Jul

Peterhead

Demersal meeting

WG meetings

14 Jul

05 Oct

Aberdeen

Den Haag

Seminar on LO

03 Nov

Brussels

35

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyF - JDP Planning
The  EFCA  Regional  Risk Assessment  aims  to  a  cost 
efficient  planning  of  future  inspections  activities  by 
providing the medium to long-term strategic objectives 
for the JDPs and an indication of the best spatial and 
temporal coverage needs for control means. 

The EFCA regional risk management based approach is 
used at three levels during the life cycle of JDPs:

- Strategic planning of JDPs – To facilitate the long-
term  (yearly)  spatial  and  temporal  planning  for 
deployment  of  control  resources  and  identify  the 
specific objectives of JDPs campaigns;
-  Priority  risk  management  –  To  identify  priority 
fisheries  /  fleet  segments  under  a  specific  threat 
analysis  (e.g.  non-compliance  with  the  landing 
obligation);
-  Operational  level  – To  facilitate  the  exchange  of 
best-practices and targets between different MS at 
short-term tactical level.

During 2016, the exercise was done at fleet segment level 
allowing for a more accurate analysis of threat occurrence 
in  the  different  fisheries. A  set  of  possible  risk  treatment 
measures has also been developed.

On  this  basis,  a  series  of  “specific  actions”  addressing 
priority  threats  in  the  most  relevant  segments  and 
implementing  some  of  the  risk  treatment  measures  has 
been  agreed  for  the  2017  JDPs.  The  following  tables 
summarise the “high” and “very high” priority risks of non-
compliance identified for the different areas and fisheries. 
A more detailed overview of all priority risks is available in 
Annex I.

Risk Level

High

Very High

Fleet seg.

Gear

Species30

Area

Non-compliance 
with LO

Misrecording

Fishing in closed 
areas

Baltic Sea

BS01

BS09

Otter trawl ≥105mm

COD
Plaice

22 - 24

Fixes gears

SALMON

30 - 32

30 Target species in UPPERCASES.

36

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyNon-compliance 
with LO

Misrecording

Ilegal gear

Fleet seg.

Gear

Species31

NS01

Beam trawl and 
Seines ≥100mm

NS02

NS03

NS04

NS07

Beam trawl/Seines 
≥70-<100m

Beam trawl/Seines 
≥32-<70mm

Beam trawl/Seines 
≥90mm

Beam trawl/Seines 
≥80-<120m

COD
HADDOCK
WHITING
SAITHE
PLAICE
HAKE
NEPHROPS
Sole
Northern prawns

COD
HADDOCK
PLAICE
NEPHROPS
Sole

NORTHERN
PRAWNS

Cod
PLAICE

PLAICE
SOLE

North Sea

Area

IVa

IVb

IVa

IVb

IIIa

IIIa

IVb

IVc

Fleet seg.

Gear

Species32

Area

Non-compliance 
with LO

Misrecording

Ilegal gear

North-western Waters (WW) Demersal

04

05

Generic bottom trawl 
<100m

Generic bottom trawl 
≥100m

06

Beam trawl 80-99m

HADDOCK
SAITHE
NEPHROPS
WHITING
Cod
Hake
Plaice

NEPHROPS
HADDOCK
HAKE
Cod
Haddock
Plaice

PLAICE
SOLE
Cod
Haddock

VIa

VIIa

VIId

Rest of VII

VIIa

VIId

Rest of VII

VIIa

VIId

Rest of VII

31 & 32 Target species in UPPERCASES.

37

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet seg.

Gear

Species

Area

Non-compliance with LO

Misrecording

WW - Pelagic

WW07

WW03

Polyvalent – Mid-
water pair trawl

Refrigerated sea 
water tank vessel – 
Mid-water trawl

HERRING

Rest of VII

MACKEREL

IVa

Fleet seg.

Fleet segment description

Misrecording

Technical Measures

Mediterranean Sea

Risk related with Bluefin tuna fisheries

MED01

MED03

MED04

MED06

Purse seiners targeting bluefin tuna for 
farming, associated vessels and farms

Bait boats (poles and lines)

Line vessels

Sport and recreational fisheries

Fleet seg.

Fleet segment description

Misrecording

Technical Measures

Risk related with swordfish fisheries

MED04

MED06

Fleet seg.

ADR01

Line vessels

Sport and recreational fisheries

Risk related with small pelagic in area GSA 17 and GSA 18

Fleet segment description

Misrecording

Technical Measures

Mid-water trawl (> 20 mm)

Fleet seg.

Turbot fishery

Black Sea

Misrecording

Technical measures

38

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyG - JDP assessment
EFCA assesses the effectiveness of the JDPs on the 
basis of performance indicators and benchmarks in a 
common  evaluation  in  cooperation  with  the  Member 
States, including the common reporting of joint control 
activities at regional level.
The JDPs annual assessment reports regarding 2015 
were  sent  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  European 
Commission and Member States on 30 June 2016. 

The  assessment  reports  reached  the  conclusion  that 
the  implementation  of  EFCA  JDPs  during  2016  was 
successful.  It  was  recommended  to  further  enhance  the 
joint control operations through concerted specific actions 
aimed at priority threats and fisheries segments with the 
aim  of  putting  into  effect  risk  treatment  measures.  Each 
TJDG was given the task to coordinate the implementation 
of  these  risk  treatment  measures  through  the  concerted 
specific actions.

H  -  Support  to  Member  States  on  pilot  projects 
of  Terms  of  Reference  (ToR)  for  evalutaion  of 
emerging technologies
EFCA  participated  actively  in  a  project  exploring  the 
use  of  emerging  technologies  for  fisheries  monitoring 
and control purposes.

II 

‘Demonstration  of 

the  use  of  Satellites 
DeSIRE 
complementing  Remotely  Piloted  Aircraft  Systems 
integrated in non-segregated airspace – Second Element’ 
is a project managed jointly by the European Space Agency 
and  the  European  Defence  Agency  aimed  at  providing 
user-defined RPAS services supported by satellites to the 
maritime surveillance community. An industry consortium, 
in  close  cooperation  with  regional  and  European  flight 
control authorities and a number of interested end-users 

such  as  the  Italian  coast  guard,  Guardia  di  Finanza 
&  Civil  Protection,  the  French  Mediterranean  Forest 
Protection  and  EFCA,  have  defined  user  requirements 
and prepared for testing the deployment of RPAS services 
in the Mediterranean Sea using satellite communications. 
An  unfortunate  event  leading  to  the  loss  of  an  RPAS 
prototype  has  delayed  the  project’s  operational  trails. 
EFCA participated in the two user consultation meetings 
on 24 May and on 26 September and provided input with 
regards to specific user requirements and the description 
and  layout  of  the  RPAS  campaign  and  the  preparatory 
fisheries control mission simulation.

Organised by

Place

Date

Detail

Desire II

Rome

24 May

User consultation meeting

Desire II

Rome

26 September

User consultation meeting 
(simulation campaign)

I  -  Mission  preparation,  on  the  spot  visits  and 
reports on evaluation missions in third countries
Throughout the year, EFCA was requested to support 
the  European  Commission  in  evaluation  missions 
under  the  framework  of  the  IUU-regulation  to  two 
countries (in three missions) Thailand, and Mauritius. 
EFCA´s main role in relation to the evaluation missions 
is to prepare the visit by analysing the catch certificates 
and supporting documents from the country in question 
and provide the European Commission with a report of 
the  findings.  When  EFCA  is  requested  to  participate 
to  the  mission,  EFCA’s  representative  assists  with 
presentations and explanations of the mission findings 
to the third country authorities.

39

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnalysis of catch certificates and processing statements
EFCA assisted the European Commission with the analysis of a total of 2,224 catch certificates and 741 “Annex IV - 
processing statements” and approximately 10,000 supporting documents for 5 third countries.

Third country

EFCA mission dates

EFCA participation to the mission

EFCA analysis of catch certificates 
and processing statements

Thailand

Solomon Islands

China

16-25 January 2016
27-30 June 2016

-

-

Mauritius

14-17 November 2016

Taiwan

-

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

J  -  Development  of  a  common  methodology 
to  facilitate  the  implementation  of  an  IUU  risk 
management  approach  by  Member  States 
authorities
In  accordance  with  its  AWP  2016,  EFCA  assisted 
the  Member  States’  authorities  responsible  for  the 
verification  of  catch  certificates  for  the  importation  of 
fishery products by developing a common methodology. 
This is designed to facilitate the implementation of an 
IUU  risk  management  approach  by  Member  States’ 
authorities  in  relation  to  criteria  defined  in  Article  31 
of  Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No  1010/2009.  This 
methodology  was  presented  in  a  structured  table 
together  with  an  Excel  application  where  a  step-by-
step  methodology  can  be  followed  thereby  ensuring 
risk  assessment,  together  with  guidance  on  possible 
follow-up actions, without prejudice to Member States 
primary 
responsibilities.  This  methodology  was 
presented  at  the  IUU  Steering  Group  meeting  held 
on 08 November 2016 and was received positively by 
participating Member States.

K  -  Participation  in  the  working  group  on  the 
development  of  an  EU  IT  system/database  to 
support the implementation of the IUU Regulation 
and the catch certification scheme
EFCA  participated  in  one  working  group  meeting 
organised by the European Commission on 16 March 
2016. EFCA provided particular technical input based 
on  its  experience  of  analysing  catch  certificates  and 
supporting documents.

40

L  -  Organisation  and  reports  on  the  IUU  Steering 
Group meetings
EFCA  organised  an  IUU  Steering  Group  meeting  on 
08  November  2016  in  Vigo.  During  this  meeting,  the 
European  Commission  presented  a  general  state-of-
play of the implementation of the IUU Regulation and 
recent  topics  of  interest.  EFCA  presented  the  draft 
common methodology to facilitate the implementation 
of  an  IUU  risk  management  approach  by  Member 
States’ authorities, as well as the Pilot Project for the 
development  of  a  worldwide  EFCA  Marsurv  Service. 
The report of this meeting, together with presentations 
made  by  EFCA  and  Member  States  representatives 
from Denmark, Poland and Portugal was disseminated 
on 19 December 2016.

M - Assistance to EU in relations with third countries
EFCA  has  taken  part  in  the  2  following  Monitoring 
Control  and  Surveillance  (MCS)  Coastal  States 
(EU,  Faroe  Islands,  Iceland,  Norway  and  Russia) 
pelagic  fisheries  WG  meetings:  on  05-06 April  at  the 
Representation  of  Faroe  Islands  in  Copenhagen, 
Denmark and on 27-29 September in Torshavn, Faroe 
Islands. EFCA also assisted in a fact finding mission in 
Ijmuiden, Netherlands from 31 May to 2 June organised 
in the context of this group.

the 

Further,  upon 
the  European 
request 
Commission, EFCA participated on a capacity building 
mission  to  Liberia.  Further  on  that  under  the Training 
subsection.

from 

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
O - Union Inspectors 
In  2016,  the  list  of  Union  Inspectors  established 
pursuant  to  article  79(1)  of  Council  Regulation  (EC) 
No  1224/2009  included  1924  Union  Inspectors  from 
Member States and 46 from EFCA and DG MARE.

This is an increase of 341 Union Inspectors compared 
to  the  2015  Union  Inspectors  list. The  updated  list  of 
Union  Inspectors  was  made  available  on  the  EFCA 
website  following  publication  in  the  Official  Journal. 
182 Union Inspectors identification cards were printed 
and distributed to the relevant authorities.

N - Implementation of the tasks delegated to EFCA 
by the European Commission in relation to RFMOs
EFCA  has  implemented  different  tasks,  delegated  by 
the  European  Commission,  related  to  the  notification 
to NAFO and NEAFC of different information resulting 
from the inspection activities of the Member States:

•  Regarding  NAFO,  this  information  includes  list  of 
observers, inspectors and inspection means. 
•  Regarding NEAFC, EFCA is providing the NEAFC 
Secretariat  with  lists  of  inspectors  and  inspection 
means as well as compiled annual reports on EU 
inspection  activities  in  the  NEAFC  Regulatory 
Area. 

EFCA  sends  all  originals  of  reports  of  inspections 
carried  out  by  Member  States’  inspectors  in  both 
RFMO  areas  to  the  competent  authorities  of  the  flag 
states of the fishing vessels, with copies being sent to 
both RFMO Secretariats.

Performance Indicators

Target

Achieved

Planning of control operations delivered timely

4th Quarter 2016

4th Quarter 2016

Assessment reports 2015 delivered before 30 June 2016

ID cards issued for new Union inspectors where info and photos have been provided

Roadmap issued for PACT regional projects proposed by MS

Project evaluation or Terms of reference (ToR)

Number of evaluation missions in third countries

Percentage of planned missions completed

Number of mission reports issued

Number of catch certificates and processing statements analysed

Common methodology presented to the IUU SG

Meetings attended to the working group on the development of an EU IT system for the IUU catch 
certification scheme.

Percentage of third countries to which EFCA assisted in comparison with EC requests

Implementation of the tasks delegated by the EC in relation to RFMOs

100%

100%

100%

1

4

100%

4

1.500

1

60%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

1

3

100%

3

2.965

1

100%

100%

100%

41

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency1.2.3. Programmes, plans and assessment

Standard Budget

ABMS 1.3

Staff (FTE)

Planned

185.000€

1.085.760€

Consumed

160.900€

1.232.194€

Implementation rate /
staff variation

87%

113%

AD

3,5

AST

SNE

CA

0,5

0

1

AD

4.1

AST

SNE

CA

AD

AST

SNE

CA

0,5

0.4

0

+0.6

0

+0.4

-1

Note: Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of this fund source (R0 fund source)

Planned

Implementation of the project on regional risk analysis

DELIVERABLES

Implementation of a project to evaluate compliance trends and cost-effectiveness of control operations in a limited 
number of fisheries on request of the Members States

Support to the expert group on compliance

Roadmap for standardisation of inspection procedures for landing obligation

Evaluation of the costs of JDPs and operational plans 

Implementation of the landing obligation at a regional level

Workshop for CCIC/ACC representatives

Report on MS procedures and requirements to be considered by Union inspectors when acting in waters of another 
Member State and follow-up.

Assistance in establishing and/or maintaining a reliable control system on RFMOs on EC request

Organisation of exchange of inspectors on EC request

Achieved

Yes

No request

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Objective

1. To  promote  effectiveness  and  efficiency  of  control
operations.
2. To  promote  an  efficient  coordination  of  the  control
activities.
3. To  assist  the  EC  to  cooperate  with  international
organisations and third countries.

Introduction
The  “Programmes,  plans  and  assessment”  activity 
intends to support EFCA’s regional activities by promoting 
a better coordination on horizontal, related issues such as 
the planning, implementation and assessment of JDPs.
Generic projects were developed in response to Member 
States’  needs,  which  aim  for  the  generation  of  novel 
approaches  to  EFCA  core  business  and  assistance  to 
Member  States  in  responding  to  the  challenges  of  the 
CFP.  Particular  care  was  taken  to  promote  a  coherent 
development amongst common priorities of EFCA regional 
activities, whilst ensuring that regional specifications are 
considered during implementation of the different JDPs.

42

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyMain activity results

A  -  Implementation  of  a  project  on  regional  risk 
management33
The Regional Risk Management Project objective is to 
review,  reinforce  and  standardise  the  use  of  the  risk-
based  approach  in  the  planning  and  coordination  of 
Joint Deployment Plans.

Activities were grouped in work packages according to 3 
levels at which risk based approach is used in the life cycle 
of JDPs:

•  Operational level (exchange of targets)
•  Priority risk management
•  Strategic planning of JDPs

During  2016,  a  protocol  for  a  revised  strategic  planning 
of  JDPs  was  tested  at  the  risk  assessment  workshops 
and  presented  for  further  discussion  with  MS  at  a  joint 
meeting  in  November  (see  below).  The  main  features 
include  an  analysis  at  fisheries  level  (regional  fleet 
segments)  supported  by  a  common  set  of  fisheries  fact-
sheets,  the  use  of  a  stable  and  commonly  agreed  list  of 
threats, and an assessment model based on impact and 
likelihood  evaluation.  The  implementation  of  a  specific 
set  of  risk  treatment  measures  and  potential  further 
developments were also considered. EFCA also started to 
identify, together with MS, the possible use of compliance 
indicators  to  determine  the  likelihood  of  a  given  threat’s 
occurrence.

The protocol for exchange of targets at operational level 
was concluded and is currently being implemented under 
the different JDPs.

There was a project meeting held in Rome on 08 and 09 
November 2016 to present the state-of-play and validate 
the deliverables of the above mentioned work packages. 
The ways of evaluating the exchange of targets between 
different MS, the regional risk management methodology 

for the strategic planning of campaigns and the possible 
development  of  regional  compliance  indicators  were 
particularly addressed.

In 2016, EFCA organised joint risk assessment workshops 
between  the  JDPs,  RSGs  and  CEG  of  the  MS  regional 
groups,  in  which  some  of  the  key  features  developed 
within the project were applied (e.g. guidelines for priority 
risk  assessment,  risk  treatment  measures).  In  these 
workshops,  the  main  threats  were  identified  at  fleet 
segment  level,  and  the  spatial  and  temporal  distribution 
of  fisheries  assessed,  allowing  for  the  planning  of  JDPs 
in 2017. 

in  the 

B  -  Evaluation  of  compliance  trends 
framework of the JDPs
An  analysis  of  suspected  infringements  detected  in 
the framework of the JDPs across the different areas, 
confirms  that  misrecording  of  catches  and  technical 
measures are the most common types of infringement. 
A more detailed analysis of the types of infringements 
detected for the different JDPs in these main categories 
and in accordance with the different gears deployed is 
presented below:

Baltic  Sea:  Most  suspected  infringements  relate  to 
misrecording of species, in particular for non-compliance 
with  the  catch  composition  percentage  by  species  in 
midwater trawls (OTM) for pelagic fisheries and in bottom 
trawls  for  demersal  fisheries  (OTB).  The  suspected 
infringements 
technical  measures  occur 
mostly  for  static  gear  (GNS)  and  are  mainly  related  to 
non-compliance  with  national  regulation  regarding  gear 
marking  and  location  in  the  salmon  fisheries.  Some 
suspected infringements related to illegal mesh size and 
illegal  attachments  were  also  detected  for  bottom  trawls 
(OTB) for demersal cod fishery.

related 

to 

33 Results of the regional risk assessment for 2016 are provided in Section 1.2.2 f) of this report.

43

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyNorth Sea: Most of the suspected infringements relate 
to misrecording, in particular in the bottom trawl (OTB) 
mixed fisheries and the sole and plaice fishery by beam 
trawlers  (TBB),  including  misrecording  of  species  in 
logbook,  non-compliance  with  the  margin  of  tolerance 
rules and non-compliance with the pre-notification rules 
before landing. 

Suspected infringements related to technical measures 
are mostly occurring under the demersal mixed fisheries 
by bottom trawls (OTB) due to the use of illegal gears, 
illegal  mesh  size  and  non-compliance  with  the  catch 
composition  rules.  For  the  sole  and  plaice  fishery  by 
the  beam  trawlers  (TBB),  technical  measures  type 
of  suspected  infringements  are  mostly  related  to  the 
presence of undersized sole, illegal mesh size, including 
the use of blinders.

Pelagic  in  Western  Waters:  Most  of  the  suspected 
infringements relate to misrecording of species and non-
compliance with the pre-notification rules for landing for 
purse  seiners  (PS).  Misrecording  of  mackerel,  horse 
mackerel and other pelagic species also appears in the 
case of the bottom trawls (OTB) and pair trawls (PTB).

Mediterranean  and  Eastern  Atlantic  JDP:  In  this 
area,  most  of  the  suspected  infringements  relate  to 
the  misrecording  of  BFT  and  Swordfish  with  incorrect 
recording of species in the logbook, non-compliance with 
the  margin  of  tolerance  and  pre-notification  rules  and 
those related to transfers and video counting in the purse 
seine  BFT  fishery.  To  a  lesser  extent,  infringements 
related to non-compliance  with  the  margin of tolerance 
and  pre-notification  rules  can  also  be  detected  in  the 
BFT fishery with hooks and lines.

Infringements  related  to  labelling  can  also  be  found  in 
small pelagic fisheries with purse seiners in the Adriatic 
Sea. 

Such infringement analysis can facilitate a first look at the 
issue of compliance in terms of the ratio of infringements 
to  inspections.  In  particular,  the  examination  of  the 
typology of the suspected non-compliances may also be 
informative and provide a direct input to the EFCA and MS 
regional risk assessment. 

There  are  some  limitations  to  drawing  conclusions  on 
compliance  based  solely  on  these  types  of  analysis 
without  supporting  the  exercise  with  other  methods. 
For  example,  for  some  elements  of  policy  (the  landing 
obligation  being  a  case-in-point),  the  detection  of  non-
compliance  is  notoriously  difficult,  hence  the  notable 
dearth of infringement reports.

In  this  context,  EFCA  is  currently  developing  a  series 
of  compliance  indicators,  one  of  which  being  based  on 
the  comparison  of  reference  fishing  activity  information 
(inspected  or  with  CCTV  or  observers)  versus  non-
inspected  activity.  Differences  could  be  measured  and 
utilised in the form of a compliance indicator. This approach 
has been followed in the context of the LO and assisted in 
deriving the characterisation of the nature of possible non-
compliance behaviours. 

A  specific  request  was  made  by  the  BALTFISH  regional 
control expert group for EFCA to facilitate the assessment 
of  compliance  with  the  implementation  of  the  landing 
obligation  in  the  Baltic  Sea.  The  work  was  initiated  in 
November 2016 and should be delivered  by end of May 
2017.

C  -  Support  the  Expert  Group  on  Compliance 
(article 37 of regulation (EU) No 1380/2013)
This group met once on 27 January 2016 in Brussels. 
EFCA  attended  the  meeting  in  its  capacity  as  an 
observer.

44

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
D - Evaluation of JDP costs
In  2016,  EFCA  conducted  the  3rd  assessment  of  JDP  costs.  The  same  model  developed  in  2013  through  the 
Administrative Board Focus Group has been used, with some modifications introduced in 2014. 

The use of each patrol asset (patrol vessel, aircraft or national land team) per time unit is estimated considering different 
components: labour of inspectors and crew, fuel consumption, maintenance, depreciation and insurance. The model 
uses different sources for the estimation of standard costs like salaries (Eurostat) or fuel price. When not available for 
the year of the estimation, some average annual increment is used. Unit costs are then multiplied by the control effort 
reported by Member States. The main results of the JDP 2015 assessment are presented in the table below.

2015 JPDs - Estimated costs by deployment type

JDP

Coordination

Land

Sea

Air

Total

North Sea

787.096€

Baltic Sea

647.285€

Western Waters Pelagic

836.289€

Mediterranean Sea

1.086.474€

NAFO

NEAFC

Total

353.139€

353.139€

25.712€

95.407€

16.065€

73.990€

12.232€

0€

12.842.901€

377.735€

14.033.444€

5.469.614€

27.083€

6.239.389€

9.160.564€

584.368€

10.597.286€

2.350.130€

378.573€

3.889.167€

3.355.321€

0€

3.720.693€

3.244.338€

562.826€

4.160.303€

4.063.422€

223.406€

36.422.869€

1.930.585€

42.640.281€

The global cost of the JDPs (figures presented under the 
table JDPs total costs during the period 2013-2015) has 
decreased from 46M€ in 2014 to 42.640M€ in 2015. 

The  main  decrease  is  for  the  North  Sea  (NS)  and  Baltic 
Sea (BS) JDPs. For Western Waters (WW), the increase 
of  costs  is  mainly  due  to  the  use  of  large  patrol  vessels 
with  high  daily  costs.  In  the  case  of  Mediterranean  JDP 
(MED) and NAFO, the increase of costs in 2015 is mainly 
explained by higher control effort.

45

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency46

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency47

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agencycompliance  with  the  landing  obligation  following  the 
EFCA  methodology.  These  risk  assessments  were 
performed in 2016 together with the risk assessment 
for  the  planning  of  JDPs  (see  Section  1.2.2  Level 
playing field enhancement). 

Cooperation  with  the  Mediterranean  area  has  been 
offered by EFCA to the MS regional groups concerned. An 
initiative  to  provide  cooperation  through  the  RSG  of  the 
Mediterranean JDP is being analysed.

•  Support to Inter-regional cooperation through:

-  LO  seminars,  organised  by  EFCA,  as  a  forum 
for  the  Administrative  Board  members  to  further 
discuss  on  the  implementation  of  the  landing 
obligation,  facilitating  an  open  exchange  of  views 
and  best  practices  between  Member  States, 
with  the  participation  of  EFCA  and  the  European 
Commission.  During  2016  EFCA  organised  a  LO 
seminar  in  Heraklion,  Crete  (January  2016)  that 
also included discussions on the new coast guard 
function of the Agency.

-  Interregional  workshops,  organised  by  EFCA 
in  cooperation  with  the  CEGs,  to  discuss  cross-
regional  issues  in  the  implementation  of  the  LO. 
A  workshop  was  organised  in  December  2016  in 
London which focused on demersal fisheries in the 
North Sea and the North Western Waters. 

•  Standardisation  of  inspections:  The  underlying 
driver  for  this  initiative  is  the  need  to  maintain  a 
level  playing  field,  which  should  be  achieved  by 
developing a harmonised and standardised approach 
to inspections focused on the landing obligation.

During 2016, fishery segment factsheets were updated in 
cooperation  with  Member  States,  to  identify  the  different 
elements which the vessels must comply with, regarding 
the gear/area/species scenarios.

E - Implementation of the landing obligation at the 
regional level
During  2016,  the  European  Fisheries  Control Agency 
worked  intensively  with  the  Member  States  and  the 
European Commission to implement the processes and 
tools for an effective and efficient control and monitoring 
of the implementation of the landing obligation. 

EFCA  activities  during  2016  in  this  subject  can  be 
summarised as follows:

•  Specific  monitoring 

on 

schemes 

the 
implementation of the landing obligation continued 
to  be  in  place  for  the  Baltic  Sea,  Western  Waters 
(Pelagic) and Mediterranean Sea (Adriatic) JDP areas, 
and in 2016 a similar data collection scheme has been 
initiated to the North Sea JDP for demersal species. 
These monitoring schemes are focused on comparing 
observed  data  on  catch  composition  and  discards 
versus  reported  data.  Data  collection  (last  observed 
haul during inspections) with participation of Member 
States inspectors and EFCA staff is carried out. 

focus  on 

•  Specific  workshops  for  inspectors  have  also 
for  the 
been  organised  with 
implementation of the landing obligation, and aiming 
at promoting a level playing field and fine tuning the 
catch composition data collection (last observed haul 
inspections) (see section 1.2.5 Training). 

training 

•  Support  to  constituted  regional  MS  groups 
has  been  a  central  area  of  work  for  EFCA  in  this 
area  through  dedicated  PACT  projects.  EFCA  is 
implementing  cooperation  projects  for  assistance  to 
the BALTFISH, Scheveningen, North Western Waters 
and South Western Waters Groups concerned with the 
implementation of the landing obligation. Cooperation 
with these groups included implementing a work plan 
and assisting in performing risk assessment on non-

48

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyF - Workshop for CCIC / ACC representatives
The workshop on JDP coordination and best practices 
was held at the EFCA premises on 08 and 09 November 
2016. In common with the previous year’s successful 
workshop, the focus of attention on the first day of the 
workshop lay on operational and administrative issues 
with the model of the blue whiting campaign presented 
as a successful way forward for cooperation between 
the EFCA and the Member States.

The  final  day  was  dedicated  to  emerging  technologies 
deployed  in  fisheries  monitoring  and  surveillance  and 
which can be used in support of the JDP campaigns. 

in 

There  were  28  delegates  from  the  Member  States 
participating 
the  workshop.  Participants  actively 
contributed  to  the  discussions  and  provided  constructive 
ideas  and  concepts  for  the  further  development  of  the 
role of the CCIC and EFCA’s participation as well as the 
increased use of FISHNET.

NAFO

NEAFC

ICCAT

G - Report on MS procedures and requirements to 
be considered by Union inspectors when acting in 
waters of another Member State and follow-up
The general aim of this project is to develop procedural 
guidelines  to  help  Member  State’s  officials  build 
infringement cases according to the needs of the legal 
system  of  the  Member  State  which  will  process  the 
case.  This  becomes  particularly  pertinent  where  the 
inspecting  Member  State  is  different  to  the  Member 
State which will handle the case.

The  project,  started  in  2015,  continued  during  2016 
with  the  support  of  an  external  legal  expert.  Contacts 
were  nominated  in  the  relevant  coastal  States  and  a 
questionnaire  circulated.  Responses  to  the  questionnaire 
were analysed in detail by an external legal expert. 

The first of the planned regional workshops was carried out 
in November in Copenhagen. This workshop covered the 
Baltic and North Sea regions. This first workshop provided 
valuable experience for the further planning of the project. 

H  - Assistance  in  establishing  and/or  maintaining 
a reliable control system on RFMOs on EC request
As  in  previous  years,  EFCA  staff  have  participated 
in  and  provided  technical  assistance  to  the  EU 
Delegations  in  different  meetings  with  RFMOs  and 
third countries at international level. 

During 2016, EFCA participated as follows: 

RFMO

Type

Standing Committee on Internatio-
nal Control (STATIC)

Date

09-11 May

Annual meeting

19-23 September

Permanent Committee on Monito-
ring and Compliance (PECMAC)

14-15 April

Annual meeting

14-16 September

Annual meeting

14-18 November

14-22 November

Integrated Monitoring Measures 
Working Groups

18-21 July

e-BCD34 Technical Working Group

5 meetings

in 

GFCM
EFCA  assistance  was  provided  in  the  GFCM  Annual 
the  Compliance 
Meeting  and  EFCA  participated 
Committee Meeting on 18-19 January. EFCA also actively 
participated  in  the  GFCM/FAO  Working  Group  on  IUU 
fishing in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas in Madrid 
on 19-21 April. The GFCM has adopted two roadmaps for 
the  fight  against  IUU  fishing  both  in  the  Black  Sea  and 
Mediterranean Sea. These include specific training actions 
for inspectors and general capacity building in monitoring, 
control and inspection procedures.

In  this  framework,  and  on  request  of  the  European 
Commission,  EFCA  organised  a  workshop  on  14-15 
December  2016  to  discuss  possible  future  cooperation 
with Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. The meeting was also 
attended by DG MARE and GFCM representatives.

34 Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document, working group chaired by one EFCA staff.

49

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
The  objective  of  the  meeting  was  to  identify  possible 
areas  for  cooperation  in  order  to  reinforce  and  enhance 
the implementation of GFCM and ICCAT conservation and 
management  control  and  inspection  measures  adopted. 
Areas  of  cooperation  were  divided  between  the  joint 
establishment  and  implementation  of  common  control 
measures, especially in the Strait of Sicily and training and 
capacity building provided by EFCA.

Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

EFCA  assistance  was  provided  to  the  Indian  Ocean 
Commission on request of the Commission. A meeting took 
place  at  EFCA  on  25-26  February  2016. The  delegation 
from  IOC  was  composed  of  representatives  from  the 
IOC-Smartfish  project  and  the  IOC  member  countries  of 
Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles.  

As a result of the meeting there were identified needs for 
continuation  of  the  cooperation  that  can  be  summarised 
as follows:

•  Assistance  on  how  to  carry  out  and  implement  a 

regional risk assessment,
capacity Building on inspection methodologies and,
assistance with new control strategies for MCS. 

• 
• 

South Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC):

At  the  end  of  August  2016,  EFCA  participated,  in  an 
observer capacity, in the MCS operation ‘Pedro Cardoso 
Nanco’. This operation was organised by the West African 
SRFC and was based in the operations room of “Serviço 
National  de  Fiscalização  e  Controlo  das  Actividades  de 
Pesca  (FISCAP)”  in  the  port  of  Bissau,  Guinea  Bissau. 
The operation consisted of a joint coordination by Senegal, 
Gambia,  Guinea  Bissau,  Guinea  Conakry  and  officials 
of  the  SRFC  of  national  control  actions  in  the  EEZs  of 
Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry. Six surface 

means  were  deployed,  being  managed  by  HF  radio  from 
the operations centre.

A  good  VMS  picture  was  obtained  on  non-artisanal 
vessels. A  total  of  82  inspections  were  carried  out  over  a 
four-day  period  and  14  infringements  detected.  Seven 
artisanal vessels were escorted to port and two industrial, 
Chinese flagged vessels were detained for fishing without 
authorisation (during a biological closure) and escorted to 
Conakry.

As  part  of  the  development  of  relations  between  the 
Agency and SRFC, EFCA hosted a delegation from SRFC 
on 09–12 November 2016. The visit was designed to give 
the SRFC delegation a good overview of EFCA operations 
and a reciprocal presentation was also made by the SRFC 
delegation to EFCA staff and Member States participating 
in a JDP CCIC seminar. The opportunity was also taken to 
arrange visits to the ports of Vigo and Bueu to showcase 
fisheries activity in this region.

Performance Indicators

Target

Achieved

JDPs/operational plans with a full regional risk 
analysis system established

80%

80%

Implementation of cost estimation model in JDPs

100%

100%

Methodology for compliance evaluation 
implemented in agreed specific fisheries

100%

Risk management implemented for landing 
obligation

At least 4 
regions

n/a

5

Road map for standardisation of inspection 
procedures delivered

By Q4

100%

Number of seminars/workshops organised

2

5

JDPs/operational plans campaigns implemented 
following the best practices guide of EFCA 

75%

100%

Project on MS procedures and requirements 
delivered by some regions

2 regions

4

International organisations to which EFCA 
assisted following EC requests

100%

100%

50

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency1.2.4. Data Monitoring and Networks

Standard Budget

ABMS 1.4

Staff (FTE)

Planned

630.000€

1.702.507€

Consumed

592.751€

1.679.480€

Implementation rate / 
staff variation

94%

99%

AD

2,5

AST

SNE

2,5

0

CA

0.5

AD

1.9

AST

SNE

2.5

0.3

CA

0.9

AD

-0.6

AST

0

SNE

+0.3

CA

+0.4

Note: Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of this fund source (R0 fund source).

DELIVERABLES 

Planned

User defined application IT tools for the provision of an integrated maritime awareness picture

Continued development, enhancement, maintenance and integration of the EFCA ICT applications in support to operational 
activities

Achieved

Yes

Yes

Adaptation of internal and external systems (i.e. Marsurv) in the Pilot Project on “Modernising fisheries control and optimising 
vessel monitoring through the use of innovative European Systems”

Partially35

Business cases delivered for assessment

IT contracts signed and implemented according to plan

Project Management Reports

Project Management Scoreboard

Provision of training support material such as manuals and exercises

Meeting documentation, minutes and reports

n/a36

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Implementation of the plan to move to “infrastructure as a service” approach

Partially37

The possible deployment of EFCA servers in another hosting site

Chairing the EIR working group

Active participation and expert input in the CISE project, attendance to the TAG and associated project meetings

Effective information sharing and exchange of best practices in the framework of IMP and interagency cooperation

Effective exchange of information sharing with Frontex and EMSA 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Aligning the EFCA data monitoring systems on the new implementing rules requirements where applicable

On Going38

Provisions with the EFCA EIR system to the interested Member States through service level agreements, feasibility studies of 
expanding the concept to other EFCA applications

CCIC maritime operational information available to the Member States

Participate in and follow research projects that explore the use of Earth Observation data

Yes

Yes

Yes

35 The project will be concluded on 31 December 2017. 
36 During 2016, EFCA did not undertake any new developments in its operational systems other than the normal maintenance and minor updates. 
37 A disaster recovery site was set up and hosted by EUIPO in Alicante. The main site for the operational systems is still at EFCA in Vigo. 
38 EFCA is preparing for the new requirements but the work has not yet been concluded. The deadlines are in 2017. 

51

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyIntroduction

Main activity results

To  facilitate  the  interoperability  and  transparency  among 
the Member States collaborating under the framework of 
the  JDPs,  EFCA  continued  to  enhance  the  operational 
systems. EFCA continued the good collaboration with other 
agencies,  mainly  with  Frontex  and  EMSA,  and  started 
to  roll  out  the  operational  use  of  Copernicus  services  in 
support of the coordination of fishery inspection activities. 

Objective

EFCA´s main objective in the area of Data Monitoring and 
Networks was to develop and strengthen the skills, abilities, 
processes and resources that Member States need for the 
uniform application of the rules of the Common Fisheries 
Policy in the field of data monitoring and networks. 

Furthermore  EFCA  sought  to  provide  guidance  to  the 
Member  States  and  to  facilitate  the  exchange  of  best 
practice for building capacities. An important part of these 
activities  is  the  contribution  to  the  implementation  of  the 
EU IMP and the CFP, as well as the continued cooperation 
in  maritime  affairs  with  Member  States,  the  European 
Commission  and  relevant  EU  agencies  and  external 
bodies. 

In order to improve the provision of services and to advance 
operations, EFCA sought to develop and enhance the use 
of external information sources not readily available at the 
Agency for fisheries control purposes. In so doing, EFCA 
was seeking to use state-of-the-art technology to improve 
control and monitoring as well as the risk analysis function 
at EU level. 

A - User defined application IT tools for the provision 
of an integrated maritime awareness picture
The EFCA Marsurv service is an operational fisheries 
control coordination tool using the integrated maritime 
data  environment  (IMDatE)  developed  and  hosted  by 
EMSA, in close collaboration with EFCA. 

It  integrates  and  correlates  various  types  of  information 
from  different  sources  such  as  VMS,  satellite  Automatic 
Identification  Systems  (AIS),  terrestrial  AIS,  Long  Range 
Identification  and  Tracking 
(LRIT)  and  Copernicus 
deliverables  and  is  specifically  designed  to  support  the 
fisheries  monitoring  and  control  user  community.  EFCA 
continues  to  channel  the  feedback  from  its  end-users  for 
the enhancement of the system as well as to test any new 
releases. 

The  VMS  messages  that  are  being  received  in  EFCA 
from  Member  States  FMC’s,  are  verified,  crosschecked 
for  duplicates  and  validated  before  they  are  forwarded 
to  EMSA.  Upon  receipt  in  EMSA  the  VMS  messages  are 
ingested in the IMDatE and made available for the Marsurv 
application.

Today  there  are  two  EFCA  Marsurv  Services  available, 
one covering the North Atlantic area and one covering the 
Mediterranean  Sea  area.  EFCA  Marsurv  is  now  used  in 
support of all JDP’s, on a daily basis at EFCA’s coordination 
centre and in Member States’ fisheries monitoring centres. 
EFCA  provided  support  to  EMSA  in  the  development  of 
automatic  behaviour  monitoring  (ABM)  and  participated 
in a specific ABM Workshop with end-users. During 2016, 
EFCA  also  started  to  test  ABM.  Based  on  pre-defined 
algorithms  applied  to  the  available  information  within  the 
Marsurv service, real time alarm functions provide support 
in the operational decision making process. One of the ABM 
and alarm functions tested was, for example, vessel speed 
decrease under a certain limit and within a given area. 

With the rolling out of Copernicus Services during the last 
quarter of 2016, a new dimension was added to the Marsurv 
service. Intensified cooperation between EFCA and EMSA 
permits  an  automated  integration  of  satellite  imagery  and 
associated vessel detection into the EFCA-Marsurv service 
thus making this information available for fisheries control 
purposes in an operational environment.

52

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
At  the  end  of  2016,  there  were  296  user  credentials 
distributed for the EFCA Marsurv Service to relevant end-
users in Member States, the European Commission and 
EFCA. 

Organised 
by

Place

Date

Subject

EMSA 

Lisbon

28 
September

Automated Behaviour Monitoring 
workshop

EMSA

Lisbon

28
October

EFCA IMS (Copernicus-Marsurv) 
Training course

EMSA

Lisbon

15 
November

Copernicus Maritime Surveillance 
User Requirements Workshop

B  -  Continue  the  development,  enhancement, 
maintenance  and  integration  of  the  EFCA  ICT 
applications in support to operational activities
During  2016,  EFCA  continued 
to  develop  and 
maintain  its  suite  of  operational  systems  within  the 
EFCA Fisheries Information System (FIS) through the 
provision of contracted services. 

from 

In  addition,  the  responsibility  for  the  maintenance  and 
development  of  the  EFCA  Enterprise  Architecture  (EA) 
passed 
to  EFCA´s 
the  developing  contractor 
contractor for software development and maintenance in 
July, with the expiry of the one year warranty period. A total 
of 16 specific contracts were signed and managed during 
the  period  and  encompassed  a  wide  variety  of  services 
including the core application maintenance service as well 

as  upgrades  to  the  existing  suite  such  as  providing  new 
complementary VC facilities within FISHNET, the addition 
of new Data Exchange rules with the ERS system and the 
upgrade of the JADE administrator functions. 

EFCA  has  also  contributed  to  the  ERS  and  Data 
Management  Working  Group  meetings  and  associated 
sub-groups meetings hosted by the European Commission 
throughout the year. Special attention has been given to the 
Union VMS project in which the Commission together with 
Sweden developed an open source VMS system which was 
made available to EFCA. EFCA was also a key contributor 
of the ‘VMS/ERS Viewer’ Business Implementation Group 
(BIG).  The  following  table  underlines  the  considerable 
contribution of EFCA to the various groups and the level 
of support and expertise provided to the Commission and 
the Member States.

53

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
Commission Expert Group Meetings and Workshops

Attended by EFCA in 2016

ERS & Data Management Working Group

VMS/ERS Viewer – Business Implementation Group

Special Sub-Working Group on FLUX-ERS Fishing Activity

Special Sub-Working Group on Union VMS

Migration Planning Sub-Working Group

FLEET Sub-Working Group

MDR Sub-Working

Sales Sub-Working Group

Licence Sub-Working Group

ACDR Sub-Working Group

Total

C  -  Adaptation  of  internal  and  external  systems 
(EFCA  Marsurv  Service)  in  the  Pilot  Project  on 
“Modernising  fisheries  control  and  optimising 
vessel  monitoring  through  the  use  of  innovative 
European Systems”
Upon  the  request  of  the  European  Commission, 
EFCA initiated a pilot project on “Modernising fisheries 
controls  and  optimising  vessel  monitoring  through 
the  use  of  innovative  European  systems”  aimed  at 
providing  Member  States  with  near  real-time,  world-
wide  vessel  tracking  ability  using  the  EFCA  Marsurv 
application as a basis. 

The  purpose  was  to  test  to  which  extent  the  Marsurv 
service  can  provide  additional  support  in  the  framework 
of the fight against IUU fisheries. Specific functionalities, 
which  are  currently  under  development,  will  support 
Member  States’  authorities  in  their  verification  of  catch 
certificates by providing a worldwide access to integrated 
vessel information.

During the second semester of 2016, EFCA tested the world 
wide version with EMSA. Furthermore, EFCA announced 
during the IUU Steering Group on 08 November 2016 its 
intention to create a user group with representatives from 
the Member States to assist EFCA in the definition of new 
functionalities  and  the  testing  of  new  features.  The  Pilot 
Project will run throughout the year 2017.

54

5

5

3

6

6

2

3

1

2

1

34

D - IT contracts signed and implemented according 
to plan
According to the plan established for the period EFCA 
concluded  a  framework  contract  for  Internet,  mobile 
and  fixed  telephony  with  a  new  telecommunication 
contractor  as  a  result  of  an  open  call  for  tender 
launched in 2015. The framework contract was signed 
in March 2016 followed by a specific contract on May 
of  2016.  Furthermore,  two  specific  contracts  were 
signed  under  the  framework  contract  for  ICT  support 
with  the  IT  contractor.  The  first  was  for  providing 
desktop  services,  Help  Desk  support,  Application 
infrastructural  Services, 
management  &  support, 
unified  communication  services, data centre Services 
and  ICT  continuity  &  disaster  recovery.  The  second 
specific  contract  was  to  provide  on-call  duty  services 
during weekends and non-normal working hours in the 
periods of campaigns which are coordinated on EFCA 
premises.

E - Project Management Report/Project Management 
Scorebord
The progress of the projects was reported on during the 
EFCA management meetings and, when applicable, to 
the EFCA IT Steering Committee. 

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyF - Provision of Training Support Materials such as 
Manuals and Execises
All  operational  systems  come  with  their  user  manual 
and  other  relevant  support  materials.  For  training  in 
the use of EFCA´s operational systems, exercises are 
provided.

the  amendment 

G  -  Electronic  Inspection  Report  (EIR)  Working 
Group
Following 
the  Commission 
Implementing  Regulation  404/201139  in  201540,  EFCA 
was requested to re-establish and lead the EIR Working 
Group (EIRWG) in order to prepare for a submission of 
an application for the establishment of a UN/CEFACT 
standard for electronic inspection report data. 

to 

The  Terms  of  Reference  (ToR)  were  agreed  between 
EFCA,  COM  and  the  MS  and  established  the  three  key 
deliverables for the group as follows:

1.  Business  Requirements  Specifications 
(BRS) 
document which builds upon the general principles set 
out in the P1000-1; General Principles BRS document, 
and which aims to standardize the exchange of Fishery 
Inspection and Surveillance data between authorities.
2.  Fishery  Inspection  and  Surveillance  Implementation 
documents  which  cover  the  exchange  of  information 
between different stakeholders, describing the business 
rules  and  exchanges  (pushed  and/or  pulled)  between 
the  various  stakeholders 
the  currently  known 
regulations, measures and agreements.
3. A report on any identified issues which have bearing on 
the BRS or the Surveillance Implementation documents 
or the EU rules on exchange of information.

for 

However,  in  order  to  advance  these  deliverables  it  was 
first necessary to review the list of data elements required 
for each of the different types of inspection as well as the 
surveillance report. In so doing, the group also examined 
the requirements for reports completed within the context 
of ICCAT, NAFO and NEAFC.

EFCA organised and managed 3 x EIRWG meetings and 
4 x Technical Sub-Group (TSG) meetings as follows:

Meetings

Dates

Days

Location MS

Participants

EIRWG 1

12-13 
July ‘16

EIRWG 2

05-06 
Sept 
‘16

TSG
(ICCAT)

04 Oct 
‘16

EIRWG 3

25-26 
Oct ‘16

TSG
(BRS 1)

14-15 
Nov ‘16

TSG
(BRS 2)

06-07 
Dec’16

2

2

1

2

2

2

Barcelona

18

Lisbon

19

Rome

4

Athens

19

Dublin

Edinburgh

8

8

TOTAL 30:
MS x 26
EFCA x 4

TOTAL 32:
MS x 28
EFCA x 3
COM x 1

TOTAL 12:
MS x 9
EFCA x 3

TOTAL 37:
MS x 34
EFCA x 3
COM x 1

TOTAL 11:
MS x 9
EFCA x 1
COM x 1

TOTAL 11:
MS x 9
EFCA x 1
COM x 1

H  -  Implementation  of  the  plan  to  move  to 
“infrastructure  as  a  service”  approach  and  the 
possible  deployment  of  EFCA  servers  in  another 
hosting site
In  September  2016,  the  European  Food  Safety 
Authority  (EFSA)  as  leading  contracting  authority 
representing  several  EU  agencies,  amongst  them 
EFCA,  signed  an  inter-institutional  framework  service 
contract  with  title  “Broker  model  for  the  provision  of 
cloud services”. With this contract it is possible to move 
on with the infrastructure as a service approach. Two 
proof of concept projects are initiated for backup as a 
service under this framework contract.

In parallel, EFCA carried out a proof of concept project with 
EUIPO  for  the  latter  to  act  as  a  disaster  recovery  site  for 
EFCA. The project was successful and therefore, as a result, 
EFCA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EUIPO 
in  October  and  started  replicating  corporate  applications 
(Intranet,  e-mail,  file  server)  and  operational  applications 
(Fishnet,  VMS,  ERS,  EIR).  The  outcome  of  the  proof  of 
concept was shared during the Heads of Agencies´ Network 
meeting in Alicante on 20 October 2016. In addition EFCA’s 
website is hosted at EMSA’s disaster recovery datacentre.

39 Commission  implementing  Regulation  (EU)  No  404/2011  of  8 April  2011  laying  down  detailed  rules  for  the  implementation  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No 
1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.
40 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1962 of 28 October art. 146c.

55

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
Copernicus

During the 2nd half of 2016, EFCA started to test the use 
of  Copernicus  services  for  fisheries  control  purposes  in 
preparation for a wider operational use in 2017.

Following the setting up of an acquisition procedure with 
EMSA  being  the  service  manager,  EFCA  initiated  the 
acquisition  of  synthetic  aperture  radar  (SAR)  satellite 
images  in  an  operational  set-up  as  well  as  the  analyses 
using  automated  vessel  detection  and 
identification 
through the integration in the EFCA Marsurv Service.

This was done for pre-defined areas in the North Atlantic 
(NAFO/NEAFC  and  Western  Waters)  as  well  as  in  the 
Baltic Sea in support of operational coordination activities 
and in close cooperation with the relevant Member States.
A total of 276 SAR satellite pictures of various resolutions 
were  analysed  and  about  2750  vessels  detected  using 
Vessel Detection Systems (VDS) technology. 

The experience gained during these exercises has proved 
to be very useful in view of further refining vessel detection 
and correlation parameters. 

Contact Group of EU agencies on migrant smuggling

the 

light  of 

the  current  migration  crisis 

the 
In 
Mediterranean Sea, EFCA is also a Member of the Contact 
Group  of  EU  agencies  on  migrant  smuggling.  This  year 
EFCA participated in all three meetings of which two were 
videoconferences. 

in 

I  -  Active  participation  and  expert  input  in  the 
Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) 
project,  attendance  to  the  TAG  and  associated 
project meetings
EFCA is a full member of the Technical Advisory Group 
(TAG)  of  the  CISE  and,  as  such,  contributes  to  the 
development of the shared environment. In 2016 there 
was only one TAG meeting scheduled which was held 
on 17 June.

EFCA also participates in the EUCISE2020 project as an 
independent  entity.  EUCISE2020  is  a  security  research 
project of the European 7th Framework Program; it aims at 
achieving the pre-operational information sharing between 
the  maritime  authorities  of  the  European  states.  It  is  an 
important milestone in the roadmap for implementation of 
the European CISE. 

J - Effective information sharing and exchange of 
best  practices  in  the  framework  of  IMP  and  inter-
agency cooperation
The  long-standing  cooperation  between  the  three 
EU  agencies  with  core  activities  in  the  maritime 
domain,  Frontex,  EMSA  and  EFCA,  has  led  to  a 
regular exchange of information regarding operational 
activities,  experiences,  best  practices  and  the  latest 
technologies.

EFCA  participated  in  all  the  European  Patrol  Network 
(EPN) meetings as well as in the European Day for Border 
Guards organised by Frontex. In addition, EFCA took part in 
a number of workshops and meetings organised by EMSA 
related to new technologies in Maritime Surveillance41.

Furthermore, EFCA, following the publication of the open 
call for the procurement of Sat-AIS data services by EMSA, 
assisted in the evaluation of the offers for the provision of 
satellite  AIS  information.  As  a  result,  EFCA  through  the 
integration of this information in the EFCA Marsurv Service 
is, since 1 September 2016, able to provide a high volume 
of validated Sat-AIS vessel position data to MS’ fisheries 
control authorities.

41 For details please see table under heading “User defined application IT tools for the provision of an integrated maritime awareness picture” under section 1.2.4.

56

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyDetail of activities with EFCA participation in the Inter-agency cooperation: 

Organised by

Place

Date

Detail

Inter-agency

Brussels

01 March

4th meeting of Contact Group of EU agencies on migrant smuggling

Frontex

Serock

24 May

European Day for Border Guards

Frontex

Helsinki

31 May-02 Jun

EPN General meeting

Inter-agency

Brussels

06 July

5th meeting of Contact Group of EU agencies on migrant smuggling

Frontex

Kołobrzeg

14 September

Eurosur Fusion Services Baltic Exercise 2016

EMSA

EMSA

Lisbon

15 October

6th IMDatE User Consultation meeting

Lisbon

28-29 October

Workshop "Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for maritime surveillance"

Frontex

Warsaw

08 November

EPN General meeting

Inter-agency

Brussels

10 November

6th meeting of Contact Group of EU agencies on migrant smuggling

EFCA also participated in the following inter-agency forums in the IT domain: 

Meeting

27th ICTAC

28th ICTAC

Place

Alicante

Alicante

Date

26-27 May 2016

13-14 October 2016

K - Provision to the Member States of the EFCA EIR 
system as a “software as a service” and analysis 
of the feasibility of expanding the concept to other 
EFCA applications
Belgium  is  the  first  user  of  the  EFCA  EIR  system  as 
“software as a service”. 

L  -  A  smart  CCIC  concept  providing  access  to 
Member  States  to  maritime  information  systems 
and  applications,  in  line  with  the  operational  and 
user requirements

The suite of available operational systemss is as follows:

•   EFCA Fishnet

The  system  is  a  secure  collaboration  portal  used  for 
accessing  the  other  operational  applications  within  the 
EFCA-FIS. It was originally designed to provide the single-
sign-on means of access to the EFCA suite of applications. 

It is a modular web-based system that provides a virtual 
office-like  environment  designed  to  support  the  transfer 
of  information  by  various  means  such  as  voice,  video, 
email  and  instant  messaging.  It  also  includes  tools  for 
collaborative document writing, a calendar and a mission 
planner.  As  in  previous  years,  Fishnet  was  used  for 
operational coordination during the JDPs. However, during 
2015 the use of the system was extended to also include 
the distribution of documents to the EFCA Administrative 
Board  meetings,  external  experts  and  Regional  Groups. 
During the last part of 2016, EFCA commissioned a study 
to  review  the  Big  Blue  Button  (BBB)  video  conferencing 
(VC)  component  within  Fishnet  in  order  to  assess  its 
continued suitability. Following this review, it was decided 
to continue with the Big Blue Button tool but to upgrade to 
a  later  version  to  provide  increased  security.  In  addition, 
the review also suggested including an additional VC tool 
within Fishnet to provide users with a choice of VC options.  
by the relevant SCIPs. During 2015, EFCA received and 
processed approximately 21 million VMS positions.

57

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency•   EFCA Electronic Recording and Reporting System (EFCA-ERS)

The EFCA-ERS was delivered in early 2013 and is primarily designed to pool and share MS’ ERS data in the framework 
of the JDPs. ERS data is now a central component in the control and monitoring of fishing activity with timely access 
to this data being essential in coordinated control operations. As can be seen from the figure below, almost one million 
PULL requests to MS’ systems were generated from the EFCA ERS during 2016. This led to the accumulation of a vast 
volume of JDP specific data, which was then made available to all participants in that JDP. During the year, EFCA was 
an active participant in the EU led Fishing Activities Sub-Working Group which worked on finalising the next version of 
ERS, as well as the COM led ‘VMS/ERS Viewer’ Business Implementation Group (BIG). For the year 2016 the statistics 
can be summarised as follows: 

•   EFCA Vessel Monitoring System (EFCA-VMS)

•   EFCA Electronic Inspection Report System (EFCA-EIR)

EFCA has continued to use the Visma vTrack system as 
the  EFCA-VMS  and  the  system  remains  an  extremely 
valuable tool for planning and coordination. As can be seen 
from  the  statistics  below,  the  volume  of  VMS  messages 
being processed by the EFCA VMS continues to increase 
with more than 23 million messages received and a similar 
number of messages forwarded to EMSA/Frontex.

Number of VMS messages received (in millions)

The EFCA EIR system is designed to receive and parse 
EIR  messages  and  allow  for  their  automated  exchange 
between Member States. The system is primarily designed 
to exchange data via the FLUX Transportation Layer (TL), 
but also has the capacity to exchange messages directly 
with  a  MS,  as  well  as  permitting  data  to  be  uploaded 
remotely  (manually  or  via  XML  entry)  in  the  MS.  Tests 
have been performed for the automated FLUX TL update 
between  a  number  of  Member  States  and  EFCA.  EFCA 
also  offered  EIR  as  "software  as  a  service"  to  Member 
States  and,  as  described  above,  one  Member  State  is 
currently using it as its own national system. 

As outlined above, EFCA has been chairing the EIRWG and 
the work of that group will culminate with the publication of 
a  new  UN/CEFACT  XSD  (XML  Schema  Definition). This 
should  facilitate  the  resumption  of  EIR  data  exchange 
testing  leading  to  the  exchange  of  electronic  inspection 
and surveillance data.  

58

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyM - Participate in and follow research projects that explore the use of Earth Observation (EO) data 
EFCA  continued  to  monitor  developments  with  regards  to  EO  technologies  and  their  applicability  for  fisheries 
monitoring and control purposes. With Copernicus services being rolled out for operational use, Earth Observation 
data is now easily accessible and available on a large scale for fisheries monitoring and surveillance. EFCA’s research 
is now focusing on how to make best use of the various Earth Observation deliverables in support of Member States 
and EFCA’s operational tasks.

EFCA is working in close cooperation with EMSA to define acquisition schedules and to refine detection capability needs. 
In cooperation with relevant Member States, a specific campaign was set up in the Baltic Sea to compare the results of 
vessel detections by synthetic aperture radar and optical satellite images with ground truth information collected by air 
surveillance means in the same area at the same time. Results of this campaign will be used to further improve vessel 
detection capabilities using Copernicus services. 

Performance Indicators

EFCA applications developed, enhanced, upgraded and implemented accor-
ding to planning

Project Plan approved

Project Plan created and agreed

Project Management Scoreboard

Target

95%

Sep-2016

Oct-2016

The progress of 100% of the ongoing projects in the 
DMN-section shall be monitored in a scoreboard

Meetings minutes prepared, and circulated along with all associated docu-
ments

100% of the meetings shall be documented

Participation to TAG meetings (CISE)

60% attendance to meetings and seminars

Attendance to inter-agency maritime workshops and seminars

60%

Achieved

100%

100%

100%42 

100%

100%

83%

100%

User evaluation on availability of maritime applications and tools at EFCA 
Operations Coordination Centre

> 90% satisfaction by participating MS

98%43 

1.2.5. Training

Standard Budget

ABMS 1.5

Staff

Planned

394.000€

1.496.526€

Consumed

270.454€

1.232.729€

Implementation rate / 
staff variation

69%

82%

AD

AST

SNE

CA

AD

AST

SNE

CA

AD

AST

SNE

CA

0.5

4.5

1

0.5

4.1

0.4

-0.4

-0.6

Note: Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of this fund source (R0 fund source).

42 It was approved during the IUU SG meeting in Vigo on 8 November 2016.
43 Based on interaction with users.

59

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyPlanned

Training of Union inspectors (before first deployment)

DELIVERABLES 

Advanced workshop(s) and best practice meetings for Member States’ Union inspectors (regional/national level)

Workshop and seminars for Member States’ IUU competent authorities

In concert with Member States:
- Create a general e-learning course with descriptions and purpose for Union Inspectors before first deployment 
- Create specialised e-learning courses for Union inspectors

Participation in Member States national IUU training seminars on request

Determine the needs of support from EFCA in Member State´s national training services

Collaboration with Frontex, EMSA and other related agencies and bodies or fora in the process of establishing a European Coast Guard 
Capacity in the area of capacity building

- Core Curricula update of existing manuals
- Regionalised Core Curricula for Union inspectors

- Assistance to third countries in the development of inspection training programmes and/or training manuals for trainers on EC request
- Assistance to third countries on request of the EC

Multiannual index to be used as a tendency for compliance evaluation purposes

Number of attendees to regional workshops by EFCA including by e-training

IUU training sessions and seminars number of participants, including by e-training

Achieved

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Achieved

361 

9044 

Introduction
In accordance with its mandate and AWP objectives, EFCA 
has given guidance to Member States, has facilitated the 
exchange of best practices and has updated CC training 
courses.  Furthermore,  EFCA  has  provided  assistance 
to  the  European  Commission  to  cooperate  with  third 
countries.

Objective

1.  Uniform  and  effective  implementation  of  the  CFP 
rules by Union inspectors and MS control services.
2.  Establish  a  Union  inspector  e-learning  programme 
tailored to MS’ requirements.
3.  Provide  guidance  and  facilitate  the  exchange  of 
best  practices  for  building  MS’  capacities  in  the  areas 
of  training  and  to  provide  input  to  the  process  of 
establishing a European Coast Guard Capacity.
4. The use and application of Core Curricula in Member 
States in support of their national training activities. 
5. Assist the EC to cooperate with third countries.

44 18 newcomers, 19 advanced, 28 in the training hosted by Malta and 25 in the plenary session. 

60

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyMain activity results

Front page of the EFCA e-learning platform

A - CC updating
To  give  effect  to  its  coordination  duties  and  legal 
obligations, EFCA supports Member States in designing 
a training programme for trainers and Union inspectors. 
A priority in the development of training programmes is 
to  create  and  make  available  reference  materials  for 
the training of the trainers of the inspectorates and of 
Union inspectors before their first deployment, the CC.

In  2016,  EFCA  completed  the  updating  of  CC  volume  1 
(Inspection at sea) and Volume 2 (Port inspection-Landing 
module)  respectively  published  in  2013  and  2014  with 
the  support  of  the  WGTEE  and  SGTEE.  The  updating 
process mainly included the new legal provisions resulting 
from  the  CFP  reform  (landing  obligation,  discard  plans, 
regionalisation),  with  a  focus  for  Union  inspectors  on 
legislations applicable to specific stocks/areas.

This  updated  material  has  been  made  available  in  an 
electronic  version  on  the  Core  Curricula  Development 
Platform (CCDP).  

B - E-learning tutorials
EFCA  developed  and  published  on  its  e-learning 
platform  interactive  tutorials  for  Union  inspectors 
based  on  the  structure  and  content  of  the  updated 
version  of  the  CC  Volume  1  (Inspection  at  sea)  and 
Volume 2 (Port inspection). Other training material was 
made  available  on  this  platform,  in  particular  video 
tutorials,  templates  and  presentations  used  by  EFCA 
during  its  training  activities.  At  the  end  of  2016,  150 
users from Member States, the European Commission 
and EFCA staff were registered on the platform. EFCA 
also worked on the development of e-learning modules 
for  inspectors  from  third  countries,  in  particular  from 
SFPAs. 

C  -  Training  to  Member  States/Exchange  of  best 
practices
In 2016, in accordance with its training calendar, EFCA 
continued  to  provide  training  to  Member  States  and 
to  promote  “exchanges”  between  Member  States’ 
Union  inspectors  in  the  context  of  JDP  operations, 
both at sea and on land (for more details see section 
1.1.1 Implementation of JDPs). These training events 
took  place  throughout  the  year  and  mainly  covered 
tasks  carried  out  by  Union  inspectors  deployed  in 
the framework of JDPs, as well as specific training in 
relation to the IUU Regulation and the EFCA FIS.

During 2016, regional workshops for inspectors in all JDPs 
have been organised and delivered by EFCA with focus on 
the standardisation of inspections and in an effort towards 
achieving a level playing field. EFCA has also participated 
in  training  sessions  in  support  of  MS  for  the  uniform 
implementation of the Landing Obligation in the different 
regions. A summary table of training events organised in 
2016 by EFCA is attached in Annex I to this report.

61

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyD - MS training needs
EFCA  circulated 
to  Member  States’  SGTEE 
representatives  an  on-line  questionnaire  in  order  to 
determine  the  possible  need  for  support  from  EFCA 
in  Member  State´s  national  training  services.  EFCA 
received  feedback  from  19  Member  States.  The  vast 
majority (18) of the Member States which replied to the 
survey confirmed they already use or plan to use the CC 
courses as reference material in their national training 
activities. Also,  as  regards  EFCA  possible  assistance 
on  the  use  of  CC  courses  by  trainers,  13  Member 
States  expressed  their  interest.  Finally,  11  Member 
States provided information on specific training topics 
that could possibly be covered with EFCA assistance.

E - Contribution to EUCG Pilot Project
Under  Task  3  “Capacity  Building”  of  the  EU  Coast 
the 
Guard  Pilot  Project,  EFCA  has  coordinated 
development, together with Frontex and EMSA, of an 
outline of guidelines on inter-EU agencies operational 
collaboration.  As  part  of  this  exercise,  a  preliminary 
assessment  for  the  common  areas  of  interest  for 
training  and  capacity  building  projects  as  well  as 
voluntary staff exchange was initiated during an Inter-
agency workshop held in Lisbon on 20-21 April 2016. 
Background  material  was  also  collected  by  the  three 
agencies  for  the  experts  selected/designated  for  the 
drafting of the outline of Guidelines. As a result, a first 
draft  outline  has  been  prepared  and  submitted  to  the 
three  agencies  in  December  2016,  together  with  the 
interim report prepared for the EUCG Pilot Project.

62

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyF - Training to third countries on Commission request
In 2016, EFCA has assisted the European Commission to train officials from Liberia in matters relating to monitoring 
and inspection methodologies in the framework of SFPAs concluded between the European Union and that country. 
Training given by EFCA mainly covered FMC functions e.g. remote monitoring through tools such as VMS and AIS 
and other fisheries control related topics. This on-the-spot training was provided with the assistance of a Member 
State expert from Spain.

As regards IUU, at the request of the European Commission, EFCA participated in a training session in Thailand on 
the implementation of the EU catch certification scheme. EFCA has also finalised the development of a specific training 
handbook for fisheries inspectors from third countries, in particular from SFPAs.

Performance Indicators

Percentage of Union inspectors concerned trained by EFCA

By region/JDP:
-Number of workshops and best practice meeting delivered
-Union inspectors attending workshops attendees satisfaction
-Percentage of EU-NAFO/NEAFC inspectors at sea trained
-Percentage of EU-ICCAT inspectors at sea trained

Training for MS on IUU: 
IUU workshops and seminars satisfaction rate

Target

10%

At least 1 by region
Attendees satisfaction (good or very good) >80%
50%
50%

Achieved

11,95%

Yes45 
91%
76%
100%

Attendees satisfaction (good or very good) >80%

100%

Number of e-learning courses

3 courses available on e-learning platform

Number of training seminars in MS upon their request

Number of MS providing feedback

4

50%

Timely delivery of EFCA input to the interim report of the EUGC Pilot Project. Task 3

Dec-2016

CC courses implemented:
-Number of MS using CC training material (Inspection at sea, Port inspection and 
General principles & specific types of inspection)

>80% of coastal MS over a period of three years 
(60% for 2016)

Updated/regionalised CC courses published: Inspection at sea and Port inspection

Published by Q4

Development of a standard training e-learning course for basic fisheries inspection.

Number of missions on EC request

100%

3

15

146

68%

100%

61%

100%

90%47 

248 

45 17 for the 5 regions.
46 EFCA only had one request in 2016.
47 Final delivery 2017.
48 EFCA only had two requests in 2016.

63

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency1.3. Governance and representation

Standard Budget

ABMS 2

Planned

204.000€

1.044.229€

Consumed

213.820€

1.102.448€

Implementation rate / 
staff variation

105%

106%

 Note: Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of this fund source (R0 fund source).

1.3.1. Administrative Board

Planned

Agency Administrative Board Decisions

DELIVERABLES 

Agency Multiannual work programme, Annual work programme and Annual Report

Adoption of the Budget and the Accounts 

Adoption of the Multiannual Staff Policy Plan; Endorsement and/or support of the activities carried out by the Agency in the 
development of its mission 

Annual Declaration of interest of the Administrative Board members submitted before the year end 

Achieved

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Introduction

The  Administrative  Board  is  the  main  governing  and 
controlling body of EFCA. It is composed of six members 
representing 
the  European  Commission  and  one 
representative per Member State. 

Objective

As the main governing body of the Agency, the foremost 
objective  of  the  Administrative  Board  is  to  ensure  the 
correct and effective functioning of the Agency.

Main activity results

In 2016, three meetings of the Administrative Board were 
held in Vigo; the 24th meeting of the Administrative Board 
was held on 10 March, the 25th meeting on 21 June and 
the 26th meeting on 11 October.

In  March,  the  Administrative  Board  adopted,  amongst 
other, the Annual Report 2015 and the implementing rules 
to  the  Financial  Regulation;  the  amendment  to  the  AB 
decisions  concerning  the  adoption  of  MWP  2016-2020 
and AWP  2016  and  Final  Budget  of  EFCA  for  2016  and 

the  amendment  to  the AB  decision  on  the  policy  on  the 
prevention and management of conflicts of interest of the 
EFCA;  it  approved  the  extension  of  the  term  of  office  of 
the Agency’s Executive Director for a period of five years. 

In June, the Administrative Board voted for an amendment 
to  the AB  decision  concerning  the  adoption  of  the  MWP 
2016-2020 and AWP 2016 and Final Budget of EFCA for 
2016, the EFCA Final Annual Accounts for 2015 and the 
Staff Regulation implementing rules;

In October, the Administrative Board moved forward with 
the adoption of the EFCA Single Programming Document 
(SPD)  containing  the  MWP  2017-2021  and  the AWP  for 
2017,  together  with  the  Final  Budget  and  Establishment 
Plan of EFCA for year 2017; furthermore the Administrative 
Board adopted the draft SPD containing the MWP 2018-
2022 and the AWP 2018, to be updated with the year-end 
information at the beginning of 2017; the Staff Regulation 
Implementing Rules were also adopted. Last but not least, 
the  Administrative  Board  appointed  a  new  Accounting 
Officer and the reporting officers for the annual appraisal 
of the ED. 

64

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAll the annual written declarations of interests (DoI) have been carefully monitored by EFCA. However it is noted that, 
by end 2016, two AB members had not yet submitted their DoI. 

Target

2 Meetings

Achieved

3 Meetings

Performance Indicators

Number of Administrative Board meetings

Preparation and notification of the Board decisions in due course

Preparation and notification of the Board Agency, MWP, AWP and Annual Report in due course

Preparation, adoption and notification of Budget and the Accounts in due course

Preparation, adoption and notification of Multiannual Staff Policy Plan in due course

Preparation of briefings and/or notes addressed to the Administrative Board

Monitoring the submission to EFCA of Annual written declarations of interests of Administrative 
Board members to ensure a proper control of those declarations of interest and compliance with 
legal obligations

1.3.2. Advisory Board

Planned

DELIVERABLES 

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

94%

Achieved

Yes

Advisory Board advice regarding the Multiannual and Annual work programme of the Agency, containing the main concerns, 
needs and priorities of the stakeholders to be considered in the Agency field of action.

Introduction

The  Advisory  Board  is  composed  of  representatives  of 
the Advisory Councils, on the basis of one representative 
designated by each Advisory Council. The meetings of the 
Advisory Board are chaired by the Executive Director.

Objective

The Advisory Board advises the Executive Director of the 
Agency and ensures close cooperation with stakeholders. 

Main activity results

The  Advisory  Board,  composed  of  one  representative  of 
each  Advisory  Council  (AC),  met  twice  in  2015,  prior  to 
the  Administrative  Board  meetings,  in  Brussels  on  18  of 
February and in Vigo on 8 of September. 

A  representative  of  the  Advisory  Board  takes  part  in  the 
deliberations of the Administrative Board meetings without 
the right to vote. The Advisory Board representative in the 

From 02 March 2016 to 01 March 2017 the representative 
of  the  Advisory  Board  was  Mr  Gianpaolo  Buonfiglio, 
Mediterranean  Advisory  Council,  and  the  alternates  Ms 
Purificación del C. Fernández Álvarez/Mr Julien Lamothe, 
North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council.

The  Advisory  Councils  are  stakeholder  organisations 
composed  of  representatives  from  the  industry  and  other 
groups of interest. In addition to the seven existing Advisory 
Councils below, the reformed CFP foresees the creation of 
four new Advisory Councils for the Black Sea, Aquaculture, 
Markets and Outermost regions.

•  Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC)
•  South Western Waters Advisory Council (SWWAC)
• 
Long Distance Advisory Council (LDAC)
•  Mediterranean Advisory Council (MEDAC)
•  Pelagic Advisory Council (Pelagic AC)
•  North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC)
•  North Sea Advisory Council (NSAC)

65

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agencyin  EFCA’s 
The  Advisory  Councils  are  embedded 
Communication  strategy  as  key  partners.    They  provide 
the  European  Commission  and  EU  countries  with 
recommendations on fisheries management matters.

The  EFCA  participates  in  the  relevant  meetings  of 
the  executive  committees  and  workings  groups  of  the 
Advisory Councils when there are issues referring to EFCA 
competences in the agendas.

Performance Indicators

Number of Advisory Board meetings 

Advisory Board conclusions to be prepared, delivered and notified to the Advisory and 
Administrative Board in due course

1.3.3. Representation and Networks

DELIVERABLES

Planned

Attendance to relevant meetings for the Agency

Contribution to drafting positions in the field of the inter-agency working groups

Presentations and briefings delivered in the different meetings

Briefings and documents issued to inform the institutional bodies and third parties

Target

2 Meetings

Achieved

2 Meetings

100%

100%

Achieved

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Introduction

EFCA  is  represented  in  the  relevant  institutional  partners 
meetings as well as EU networks.

Objective

Ensure  Agency  representation,  cooperation,  dialogue  and 
transparency  with  other  institutional  bodies,  EU  agencies 
and third parties.

Main activity results

EFCA  attended  the  meetings  convened  by  the  European 
Commission,  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council 
where its presence was desirable, required or in the interest 
of the Agency.

EFCA  Executive  Director  attended  on  17  February  2016 
a  meeting  of  the  Committee  on  Fisheries  of  the  European 
Parliament,  where  he  spoke  regarding 
issue  of 
“Harmonising fisheries controls in Europe”. Prior to that, on 
10 December 2015, he made a presentation of the EFCA’s 
WP 2016 followed by an exchange of views with him. 
Throughout  2016,  EFCA  participated  in  meetings  of  the 
Executive  Committees  of  the  ACs,  especially  in  those 

the 

of  the  ACs  affected  by  the  Joint  Deployment  Plans 
adopted by EFCA. The Agency also participated in the AC 
Working Groups, but solely when issues referring to EFCA 
competences were included in the agendas of the relevant 
meetings.

On horizontal matters, the inter-agency cooperation network 
coordinates the relations between Agencies, the Commission 
and the European Parliament. In this context, the Executive 
Director  and  the  Head  of  Unit  Resources  attended  the 
various meetings held at managerial level. In 2016, the Head 
of Unit Resources participated in a network Task force on the 
strategy  for  Shared  Services  amongst  agencies.  Likewise, 
Agency staff met their counterparts through specific technical 
networks:  Procurement  (NAPO),  Communication,  Data 
protection, Legal (IALN), IT, the Performance Development 
Network (PDN) and Accounting (IAAN). 

Noteworthy  is  the  contribution  of  EFCA  to  the  Roadmap 
proposed by the European Commission following the tripartite 
Approach  on  EU  decentralised  agencies  endorsed  by  the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission 
in  July  2012.  EFCA  has  contributed  to  the  roadmap 
implementation  through  the  EU  Agencies  Performance 
Development  Network  (PDN)  to  find  synergies  and  to 

66

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agencyoptimise  the  available  resources.  The  PDN  has  worked, 
among  other  areas,  in  finding  efficiencies  in  the  templates 
and procedure related to the Single Programming Document 
and  Consolidated  Annual  Reports  for  agencies,  sharing 
experiences in ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of activities, 

and continues to look into different systems or tools to enable 
agencies using Activity Based Management Systems. 

The  Agency  was  also  represented  on  the  Board  of  the 
Translation Centre in Luxembourg.

Performance Indicators

Rate of participation on the Heads of Agencies and Heads of Administration

Target 

2 Meetings

List of meetings where EFCA has participated to be communicated to the 
Administrative Board

Twice a year under the Information from the ED provided 
to the Administrative Board during the Board meetings

1.3.4. Communication

Planned

Stakeholders visits to the Agency

Raising awareness campaigns for stakeholders

DELIVERABLES

Ensuring the quality and timeliness of EFCA’s website content and other online presence.

Stand, Agency staff presence, promotional material at the Seafood Exposition in Brussels, the Maritime Day or other relevant fairs

Participation in EU activities on the CFP and particularly Control such as information seminars, press conferences or fairs as well as 
contributing to the dissemination of the EU project

Layout and distribution of the main publications of the Agency 

Effective Communication tools available for trainings, visits, fairs, presentations, etc.

Strong media relations on the topics covered by the Agency by issuing press releases, having phone contact 

Main Agency supports apply the corporate visual identity

Communication of EFCA results on the Agency web site

Presence on EFCA social media networks: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Organisation of a local event with vast institutional presence and media coverage

Organisation of visits of the local stakeholders to Agency office

Presentations to EU stakeholders, especially those involved in EFCA work

Holding staff meetings after the Administrative Board meetings as well as when there are major developments within the EFCA

Keep updated a collaborative intranet which will boost communication

Organise social events that can favour cross-unit and informal communication (e.g. lunch time conferences…)

Achieved

3 Meetings

2 Debriefings

Achieved

Yes

Yes

Partially49

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Introduction

The Communication Policy warrants that these activities are well known for the partners and stakeholders working with 
the Agency as well as for its target audiences.

Objective

Each target audience responds to a communication objective:

•  Stakeholders: promote a culture of compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.
•  General public: contribute and support the Communication Strategy defined by the European Commission in the CFP 

and particularly with regard to fisheries control.

49 Achieved with the only exception of the Seafood Exposition in Brussels.

67

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencySeveral  visits  were  organised  to  EFCA,  inter  alia  a  group 
of  students  from  the  University  of  Alicante's  International 
Master in Sustainable Fisheries Management on 12 May. To 
mark institutional relations, the Director General of Maritime 
and Fisheries Affairs of the European Commission, Mr Joao 
Aguiar Machado, visited the headquarters on 14 June, and 
the Member of the European Parliament Ms Clara Aguilera, 
on  27  July.  Two  vessels  of  the  Irish  Naval  Service  were 
welcomed by EFCA while visiting Vigo in 2016; the first on 03 
June (LE Aisling) and the second on 10 October (LE Roisin). 
Also  in  October,  the  Irish  Flag  Officer  Commanding  Naval 
Service (FOCNS) paid an official visit to the Agency.

Due  to  the  interagency  agreements  with  Frontex  and  the 
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the EFCA also 
welcomed  a  representative  from  the  coast  guard  service 
of the regional government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia), in 
relation to the new coast guard cooperation. As agreed in the 
Annual  Communication  Plan  for  2016,  the Annual  Report, 
MWP and AWP were printed and distributed. Additionally, the 
“mission and objectives” page of the website was translated 
into all EU languages.

• 
• 

Local public: foster the EU values locally.
Institutional  actors:  raising  awareness  about  EFCA’s 
work and ensure a fluent information flow.
•  EFCA staff: keep them informed and involved.

Main activity results

Throughout  2016,  several  activities  were  carried  out 
in  support  of  the  objectives  of  the  EFCA.  In  support  of 
the  Communication  Strategy  defined  by  the  European 
Commission,  the  EFCA  celebrated  Europe  Day  with  local 
stakeholders in Vigo. The event was attended by prominent 
regional  and  local  authorities  as  well  as  other  fisheries 
stakeholders  and  representatives  of  the  civil  society  and 
was  widely  covered  in  the  regional  press.  The  EFCA  also 
participated  to  the  European  Maritime  Day  2016  in  Turku, 
Finland.

In order to visualise the work carried out by the Agency, the 
EFCA  sponsored  a  mural  in  Vigo.  This  piece  of  public  art 
helps convey a message of the sustainability of the ocean. 
This initiative was made possible thanks to the agreement of 
the City Council, in line with the aim to develop cooperation 
at a local level. The paintings were inaugurated in October 
at the same time that a corporate video was released, which 
was  filmed  during  the  making  of  the  mural. To  correspond 
with  World  Oceans  Day,  a  photo  contest  under  the  theme 
“Wonders  of  the  Ocean”  was  organised.  The  contest  took 
place on 8 June. EFCA temporary agents, contract agents, 
national experts, external service providers and trainees, as 
well as their families, participated in the event. 

Performance Indicators

Number of visits to the EFCA by stakeholders

Publications produced

Number of visits to the EFCA website (Average/month)

Number of informative sessions where the EU/CFP is addressed with a local audience

Number of presentations to institutional actors

Meetings with staff when relevant

Level of satisfaction with EFCA intranet51

Target

Achieved

6

2

4.000

3

6

2

950

2

4.533

5

9

5

Satisfactory

Satisfactory

50 Operational visits and those corresponding to another heading are excluded.
51 Survey carried out in July 2016.

68

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency Part II. Horizontal support

2.1. Major events

EFCA  maintains  the  objective  to  improve  the  efficiency  of 
the  administrative  procedures  underpinning  the  horizontal 
support.  It  strives  to  maximise  synergy  by  searching 
solutions  with  the  highest  level  of  integration  with  existing 
systems  (ABAC)  along  with  lowest  cost  of  customisation 
and maintenance (systems developed by the EC).

• 

In 2016 the following important steps were achieved:In 
the area of e-administration:

-  E-Prior  and  ABAC  Assets  Order  implementation. 
In e-submission (electronic tendering) all open calls 
have been carried out fully electronically; order forms 
are now being prepared and circulated electronically 
and the main local suppliers have been prepared to 
use e-Invoicing starting in 2017. 

-  ABAC  Contracts.  The  contract  management  tool 
ABAC  Contracts  has  been  implemented  for  the 
registration and follow up of the framework contracts. 
The integration with the rest of the modules of ABAC 
has  been  one  of  the  main  reasons  for  adding  this 
module to the other existing ABAC modules in EFCA.

-  MIPS  (Mission  management  system).  EFCA  has 
been the first decentralised agency (without Sysper) 
to implement the mission management system of the 
Commission, deployed in November 2016, leading to 
a major reduction in use of paper forms and multiple 
data  entry;  use  of  MIPS  also  means  an  automatic 
link  with ABAC  for  the  payment  requests  related  to 
the mission expenses, and is expected to lead to a 
reduction in calculation errors.

- Sysper2 (HR IT tool). EFCA is amongst the first wave 
of agencies where Sysper2 will be implemented and 
has signed the related Service Level Agreement with 
the Commission (DG HR) in November 2016.

•   Following  the  proposal  of  the  Commission  to  amend 
the founding regulation for the European Coast Guard 
Function,  significant  administrative  preparation  has 

been carried out: a detailed recruitment plan has been 
implemented  as  well  as  a  detailed  estimation  of  staff, 
building and equipment expenditure increase due to the 
new resources starting in 2017.

• 

• 

In the area of BCP (Business Continuity Plan), EFCA 
has carried out a first drill exercise in 2016; in October 
EFCA  signed  a  key  agreement  with  EUIPO  (EU 
Intellectual Property Office) in Alicante for provision of 
disaster recovery services for its information systems; 
this will enable EFCA to run backup services from the 
EUIPO installation in the event of a serious problem on 
the EFCA site; EFCA has also agreed a site in Vigo for 
backup offices and equipment with local providers.

Further  rationalisation  efforts  have  been  made  in  the 
financial management area. In addition to the efficiency 
identified  already  with  the  new  ordering  and  contract 
management systems, the ex-ante verification has been 
further  substituted  with  ex-post  quarterly  verifications; 
also  some  simple,  low  risk  transactions  have  been 
processed paperless with the ABAC system. 

•  Other areas of importance during 2016 have been linked 
to  the  ongoing  focus  of  the  IIWG  2  (Inter-institutional 
working  group)  in  relation  to  efficiency  gains,  and  the 
Five-year  independent  external  evaluation  of  EFCA; 
while  EFCA  has  fulfilled  the  various  requirements  for 
action from the Common approach, and is maximising 
synergy through projects such as the e-administration, 
further  initiatives  can  be  expected  for  benchmarking 
and the drive to find further synergies and efficiencies 
with the Commission and other Agencies; the Five-year 
independent external evaluation exercise started in May 
2016  and  also  looked  at  administrative  performance 
and  Unit  Resources  and  IT  provided  support  for  the 
project during the course of the exercise.

69

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyPlanned

Achieved

DELIVERABLES

Continue with the e-administration project already started in 2015 which will contribute to the greater efficiency in the administration

Follow up of the Common Approach roadmap implementation

Follow up on the IAS, ECA and IAC recommendations

Motivate synergies with other agencies in the administrative procedures

Financial Initiation of all financial transactions. 

Verification of commitment and payment files

Organising and executing transfers

Providing forecasting, implementation and monitoring on budget execution

Budget programming and Activity Based Budgeting

Reporting on budget programming and implementation

Follow up on the FR and RAP applicable

Year-end procedure and carry forward of appropriations

Contribute to the e-administration project to achieve higher efficiency and reliability of information

Coordinating procurement

Advising on and verifying contracts and procurement procedures

Providing legal advice to the Executive Director and the units

Internal application of Data Protection Regulation

Managing facilities and support services of the Agency

Reduce number of transactions by better planning needs and monitoring resources

Keep optimal level of security and safety for EFCA staff and other users by applying adequate security and safety measures

Keep the ASSETS management  updated and proceed to regular checks (Assets registration, physical tracking, declassification, etc)

Monitor the impact of the Agency on the environment, assess and compare with standards, improve or limit where possible

Manage staff selections, recruitments and departures

Manage rights and entitlements including salaries with PMO

Plan and organize training

Manage the traineeship scheme under the SLA with DG EAC

Coordinate the selection and the use of interim staff 

Prepare the staff related budget

Follow-up on the development of Implementing Rules of the Staff Regulations and their implementation

Maintain the Personnel file, follow-up of the staff contracts, issue certificates for staff, job descriptions and organisational chart, update of 
the HR & me content on Intranet

Coordinate the annual appraisal and reclassification exercise

Follow-up on corporate credit card, Medical card, local health insurance, tuition measures

Arrange the annual medical examinations for staff

Maintenance of IT infrastructure at EFCA

ICT Governance

Acquisitions of hardware and software

System maintenance

IT Security management

License handling for corporate and operational systems

Running of EFCA’s internal Service Desk

ICT Contract Management

70

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency2.2. Budgetary and financial management

Budget Implementation

The contribution of the EU budget to EFCA has been kept stable since 2012 at 9.2M€. In 2016, in addition to the subsidy 
contribution,  EFCA  received  2  grants  from  the  Commission  to  be  implemented  in  2016  and  2017  for  an  amount  of 
0.75M€, which following an amendment of EFCA´s budget, totalled 9.97M€ revenue in 2016.

The budget implementation, similar to the one in 2015, has been very close to full execution (99.6% in commitments). 
In the case of payments, EFCA implemented 88.5% of its payment appropriations from the subsidy, keeping it a very 
satisfactory level although a bit lower than in 2015. 

As regards the commitments carried forward from the previous year, the implementation is 95.3%, and the corresponding 
cancellation represents 0.4% of the payment appropriations of 2016. Considering all fund sources, the total cancellation 
of payment appropriations was 0.7%. The carry forward from 2016 to 2017 amounted to 11% of the total 2016 subsidy.

Budget implementation for commitments and payments 201652

VOTED BUDGET 2016

COMMITMENTS

PAYMENTS

TITLE

BUDGET 2016

Amounts 
transferred

ABAC CA (€)

Committed (€)

% exec

ABAC PA (€)

Paid (€)

% exec

TITLE I

TITLE II

TITLE III

6.149.000

-175.750

5.973.250

5.944.432

99.5%

5.973.250

5.878.147

1.330.000

282.250

1.612.250

1.607.448

99.7%

1.612.250

1.066.291

1.738.000

-106.500

1.631.500

1.631.017

100.0%

1.631.500

1.212.586

98%

66%

74%

TOTAL

9.217.000

0

9.217.000

9.182.897

99.6%

9.217.000

8.157.024

88.5%

The cancellation of payment appropriations53 in the budget of EFCA for 2016 was 66.136€ representing 0.7% of the total 
payment appropriations of 2016. This amount can be broken down as follows:

•  Non-used payment appropriations of 2016 is 32.033€;
•  Cancellation of payment appropriations carried over from 2015 (C8 fund source) is 34.103€.

The vast majority of payments were made within the legal targets in compliance with the Financial Regulation time limits 
and the average number of days for payment in 2016 was 22 days. There was no interest charged by suppliers for late 
payments.

52 Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of R0 fund source. 
53 After taking into account automatic as well as non-automatic carry overs of payment appropriations from 2015 (for EFCA in 2016, fund source C8 – appropriations 
carried over automatically). 

71

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyActivity Based Management information

In accordance with the Activity Based Management System (ABMS) approach approved by the Administrative Board on 
19 October 2010, the Annual Report 2016 is the seventh report implementing ABMS, adding the total estimated costs for 
each activity, direct and indirect. EFCA uses the following allocation methodology for the planning (AWP procedure) as 
well as for the implementation figures (AR procedure): 

•  Direct cost allocation. Part of the operational expenditure (Title III) is allocated directly to one of the activities (e.g. 
the budget line Data Monitoring and Networks is directly allocated to the activity Data Monitoring and Networks). 
Indirect cost allocation. The staff and overhead expenditure (Titles I and II) are allocated to the different activities 
based  on  different  drivers. The  main  driver  is  the  dedication  of  staff  to  each  activity,  which  is  weighted  with  the 
average cost for AD, AST and CA posts. 

• 

•  EFCA estimates its horizontal support costs separately, which are then distributed within each of the main activities 
based on the final weight in the total expenditure. The figures presented for the Activity Based Budgeting (ABB) 
(figures planned in the AWP 2016) and the Activity Based Costing (ABC) (2016 implementation figures) for each 
activity include the corresponding share of horizontal support expenditure. 

Considering the methodology explained above, the following table presents the budget (ABB) allocated to the activities 
and sub-activities as per AWP 2016, versus the final output of the real costs allocated to each activity (ABC) based on 
the actual budget implementation.

Activity Based Budget planned and implemented in 201654

Code

Activity

AWP 2016 

AR 2016 

% execution vs. planned

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

2

OPERATIONAL COORDINATION

8.172.771  

8,080,449  

Implementation of JDPs & Operational Plans

1.490.269  

1.358.904  

Level playing field enhancement

2.397.709  

2.577.143  

Programs, plans and assessment

1.085.760  

1.232.194  

Data Monitoring and Networks

1.702.507  

1.679.480  

Training 

1.496.526  

1.232.729  

GOVERNANCE AND REPRESENTATION

1.044.229

1.102.448

TOTAL

9.217.000  

9.182.897  

99%

91%

107%

113%

99%

82%

106%

100%

It needs to be noted that the results above do not include the implementation of the revenues received from the grants 
provided to EFCA in 2016. These grants have an implementation phase over one year, and will be finalised in 2017. For 
implementation information on the grants, please refer to Annex II (R0 fund source implementation).

The training expenditure has been lower than programmed due to the savings generated following the Administrative 
Board  Decision  of  the  amendment  of  the  rules  on  reimbursement  of  expenses  incurred  by  Member  States  experts 
attending EFCA trainings under the EMFF operational programmes. In addition, there was some reshuffling of certain 
staff in preparation of the new EUCG function to be put in place beginning of 2017, and there was additional efforts put 
into governance (an additional Administrative Board) with the same objective. 

54 Note: Revenue from grants not included. See Annex II for implementation of this fund source (R0 fund source).

72

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
2.3. Human Resources (HR) management

Personnel Selection and Recruitment
On 31 December 2016, the total number of EFCA staff in 
activity was 56 including 51 Temporary Agents (TA), and 5 
Contract Agents (CA). This means that the establishment 
plan was 100 % filled, and the number of CAs within the 
estimates. This is similar to the situation at the end of 2015. 
The  removal  of  a  third  post,  in  line  with  the  general  5% 
staff reduction foreseen in the Inter-institutional agreement 
for decentralised agencies55, was done in 2016. With this, 
EFCA has accomplished the general 5 % staff reduction.

Due  to  the  change  in  the  founding  regulation  EFCA 
was  granted  13  posts  for  the  associated  new  tasks  in 
the  establishment  plan  for  2017.  3  of  these  posts  will 
automatically  compensate  for  EFCA’s  contribution  to  the 
redeployment  pool  of  Agencies,  so  implying  that  EFCA 
will have made its full contribution to the pool, and the net 
overall increase in the establishment plan will be 10 posts. 
EFCA started from early summer in planning for recruiting 
to fill these posts. EFCA also recruited 4 short-term SNEs 
(until end 2016) and 1 more long-term SNE resulting in a 
volume of 38 man/months of usage during 2016 sourced 
by the EFCA budget, 32.5 man/months due to funding for 
the EU Coast Guard Pilot Project and 4 man/months due 
to funding for the IUU Marsurv Pilot Project.

External  personnel  were  used  for  replacement  with  total 
of 3.7 Full-Time Equivalents (FTE). Furthermore, external 
service  providers  were  used  for  delivering  specified 
structural services within the EFCA premises, in the areas 
of ICT and Logistics. The total of this amounted to 8.5 FTE.

Organizational development and staff structure
EFCA  has  carried  out  a  job  screening  exercise  for  2016 
following the methodology agreed with the EC. The jobs 
include  all  statutory  staff  as  well  as  external  service 
providers working intra-muros. The results are displayed 
in Annex VI allowing a comparative view on the allocation 
of  human  resources  with  the  previous  year.  Operational 
staff accounts for 59% of the total workforce.

As  in  the  previous  years  there  is  a  wide  composition  of 
staff  in  regard  to  nationalities  as  analysed  in  the  chart 
below. 

Including Seconded National Experts, nationals of 20 EU 
Member States were working at EFCA as of 31 December 
2016. This table by nature only includes posts filled.

Change management process

EFCA’s  internal  organisation  was  prepared  to  adapt  to 
the new changes and additional resources related to the 
amendment  of  EFCA’s  founding  regulation.  To  this  end, 
staff was informed in detail on 14 September 2016 of an 
upcoming  reorganisation  which  entered  into  force  on  02 
December  2016.  The  structure  of  the  new  organisation 
was  also  presented  to  the  Administrative  Board  during 
the meeting on 10 October 2016. The new organisational 
chart is reflected in Annex III. 

55 Communication on the programming of human and financial resources for decentralised agencies for 2014-2017, COM (2013) 519, 10.07.2013.

73

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agencygeneral  implementing  provisions  (GIP).  Following  the 
reclassification  exercise,  nine  staff  members  were 
reclassified.  2016  was  the  first  year  in  which  the 
reclassification  applied  to  Contract  Agents  as  well  as 
Temporary agents.

Traineeship

In cooperation with the Traineeship Office of the European 
Commission,  2  cycles  of  5-months  traineeships  were 
implemented.  Each  cycle 
traineeship 
opportunities which were allocated in all units. 

included 

four 

Training and Tuition

In-house  language  courses  and  training  sessions  on 
E-order,  ABAC  Assets  order  and  MIPS  were  provided 
throughout  the  year.  Figures  related  to  the  staff  training 
activities in 2016 are as follows: 

• 

• 
• 
• 

number  of  collective  courses  organised  in  the  EFCA 
premises: 7; 
number of external training courses followed: 16;
number of persons following language courses: 28;
average number of training days per staff member: 2.2.

The scheme concerning tuition provided to staff members’ 
children  in  the  Vigo  area  in  their  mother  tongue,  and 
support  for  English  and  Spanish  was  continued  in  2016 
with  an  increase  of  requests  after  the  summer  period. 
Spouses  continue  to  participate  in  Spanish  language 
classes organised in the Agency.

2.4. Budget implementation tasks entrusted to 
other services and entities

Based  on  a  service  level  agreement  (SLA)  with  the 
PMO,  EFCA  delegated  the  powers  of  determination 
of  entitlements  related  to  the  remuneration  of  its  staff 
to  PMO.  In  cooperation  with  the  PMO  services,  EFCA 
prepares and controls the processing and implements the 
final payments of the monthly payroll. 

Gender distribution among EFCA staff

EFCA  promotes  a  policy  of  equal  treatment  and  aims 
to  have  an  optimal  gender  balance  among  its  staff.  The 
Agency  has  an  equal  treatment  statement  included  in 
each vacancy notice published.

There  is  a  majority  of  male  staff  employed  in  Unit 
Operations,  among  experts  coming  from  a  traditionally 
male  domain. Also  a  majority  of  staff  of  grade AD8  and 
higher are males. On the other hand, there is a majority 
of  female  staff  under  the  Executive  Director  and  in  Unit 
Resources and IT. The overall percentage of female staff 
members is 38%. 

Personnel policies and procedures

intranet  platform  provides  HR-related 
The  EFCA 
information  with  webpages 
including  documents, 
templates and forms. Several new General Implementing 
Provisions  (GIP)  of  the  Staff  Regulations  were  adopted 
by the Administrative Board, inter alia on Reclassification, 
setting up a Staff Committee and Working time.

Appraisal and Reclassification

The  annual  appraisal  exercise  was  performed 
all  staff  members  and  under 

for 
the  newly  adopted 

74

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency2.5. Procurement

Following  the  proposal  of  the  Commission  to  amend 
the  founding  regulation  for  the  European  Coast  Guard 
Function, significant administrative preparation has been 
carried out. As regards a procurement procedure for the 
chartering of a vessel, no admissible tenders were received 
for a tender launched on 12 July 2016.  Consequently a 
new tender was launched on 27 December 2016. 

In  addition,  in  order  to  face  upcoming  increases  in  staff 
and  modern  office  space  needs,  an  open  call  for  tender 
was  launched  for  workplace  improvement  services  and 
office  equipment  (non  IT).  In  the  interest  of  optimising 
available  resources,  EFCA  joined  several  Commission 
inter-institutional  procurement  procedures  launched  by 
DG  HR  (2),  PMO  (2),  EPSO  (1),  DG  DIGIT  (6)  and  DG 
BUDG (1).

In  terms  of  inter-institutional  procurement  with  other 
agencies,  EFCA  joined  tenders  for  audit  services  led  by 

2.6. IT

The  project  for  establishing  an  Information  Security 
Management  System  (ISMS)  started  in  August  2016. 
The scope of the project was to create an implementation 
plan  for  establishing  an  ISMS  according  to  ISO  27000 
series  standards.  To  create  Information  Security  Policy, 
ISMS  Risk  Management  and  ISMS  related  policies  to 
compliment the Information Security Policy. In addition a 
detailed information asset inventory has been performed.

2.7. Facilities

EFSA, e-learning language courses organized by ESMA, 
Cloud  services  broker  contract  with  EFSA  and  maritime 
security and surveillance expertise organised by EASME. 
EFCA  expressed  its  interest  in  joining  legal  services 
tender possibly organised by FRA. Further information on 
procurement is available in Annex VII. 

EFCA  is  now  using  the  e-Submission  module  from  the 
e-Prior platform (DG DIGIT) for managing calls for tender, 
which  consists  of  the  electronic  submission  of  tender 
documents,  registry  and  management  of  questions  and 
answers and other aspects of the procedure. In 2016 four 
open calls were launched by using this module.

In addition, intensive work was carried out during the first 
half  of  2016  to  comply  with  the  changes  to  the  General 
Financial  Regulation  and  Rules  of  Application  for  all 
procurement and contract templates.

Finally ICT has improved the mobility of staff by providing 
smartphones  with  the  ability  to  receive  e-mails.  Running 
maintenance,  such  as  the  updating  and  upgrading  of 
systems, was performed throughout the year as well as the 
tasks performed in order to maintain the ICT infrastructure 
in good order.

During  2016,  an  assessment  of  the  needs  of  EFCA’s 
technical  installations  was  performed  in  the  framework  of 
the  Maintenance  of  Technical  Installations  contract.  This 
assessment led to the reinforcement of air conditioning in the 
server room, and the revision of the power balance on the 
main UPS room, thus ensuring greater stability. Following the 
decision to postpone the initiation of the EU Environmental 
Management  and  Auditing  Scheme  (EMAS)  project  to 
2017,  the  environmental  impact  of  the Agency  for  2016  is 

based on the calculation of the carbon footprint and on the 
consumables consumption.

With  regard  to  carbon  footprint,  electricity  consumption 
statistics  were  updated  on  a  weekly  basis  throughout 
the  year,  showing  a  consumption  of  486,141  KwH  or  an 
average weekly consumption of 9,350 KwH (10,5% increase 
compared to 2015). The 2016 carbon footprint of the Agency 
was estimated at 1,727 tonnes of CO².

75

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAn overall assessment of the security systems of the building 
was  made  during  the  1st  quarter  of  2016.  Following  this 
assessment, technical specifications for a new fully integrated 
security system have been written. This system, integrating 
fire security, anti-intrusion, and access control (time control), 
shall be centrally managed by an independent network.

Due to budgetary constraints, the project for the renewal of 
the  security  systems  was  postponed  to  2017.  A  feasibility 

study on the upgrade of the general ventilation system has 
been included in a new workplace improvement project as of 
2017/2018.

In line with the European Commission’s decision to keep the 
alert level as in 2015, EFCA has decided to follow the same 
trend and kept its security setup at the same level of 2015. 
Continuous  contacts  with  Spanish  security  authorities  and 
other EU bodies in Spain have been kept.

2.8. Data protection and access to documents

Data protection

EFCA  complies  with  the  applicable  legislation  on  the 
protection  of  personal  data  processed  by  the  Agency 
(Regulation  (EC)  No  45/200156).  In  2016,  the  Agency 
continued  to  submit  new  and  updated  notifications  to  its 
internal  register  of  operations  that  involve  processing  of 
personal  data  in  the  areas  of  HR  and  governance.  New 
and  updated  operations  of  a  sensitive  nature  were  also 
notified  to  the  European  Data  Protection  Supervisor  for 
prior checking, where necessary. 
EFCA’s  DPO  organised  internal  training  sessions  for 
newcomers,  in  particular  on  the  importance  of  data 
protection  and  the  notification  procedure.  Thus,  the 
existing culture of respect of the data protection rules was 
further strengthened.

Access to Documents

Access  to  documents  is  an  essential  component  of  the 
policy of transparency being implemented by the European 
institutions. 

Under  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  EU,  all  EU 
citizens  and  all  residents  of  the  Union  enjoy  this  right 
of  access,  which  is  governed  by  Regulation  (EC)  No 
1049/2001.  The  EFCA  tries  to  ensure  that  its  work  has 
a  high  level  of  visibility.  In  order  to  facilitate  access  to 
documents, the Library section in EFCA Website provides 
direct  access  to  the  majority  of  documents  via  a  search 
form. The documents are directly accessible in electronic 
format.

The  main  publications  (i.e.  annual  reports  and  work 
programmes)  are  also  available 
in  EU  Bookshop 
catalogue,  managed  by  the  Publications  Office  of  the 
European Union. Documents which cannot be consulted 
directly on the Library may be supplied on request via a 
specific mailbox (efca-documents@efca.europa.eu). After 
considering  each  request,  the  service  responsible  will 
send  a  reasoned  reply  within  15  working  days.  During 
2016  there  was  one  request  received  in  August,  which 
was accepted for specific research purposes.

Key Performance Indicators

Execution rate commitments appropriations

Execution payments appropriations

Percentage of payments done within the time limits

Percentage of planned procurements launched

Average vacancy rate (% of authorised posts of the annual establishment plan)

Availability rate of the environment/infrastructure on which the corporate applications are running 

Availability rate of the environment/infrastructure on which the operational applications are running

Target

98%

>= 70%

>95%

>80%

≤ 5%

98%

98%

Achieved

99,6%

88,5%

99,3%

100%

0%

99,7%

99,61%

56 OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

76

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agencysigned by the AO himself, for the area for which they have 
been delegated responsibility. No reservations were raised 
by the AODs.

EFCA Organisational structure

In  September  2016  EFCA’s  founding  regulation  was 
formally amended; additional budget, posts and additional 
tasks  were  allocated  to  the  Agency  to  be  implemented 
from January 2017 onwards.

From  the  beginning  of  2016  this  possibility  was  on  the 
horizon  and  the  plans  in  place  permitted  a  smooth 
preparation for 2017. The amended SPD 2017 was adopted 
by the AB in due time and an organisational change was 
prepared and it is in place since the 2nd December 2016. 
In conclusion 2016 was a year of planning and preparation 
for  the  new  “challenges”,  this  planning  did  not  have  an 
impact on the 2016 core activities. 

 Part III. Building Blocks of Assurance

3.1. Assessment by management

Management Supervision

EFCA  has  a  system  of  management  supervision  and 
internal control in place to assure the Agency is managed 
effectively and efficiently. The main elements of the system 
are described below:

EFCA  has  three  Units  and  an  Executive  Director  Office. 
The  Heads  of  Unit  are  responsible  for  the  activities  of 
their  Unit. The  EFCA  Management Team  consists  of  the 
Executive Director and all the Heads of Unit, playing a key 
role  in  the  strategic  and  day  to  day  management  of  the 
Agency. The Accounting Officer and the Policy Officer are 
also attending the management meetings.

EFCA  Administrative  Board  adopted  in  October  2016 
the  MWP  for  the  period  2017–2021.  An  AWP  is  also 
adopted each year by the Administrative Board in order to 
implement the Multiannual Programme objectives.

The  AWP  is  monitored  internally  on  a  quarterly  basis 
and  updates  on  its  implementation  are  reported  to  the 
Administrative  Board  at  each  meeting  and  in  the Annual 
Report  of  the  Executive  Director.  During  the  year, 
discrepancies are discussed with the Units, and corrective 
actions are taken as necessary. 

In  2016  the  Executive  Director  of  EFCA,  as Authorising 
Officer  (AO),  delegated  financial  responsibilities  to  the 
three  Heads  of  Unit  (Authorising  Officers  by  Delegation 
(AOD)).  Should  one  Head  of  Unit  be  unavailable,  the 
authority  returns  to  the  Executive  Director.  Thus,  a  very 
limited number of persons act as AO/AODs in EFCA. The 
AODs  can  enter  into  budgetary  and  legal  commitments 
and authorise payments. However, all commitments above 
60.000€ require the signature of the Executive Director. 

As in 2015 for the expenditures of 2016, the AODs signed 
a Declaration of Assurance to the AO, similar to the one 

77

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyRoadmap on the follow-up to the Common Approach 
on EU decentralised agencies

The progress of each action is closely followed-up and the 
state of play as of 31 December 2016 is as follows:

In  line  with  the  Common  Approach  endorsed  by  the 
European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission 
in  July  2012,  the  Commission  prepared  a  Roadmap  on 
the  follow-up  to  the  Common  Approach  with  concrete 
timetables  for  the  planned  initiatives.  EFCA  is  actively 
committed to put in place the actions to be performed as 
defined by the Commission.

3.2. Internal Control System

Since  the  start  of  its  activities,  the  Agency  has  been 
developing  and  implementing  a  broad  range  of  internal 
measures to ensure that its work is subject to control and 
to provide reasonable assurance to management on the 
achievement of the Agency’s objectives. 

Thanks  to  these  internal  control  measures,  it  is  ensured 
that  the Agency’s  operational  activities  are  effective  and 
efficient as well as compliant with all legal and regulatory 
requirements, that financial and management reporting is 
reliable and that assets and information are safeguarded. 

In  order  to  formalise  these  arrangements,  firstly  in  2008 
and latterly in 2015, the Administrative Board of the Agency 
adopted a set of Internal Control Standards (ICS), based 
on  the  Commission’s  and  international  good  practice, 
aiming  to  ensure  the  achievement  of  the  policy  and 
operational objectives. As a result, the Agency established 
its  own  organisational  structure  and  the  internal  control 
system to be in line with these standards and with the risk 
environment in which it operates. 

78

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyEFCA’s efforts in the ICS implementation in 2016

ICS4

General implementing Provisions (GIP) adopted by EFCA AB:
• 
• 
• 

Reclassification of Temporary Agents and Contract Agents
Setting up a Staff Committee
Working time

ICS5

Key performance indicators improved and aligned with the working program

ICS6

IT risks assessed by independent auditor

ICS10

ICS11

Business continuity tested (non-It part).
Proof concept with EUIPO – (It part) 

The collaborative platform “FISHNET” was widely used for storing/exchanging operational documents. It was also used to make available the 
documentation for the 3 Administrative Board sessions.

ICS12

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) started to be implemented with the contribution of an external consultant firm.

ICS16

All IAS were closed

For  2016,  the  ICC  conducted  the  annual  assessment 
of  the  Internal  Control  Standards  which  was  based 
on  a  desk  review  of  each  standard  in  relation  with  the 
actions  performed  during  the  year,  the  analysis  of  the 
nonconformities  reported  and  interviews  of  key  people 
responsible for the implementation of the 16 ICS.

This has led to the assessment of the Agency's status at 
the end of the reporting year with respect to the level of 
implementation of the internal control system. 

All  of  the  above  had  enabled  the  ICC  to  report  on  the 
state of the internal control system in place and to present 
recommendations  to  the  Executive  Director  (including 
suggestions for any ICS to be prioritised during the next 
year and the related action plans).

Concerning the overall state of the internal control system, 
generally the Agency complies with the three assessment 
criteria for effectiveness:

a) staff having the required knowledge and skills;
b) systems and procedures designed and implemented 
to manage the key risks effectively;
c) no instances of ineffective controls that have exposed 
the Agency to its key risks.

Further  enhancing  the  effectiveness  of  the  Agency's 
control activities in place, by inter alia taking into account 
any  control  weaknesses  reported  and  nonconformities 
recorded, is an on-going effort in line with the principles of 
continuous improvement of management procedures and 
of sound financial management.

79

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
ICS implementation state of play and expected developments for 2017

Internal Control Standard (ICS)

Degree of 
implementation

Main developments expected for 2017 (Prioritised ICS)

IC1 - Mission

ICS2 - Ethical and organisational Values

ICS 3- Staff Allocation and Mobility

ICS 4- Staff Evaluation and Development

ICS 5 - Objectives and Performance 
Indicators

ICS 6 - Risk Management Process

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

ICS 7 - Operational Structure

MEDIUM

ICS 8 - Processes and Procedures 

ICS 9 - Management Supervision 

HIGH

HIGH

-

- 

 -

 -

 -

-

- To continue the implementation of the project management methodology (PM2) and 
consolidation of the IT governance 
- Impact of the structural reorganisation (a) to reassure that it continues to function 
adequately, (b) to identify any further reorganizational arrangements required and (c) to 
take adequate measures for further fine-tuning, if and where needed

- 

 -

ICS 10 - Business Continuity

MEDIUM

Full scale test to be performed

ICS 11 - Document Management

MEDIUM

EFCA is waiting for the EC to release ARES to the agencies. 

ICS 12 - Information and Communication

MEDIUM

To continue the implementation of an Information Security Management System 

ICS 13- Accounting and Financial 
Reporting

ICS 14 - Evaluation of Activities

ICS 15- Assessment of Internal Control 
Systems

ICS 16 - Internal Audit Capability

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

-

-

-

-

Every  year  EFCA  assesses  the  implementation  of  its 
internal control system, relying on a number of monitoring 
measures and other relevant sources of information. 

In conclusion for 2016, the internal control system in EFCA 
can be considered as being robust and stable with most of 
the ICS having a high level of implementation. 

The efforts deployed in 2016 substantially contributed to 
the improvement of the general level of implementation of 
the  Internal  Control  System.  EFCA  management  is  fully 
committed to tackle the areas where further developments 
are needed.

80

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency3.3. Legality and Regularity of transactions

3.3.1. Ex-ante and ex-post controls

3.3.2. Nonconformity management procedure

In accordance with ICS 8, EFCA has a procedure in place 
to  ensure  that  where  overrides  of  controls  or  deviations 
from established processes and procedures are identified, 
they are documented and logged centrally.

During 2016 EFCA has registered 4 nonconformity events 
whereas the amount concerned remained below 2.500€, 
thus not material for further disclosure. 

EFCA  continues  to  carry  out  ex-ante  verification  over  a 
subset  of  financial  transactions  in  its  financial  circuits 
based on a risk assessment methodology established in 
2013. To compensate this, internal ex-post verification on 
a sample of transactions is carried out quarterly by EFCA 
financial staff.

The  number  of  payments  without  an  ex  ante  verification 
have  increased  in  2016  having  considered  the  positive 
results  of  the  ex  post  verification  results  since  it  was 
implemented.  EFCA  also  had  an  independent  ex-post 
verification  of  financial  transactions  of  2015  carried  out 
by a staff member from Eurofound in August 2016. Over 
two days a sample of the total transactions of 2015 were 
reviewed. No errors or irregularities were found among the 
transactions analysed leading to a positive conclusion on 
the Agency´s financial internal control circuits.

3.4. Risk Management

EFCA  has  identified  risks  in  different  areas  (financial 
and  non-financial);  for  each  risk  action  plans  are  being 
established and closely followed-up. The Agency is aware 
that risk management is a continuous exercise. Therefore 
risks are updated and assessed if major changes occur.

For 2016 the annual risks assessment exercise took place 
and one critical risk was identified:

The  possibility  of  expanding  EFCA’s  mandate  will  imply 
adequate planning and the necessary resources (human/
financial/logistics)  available  to  implement  timely  the  new 

tasks/activities,  this  will  include  an  adequate  plan  for 
procuring inspection platforms.

The  action  plan  to  mitigate  this  risk  was  followed  up 
closely. EFCA organisational structure was optimised and 
prepared  to  implement  the  new  tasks  resulting  from  the 
amendment of EFCA’s founding regulation. The first open 
call for procuring inspection platform was unsuccessful a 
second call was launched by the end of the year. 

During 2016 no prominent risks have materialised.

81

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
Fraud prevention and detection
In principle, the controls aimed at preventing and detecting 
fraud are not unlike those intended to ensure the legality and 
regularity of the transactions (the unintentional errors) e.g.:

• 

• 

• 

The  ‘four  eyes’  principle  applied  at  each  level  gives 
reasonable  assurance  of  compliance  with  the  legal 
framework;
The automated controls embedded over the workflows 
of the financial and accounting systems (ABAC suite); 
The  salaries  calculation  and  upload  of  individual 
payments is done by PMO;

•  A  declaration  of  absence  of  conflict  of  interests  is 

always signed by panel members.

In  October  2014,  the Agency  adopted  a  comprehensive 
policy  on  the  prevention  and  management  of  conflict  of 
interests and an anti-fraud strategy. Those two documents, 
which mainly aim for prevention measures, are important 
instruments  in  discouraging  actions  and  behaviours  that 
could  harm  the  Agency’s  reputation.  From  a  total  of  13 
actions foreseen to be implemented by the end of 2017, 
11  are  already  implemented.  Since  the  creation  of  the 
Agency no fraud events have occurred.

3.5. Assessment of audit results during the reporting year

3.5.1. Internal Audit Service (IAS)

3.5.3. Europen Court of Auditors (ECA)

During  2016,  the  IAS  carried  out  a  risk  assessment 
covering  EFCA’s  major  processes,  both  operational  and 
administrative.  As  result  of  IAS  work  the  “IAS  Strategic 
Internal Audit Plan 2017-2019” was established. Currently 
there  are  no  open  IAS  recommendations.  In  line  with 
the  International  Standards  for  the  Professional  Practise 
of  Internal  Auditing,  the  internal  auditor  confirmed  the 
organisational independence of the internal audit activity. 

3.5.2. Internal Audit Capability (IAC)

The  IAC  function  was  discontinued  in  September  2015. 
The  Agency  relies  on  the  Internal  Audit  Service  of  the 
European  Commission  for  the  formal  performance  of 
its  internal  auditing  function.  If  necessary  and  subject 
to  availability  of  additional  resources,  an  Internal  Audit 
Capability  may  be  put  in  place  to  provide  additional 
independent  and  objective  assurance  and  advice  to 
management.

EFCA  is  audited  every  year  by  the  European  Court 
of  Auditors  (ECA).  The  audit  provides  a  Statement  of 
Assurance  as  to  the  reliability  of  the  accounts  of  the 
Agency and the legality and regularity of the transactions 
underlying them.

In  2016,  EFCA  received  a  Statement  of  Assurance 
certifying  an  unqualified57  opinion    for  2015  Annual 
Accounts and indicating that the accounts are reliable and 
the  transactions  underlying  the  accounts  are  legal  and 
regular.

The European Court of Auditors issued a comment which 
did not call the Court’s opinions into question. The Court 
refers  to  the  fact  that  the  Agency  is  not  fully  complying 
with  3  Internal  Control  Standards  (ICS10  Business 
continuity, 11 Document management and 12 Information 
and  communication).  EFCA  reports  yearly  under  this 
report  the  level  of  implementation  of  the  standards  and 
the overall assessment of the internal control system. The 
risks associated with the late implementation of the said 
standards  have  always  been  mitigated  by  the  Agency 
and at no stage has there been a negative impact for the 
Agency’s activities.

57 Unqualified  audit  opinion  -  The  auditor’s  report  contains  a  clearly  written  expression  of  opinion  on  the  financial  statements  or  the  legality  and  regularity  of 
underlying transactions as a whole. An unqualified opinion is expressed when the auditor concludes that, on the whole, the underlying transactions are legal and 
regular and the supervisory and control systems are adequate to manage the risk.

82

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyHowever, in 2016 the Agency has made efforts to improve 
the overall implementation of the internal control system, 
particularly for the 3 standards referred to by the Court.

In  relation  with  2016  Annual  Accounts,  ECA  conducted 
one on-site visit and a desk review. 

Furthermore, EFCA will be soon audited for 2016 Annual 
Accounts  by  an  external  audit  firm.  The  financial  audit 
engagement  will  be  concluded  after  the  issuance  of  this 
report. The final report of the Court is expected in 2017.

3.5.4. External Evaluations

In  line  with  article  39  of  the  founding  regulation  of  the 
Agency,  “Within  five  years  from  the  date  of  the  Agency 
having taken up its responsibilities, and every five years 
thereafter, the Administrative Board shall commission an 
independent external evaluation of the implementation of 
this Regulation.”
The  first  Five  Year  Independent  External  Evaluation  of 
EFCA was commissioned by the Administrative Board for 
the period 2007-2011. The second Five Year Independent 
External  Evaluation  of  EFCA  for  the  period  2012-2016 
started in October 2015, with the drafting of the terms of 
reference, and is planned to be completed in 2017.

Each evaluation shall assess the impact of this Regulation, 
the utility, relevance and effectiveness of the Agency and 
its working practices and the extent to which it contributes 
to the achievement of a high level of compliance with rules 
made under the common fisheries policy.

The  evaluation  results  for  the  Five  Year  Independent 
External  Evaluation  of  EFCA  2007-2011  were  presented 
in March 2012 during a seminar to which the stakeholders 
were invited. 

The  Report  indicated  that  the  overall  assessment  of  the 
governance and performance of EFCA has been positive. 
On  the  whole,  governance  arrangements  have  worked 
well.  Considering  the  Agency´s  limited  resources,  its 
operation in the politically sensitive environment of fisheries 
policy,  and  current  Member  States’  budget  constraints, 
performance against the evaluation criteria of relevance, 
and  effectiveness,  impact  and  sustainability,  can  be 
considered  promising.  The  evaluation  also  commended 
the Agency for its administrative efficiency.

The Administrative Board issued recommendations to the 
European Commission regarding changes to the founding 
regulation,  the  Agency  and  its  working  practices.  The 
evaluation findings and recommendations were forwarded 
by the European Commission to the European Parliament 
and the Council, and were made public (http://www.efca.
europa.eu/en/content/external-evaluation). 

The recommendations issued by the Administrative Board 
are being taken into consideration in the MWP and AWP 
of the Agency.

From the 22 recommendations of the External Evaluation 
for  the  period  2012-2016,  the  state  of  play  at  the  end 
of  2016  was  as  follows:  ten  recommendations  were 
closed,  ten  due  to  their  nature  have  been  addressed 
on  a  continuous  basis,  one  would  entail  a  legislative 
amendment  and  another  one  is  a  MS  prerogative.  The 
detail on the state of play of the open recommendations at 
the end of 2016 is provided below:

83

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyRECOMMENDATIONS

STATE OF PLAY

1.1.1 It is too premature to propose an amendment of Agency regulation. 
Nevertheless a guidance document with clear description of responsibilities 
delimitation between EFCA, EC, and MS is recommended.

1.1.2 Level playing field and coordination and assistance for better compliance are 
considered as wider objectives of the Agency. 

2.1.2 Administrative Board participation is a Member State prerogative. 

2.1.3 The Board should reflect on the participation of other parties in the 
Administrative Board.

2.2.3 To examine, periodically, at which level EFCA involvement in the JDPs 
provides the best added value, in accordance with the existing legal basis.

2.3.3 Ensure maintenance of Core Curricula. 

2.3.4 Establishment of regional training for national inspectors, as well as Union 
inspectors.

2.4.1 Show-case EFCA best practice on inter-agency and national agencies 
cooperation, and share EFCA experience on performance indicators for measuring 
administrative efficiency and effectiveness.

2.4.2 Take stock of exchanged best practices and dissemination via the EFCA 
website

2.5.4 Annual stock-taking of scientific evidence on developments with the fish 
stocks that the EFCA is focusing on. Consider scientific bodies request for access 
to data for scientific purposes. 

2.6.2 Encourage the Agency to continue synergies between different meetings and 
use of telephone and video conferencing.

2.6.3 Enhancing regular, systematic, and effective communication with other 
stakeholders, particularly Member States, regarding the development of Agency 
activities.

Partially addressed through the European Commission’s roadmap

These objectives are at the core of the operational activities, and are 
included in the Agency multiannual and annual work programme.
Recommendation of a continuous nature

The participation of AB members in the AB meetings (including 
proxies) in 2016 was the following: March 2016 AB meeting 34 out of 
34, in June 30 out of 34 and in October 27 out of 34 

On 15 March 2012 the Board set up a working group on the review 
of the rules of procedure of the Board. During the discussions, 
the possible extension of the participation of the Advisory Board 
observers in the Board meetings was raised. This possibility was 
mentioned to the Advisory Board representatives during their 
meeting in July 2012. 
According to the rules of procedure of the Administrative Board, 
“the Board, acting on a proposal from the Executive director, may 
authorise experts and persons whose opinion can be of interest, to 
attend the Board meeting as observers”.
This recommendation is also encompassed within the road-map 
on the follow-up to the Common Approach on EU decentralised 
Agencies.
Recommendation of a continuous nature

The JDP annual cost assessment is now a recurrent yearly 
activity. BALTFISH Control Expert Group has made a formal 
request to EFCA to jointly deliver a compliance evaluation of the 
implementation of the LO for May 2017. 
Recommendation of a continuous nature

Following guidance received from the SGTEE, the CC Volume 1 
on Inspection at sea and Volume 2 on Port inspection have been 
updated in 2016 in order to include the latest provisions resulting 
from the CFP Reform (landing obligation, regionalisation, discard 
plans, etc.) Recommendation of a continuous nature

Regional training events have been organised in accordance with 
the EFCA Annual work programme and training calendar. As from 
mid-2016, these training events have been complemented with 
e-learning tutorials available on the EFCA e-learning platform.
Recommendation of a continuous nature

EFCA shares its best practice and experience mainly through the 
Inter-agency Network, both in the Heads of Administration and 
Heads of Agencies meetings, and in the specific working groups 
(WG). Thus, among others, EFCA is an active member of the 
Agencies Performance Development Network.
Recommendation of a continuous nature

EFCA’s website includes information on training i.e. annual training 
planning, training catalogue, link to e-learning platform and other 
sources of information. 
Recommendation of a continuous nature

Methodology workshops to assess the state of play of the JDP 
last-haul project with individual experts from ICES and STECF and 
MS have been organised for the NS, BS and WW. Scientific experts 
have been invited to present the results of latest assessment at 
EFCA workshops for inspectors.
EFCA maintains regular contact with the main scientific bodies e.g. 
STECF, ICES, and participates in the relevant meetings. ICES and 
STECF experts are also invited for relevant EFCA meetings
Recommendation of a continuous nature

Video-conferencing through Fishnet is now a well settled practice. In 
2016 44 meetings were organised through Fishnet.
Recommendation of a continuous nature

The Agency has a yearly communication plan that encompasses its 
main informative activities.

Recommendation of a continuous nature

84

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency3.6. Follow up of audit plans, audits and recommendation

The Agency has developed and implemented a centralised monitoring of all audit recommendations in order to improve 
the follow-up of corresponding action plans.

Therefore, all the recommendations issued by the Internal Audit Capability (IAC), the IAS and the European Court of 
Auditors (ECA) were consolidated and are regularly monitored. At the current time, only 2 recommendations are open 
and being currently addressed. None of the open recommendations is considered critical or very important. 

3.7. Follow up of observations from the Discharge authority

For the financial  year  2014  the European  Parliament  (EP) granted  the Executive  Director  of the European  Fisheries 
Control  Agency  the  discharge  in  respect  of  the  implementation  of  the  Agency’s  budget.  On  its  resolution,  the  EP 
acknowledges the important contribution to the implementation of the objectives of the reformed CFP and highlights the 
very good results achieved by Agency. 

The EP resolution contained a number of recommendations addressed to the EU agencies collectively; EFCA is actively 
committed to follow-up and implement the EP observations of horizontal nature, where applicable to the Agency. 

85

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency Part IV. Management assurance

This  chapter  reviews  the  assessment  of  the  elements 
contained in this report and draws conclusions supporting 
the  Declaration  of  Assurance  of  the  Executive  Director 
and whether or not it should be qualified with reservations.
For  the  expenditures  of  2016,  the  Authorising  Officers 
by  Delegation  signed  a  Declaration  of Assurance  to  the 
Authorising  Officer,  similar  to  the  one  signed  by  the AO 
himself, for the area for which they have been delegated 

4.1. Review of the elements supporting assurance

The  Executive  Director  has  relied  on  the  following 
elements of assurance:

- the declarations of assurance from the Authorising 
Officers by Delegation;
-  the  positive  assessment  of  the  EFCA’s  Internal 
Control system and the satisfactory implementation 
of the Internal Control Standards;
- the statement of the Internal Control Coordinator;
-  the  management  of  risks  which  are  being 
appropriately monitored and mitigated;
-  the  absence  of  overdue  or  long  standing  audit 
recommendations;
-  the  absence  of  vital  observations  from  the 
European Parliament;
-  the  positive  Statement  of  Assurance  issued  by 
ECA in 2016 for the financial year 2015 on the true 

responsibility.  No  reservations  were  raised  by 
Authorising Officers by Delegation.

the 

Taking into account all the elements reviewed below, it can 
be  positively  concluded  that  the  Executive  Director  has 
reasonable  assurance  and  has  no  reasons  to  introduce 
any reservation for the year 2016.

and  fair  view  of  the  EFCA  2015 Annual Accounts 
and on the legality and regularity of the underlying 
transactions;
-  the  low  impact  of  quantitative  and  qualitative 
nature of the identified nonconformities;
- the materiality framework (Annex IX);
-  the  progress  made  during  the  year  in  regularly 
monitoring  performance  and  overseeing  the  on-
going action plans for all necessary improvements 
and reinforcements;
- the resources allocated to trainings in relation to 
the  implementation  of  the  Financial  Regulation, 
Ethics and Integrity and Fraud prevention;
-  the  EFCA  anti-fraud  strategy  and  Conflict  of 
Interests policy as adopted by the EFCA AB.   

4.2. Reservations and overall conclusion on assurance

The  content  of  this  report  stems  from  the  results  of 
management  monitoring  controls  and  the  systematic 
analysis  by  the  internal  and  external  auditors  and 
other  assurance  providers  of  the  evidence  available. 
This  approach  provides  sufficient  guarantees  of  the 
exhaustiveness and reliability of the reported information 
and  results  in  a  complete  coverage  of  the  budget  and 

resources  delegated  to  the  Executive  Director  and 
assigned to the activities described herein, including those 
within the framework of the Annual Work Programme and 
approved by the Administrative Board.

In conclusion, for 2016 nothing opposes to the signing the 
Declaration of Assurance.

86

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency4.2.1. Statement of the Internal Control Coordinator

Statement of the Internal Control Coordinator

I hereby declare that in accordance with my responsibilities as Internal Control 

Coordinator I have reported my assessment, advice and recommendations to the 

Executive Director on the overall state of internal control in EFCA.

I certify that the information provided in the relevant sections of the Annual Report 

and its annexes is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and exhaustive.

Done at Vigo on 24 February 2017

_____________________

Paulo Castro

Internal Control Coordinator

87

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
4.2.2. Declaration of Assurance

Declaration of Assurance

I, the undersigned, Executive Director of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), 

In my capacity as authorising officer, 
Declare that the information contained in this report gives a true and fair view58. 

State  that  I  have  reasonable  assurance  that  the  resources  assigned  to  the  activities 

described in this report have been used for their intended purpose and in accordance with 

the principles of sound financial management, and that the control procedures put in place 

give  the  necessary  guarantees  concerning  the  legality  and  regularity  of  the  underlying 

transactions. 

This reasonable assurance is based on my own judgement and on the information at my 

disposal, inter alia:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the declarations of assurance from the Authorizing Officers by Delegation;

the results of the annual review of the internal control system;

the statement issued by the Internal Control Coordinator;

the results and follow-up of ex-post audits, evaluations and controls;

the recommendations of the Internal Audit Service, the accompanying action plans and 

their follow up;

the  lessons  learnt  from  the  reports  of  the  Court  of  Auditors  and  the  accompanying 

action plans and  their follow up;

the lessons learnt from the discharge reports of the Discharge authority for years prior 

to the year of this declaration. 

Confirm that I am not aware of anything not reported here which could harm the interests 

of the agency. 

Done at Vigo on 6 March 2017

_____________________

Pascal Savouret

Executive Director

58 True and fair in this context means a reliable, complete and correct view on the state of affairs in the service.

88

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
ANNEXES

Annex I. Operational activities: detailed information

North Sea JDP
(Report based on data registered in EFCA JDP information system on 12/01/2017)

NORTH SEA JDP

Joint Deployment Plan

Reporting period

Participation

Operational area

Campaign

01 Northern North Sea

NS-2016 - North Sea and adjacent waters JDP

04 January to 18 December 2016

BE, DE, DK, FR, IE, NL, SE, UK. 

ICES Divisions.III.a, IV, Vb, VIa, VII a & VII.d

Coordination Centre in Charge (CCIC)

Number of Weeks

Location

From Date

To Date

1

2-3

4

5-8

9-13

14-18

19-20

21

22-23

24

25-33

34-36

37-39

40-42

43

44-47

48-50

EFCA

SE

EFCA

DE

EFCA

DK

UK

EFCA

UK

EFCA

UK

SE

DK

EFCA

EFCA

DE

DK

Jan/4

Jan/11

Jan/25

Feb/1

Feb/29

Apr/5

May/9

May/23

May/30

Jun/13

Jun/20

Aug/22

Sep/12

Oct/3

Oct/24

Oct/31

Nov/28

Jan/10

Jan/24

Jan/31

Feb/28

Apr/4

May/8

May/22

May/29

Jun/12

Jun/19

Aug/21

Sep/11

Oct/2

Oct/23

Oct/30

Nov/27

Dec/18

MS

SE

SE

SE

DE

UK

DK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

SE

DK

NL

DE

DE

DK

89

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyCampaign

02 Southern North Sea

03 Irish Sea

Coordination Centre in Charge (CCIC)

Number of Weeks

Location

From Date

To Date

1-3

4-5

6-7

8

9-13

14-43

44-48

49-50

1-50

EFCA

NL

FR

EFCA

UK

EFCA

FR

EFCA

EFCA

Jan/4

Jan/25

Feb/8

Feb/22

Feb/29

Apr/4

Oct/31

Dec/5

Jan/4

Jan/24

Feb/7

Feb/21

Feb/28

Apr/3

Oct/30

Dec/4

Dec/18

Dec/18

MS

NL

NL

FR

BE

UK

NL

FR

BE

IE

Deployment Type

Species

Quantity reported (Tons)

% of Total

A - SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY

Land

Sea

Atlantic Cod (COD)

Sole (SOL)

Plaice (PLE)

Other (OTH)

Total

Atlantic Cod (COD)

Sole (SOL)

Plaice (PLE)

Other (OTH)

Total

15.906

332

3.854

76.252

96.343

357

404

1.305

6.724

8.788

16,5%

0,3%

4%

79,2%

100%

4,1%

4,6%

14,8%

76,5%

100%

B - DEPLOYED CONTROL MEANS

Member 
State

Patrol Vessel

Days at sea

Aircraft

Exchange of Inspectors

Joint Teams at Sea

Mixed Teams ashore

Core

Associated

No of Flights

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

16

78

77

21

234

7

36

29

498

12

315

200

165

650

3

70

11

1.426

31

145

21

145

342

9

6

14

5

11

24

69

5

28

6

6

14

10

69

8

15

2

10

35

3

15

7

6

4

35

BE

DE

DK

FR

UK

IE

NL

SE

Total

90

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyC - ACTIVITY CARRIED-OUT

Type of Activity

Type of Deployment

Indicator

Surveillance

Air

Sea

Vessels by Air

Inspections

Vessels on land

Vessels at sea

Sightings reported

Sightings reported

No of inspections

No of targeted inspections

No of inspections

No of targeted inspections

No of inspections

No of targeted inspections

BE

248

4

39

32

7

Country registration object

DE

DK

FR

UK

IE

NL

SE

1.240

316

1.269

1.114

368

581

5

1

11

1

Total

3.073

2.080

5

0

212

3

243

779

90

171

208

6.309

99

1

264

587

225

130

17

27

2

27

159

12

170

14

117

7.922

12

32

8

705

1.267

102

Type of Deployment

Object

Indicators

Country registration object

Total

BE

DE

DK

FR

UK

IE

NL

NO

SE

D - RESULTS CONTROL

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringement

% of inspections with infringements

Air

Vessel

Total number of suspected infringements

2

1

2

5

Total number of inspections of targets

Inspections of targets with infringements

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringement

71

7

214

694

221

6.126

115

179

160

142

7.922

5

19

17

53

21

6

128

Land

Vessel

% of inspections with infringements

9,86

2,34

2,74

7,69

0,87

0,00

11,73

0,00

4,23

1,62

Total number of suspected infringements

7

Total number of inspections of targets

Inspections of targets with infringements

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringement

96

16

5

8

20

87

17

9

57

570

4

21

12

1

45

176

260

185

107

359

3

21

20

2

29

9

6

6

10

1

33

1

133

705

6

1.267

92

% of inspections with infringements

16,67

0,00

1,70

8,08

10,81

1,87

8,08

0,00

3,03

7,26

Total number of suspected infringements

Total number of inspections of targets

Inspections of targets with infringements

16

2

4

20

23

1

7

22

26

1

2

35

40

4

1

6

103

102

5

Sea

Vessel

91

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
E- TYPE OF SUSPECTED Infringements DETECTED DURING THE JDP

Suspected Infringement Category

01 - Not fulfilling reporting obligations

02 - Use of prohibited or non-compliant gear

03 - Falsification or concealing of markings, identity or registration

05 - Taking on board, transhipping or landing of undersized fish

07 - Fishing without a valid licence, authorisation or permit

08 - Fishing in closed area, closed season or without quota

09 - Directed fishing for a stock which is subject to a moratorium or for which fishing is prohibited

10 - Obstruction of work of inspectors

14 – Manipulation of an engine with the aim of increasing its power beyond the maximum continuous engine power according to the engine 
certificate.

16 – Other

Total

Total

125

39

2

17

8

13

1

0

3

33

241

92

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyRisk Assessment

93

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyOtter trawl andseinesMesh size:≥32mm - <70mmNORTHERN PRAWNSOtter trawl andseinesMesh size: ≥90mmcod | PLAICEOtter trawl andseinesMesh size:<90mm - ≥70mmNEPHROPSBeam trawlMesh size: >120mmcod | PLAICE | soleBeam trawlMesh size:≥80mm - <120mmPLAICE | SOLENorth SeaIIIaIIa2IVbIVcIVaEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyLowMediumHighVery HighFleet segmentOtter trawl and seines Mesh size: ≥100mmCOD | HADDOCKWHITING | SAITHEPLAICE | HAKENEPHROPS | solenorthem prawnsNon-compliance withthe Landing ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearUnlicensedVesselsOtter trawl andseinesMesh size:≥70mm - <100mmCOD | HADDOCKPLAICE | NEPHROPSsoleTarget species in UPPERCASES94

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyLowMediumHighVery HighFleet segmentGill netsMesh size: ≥120mmCOD | PLAICE | SOLEMisrecordingIllegal gearUnlicensedVesselsGill netsMesh size:>90mm - <120mmCOD | PLAICE | SOLEGill netsMesh size: >90mmCOD | PLAICE | SOLETrammel netsPLAICELonglinesHAKECODTarget species in UPPERCASESNorth SeaIIIaIIa2IVbIVcIVaNon-compliance withthe Landing ObligationBaltic Sea JDP
(Report based on data registered in EFCA JDP information system on 12/01/2017)

BALTIC SEA JDP

Joint Deployment Plan

Reporting period

Participation

Operational area

Baltic Sea JDP 2016

04 January to 18 December 2016

DE, DK, EE, FI, LT, LV, PL, SE

ICES Subdivisions 22-32

Coordination Centre in Charge (CCIC)

MS

Number of Weeks

Location

From Date

PL

LT

LT

DE

DK

SE

LV

EE

EE

PL

PL

FI

SE

FI

EE

LV

PL

PL

LT

LT

SE

LV

LV

DE

DE

DK

2

1

2

4

3

3

1

1

2

3

1

2

2

2

2

1

2

1

1

2

2

1

2

1

3

3

PL

LT

EFCA

DE

DK

SE

LV

EE

EE

PL

EFCA

FI

SE

FI

EE

LV

PL

EFCA

LT

EFCA

SE

LV

EFCA

EFCA

DE

DK

04/01/2016

18/01/2016

25/01/2016

08/02/2016

07/03/2016

28/03/2016

18/04/2016

25/04/2016

02/05/2016

16/05/2016

06/06/2016

13/06/2016

27/06/2016

11/07/2016

25/07/2016

08/08/2016

15/08/2016

29/08/2016

05/09/2016

12/09/2016

26/09/2016

10/10/2016

17/10/2016

31/10/2016

07/11/2016

28/11/2016

To Date

17/01/2016

24/01/2016

07/02/2016

06/03/2016

27/03/2016

17/04/2016

24/04/2016

01/05/2016

15/05/2016

05/06/2016

12/06/2016

26/06/2016

10/07/2016

24/07/2016

07/08/2016

14/08/2016

28/08/2016

04/09/2016

11/09/2016

25/09/2016

09/10/2016

16/10/2016

30/10/2016

06/11/2016

27/11/2016

18/12/2016

95

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyDeployment Type

JDP Species

A - SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY

Quantity reported

Weight (Tons)

% of Total

Individuals

% of Total

Land

Sea

Atlantic Cod (COD)

Atlantic Herring (HER)

European Sprat (SPR)

Other (OTH)

Salmon (SAL)

Sea Trout (TRS)

Total

Atlantic Cod (COD)

Atlantic Herring (HER)

European Sprat (SPR)

Other (OTH)

Salmon (SAL)

4.804

14.494

11.869

2.522

-

-

33.689

683

1.830

2.427

637

0,34

14,3%

43%

35,3%

7,4%

-

-

100%

Total

5.576,96

B - DEPLOYED CONTROL MEANS

20

3.021

3

3.044

235

235

1%

99%

0%

100%

100%

Member 
State

Patrol Vessel

Days at sea

Aircraft

Exchange of Inspectors

Joint Teams at Sea

Mixed Teams ashore

Associated

No of Flights

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

4

16

8

27

11

111

4

181

105

20

35

2

1

8

10

181

19

42

10

6

31

20

50

11

5

30

17

6

25

24

52

30

189

189

11

191

202

Core

116

71

2

37

28

26

37

58

DE

DK

EE

FI

LT

LV

PL

SE

279

174

4

5

4

570

13

Total

375

1.043

96

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyType of Activity

Type of 
Deployment

Type of 
Object

Indicator

Country registration object

DE

DK

EE

FI

C - ACTIVITY CARRIED-OUT

Surveillance

Air

Sea

Sightings reported

Sightings reported

No of inspections

No of targeted inspections

611

991

26

273

476

16

204

Vessel

Land

Transport

No of inspections

Inspections

Business

No of inspections

87

18

1

LT

9

270

LV

PL

12

980

10

871

14

SE

964

7

188

4

34

Sea

Vessel

No of inspections

No of targeted inspections

342

5

199

8

7

216

98

102

492

43

1

9

D - RESULTS OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Type of Deployment

Object

Indicators

Other Trap

Transport

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringement

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringement

Country registration object

DE

DK

EE

FI

1

LT

NL

LV

PL

SE

34

Total

973

913

4.067

78

34

1

1.499

23

Total

1

0

34

0

Land

Number of Inspections

994

467

210

92

294

1029

1

790

190

4.067

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringement

10

15

6

5

7

3

16

14

76

Vessel

% of inspections with suspected infringements

1,01

3,21

2,86

5,43

2,38

0,29

0,00

2,03

7,37

1,87

Total number of suspected infringements

Total number of inspections of targets

Inspections of targets with infringements

11

26

1

16

15

2

6

6

19

1

7

5

16

15

14

3

81

78

4

Number of Inspections

264

185

8

202

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringement

19

7

18

92

1

145

1

541

62

1.499

6

3

55

Sea

Vessel

% of inspections with infringements

7,20

3,78

0,00

8,91

1,09

0,69

1,11

4,84

3,67

Total number of suspected infringements

Total number of inspections of targets

19

5

8

4

1

1

18

1

3

6

13

56

23

97

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyE- TYPE OF SUSPECTED Infringements DETECTED DURING THE JDP

Suspected Infringement Category

01 - Not fulfilling reporting obligations

02 - Use of prohibited or non-compliant gear

05 - Taking on board, transhipping or landing of undersized fish

07 - Fishing without a valid licence, authorisation or permit

08 - Fishing in closed area, closed season or without quota

10 - Obstruction of work of inspectors

14 - Manipulation of an engine with the aim of increasing its power beyond the maximum continuous engine power according to the engine 
certificate

16 – Other

Total

Total

71

15

3

2

2

1

1

42

137

98

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyRisk Assessment

99

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentOtter trawl Mesh size: ≥105mmCODplaiceDanish Seines netsMesh size: ≥105mmCODplaiceGill netsMesh size:≥110mm - <156mmand longlinesCODplaiceLowTarget species in UPPERCASESMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearOtter and pair trawlMesh size:≥16mm - <32mmSPRATherringEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyBaltic Sea2223242527282926313230Otter and pair trawlMesh size:≥32mm - <90mmHERRINGspratOtter and pair trawlMesh size:≥16mm - <105mmSPRATHERRINGGill nets orentangling netsMesh size:≥32mm - <110mmand trapsHERRINGSALMON100

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentGills netsMesh size: ≥157mmSALMONLonglinesSALMONFixed gearsSALMONLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearBaltic Sea2223242527282926313230Fishing inclosed areasTarget species in UPPERCASESWestern Waters JDP
(Report based on data registered in EFCA JDP information system on 12/01/2017)

Western Waters JDP

Joint Deployment Plan

Reporting period

Participation

Operational area

Campaign

01 North Western Waters

02 South Western Waters

Small Pelagic in Western Waters and Northern North 
Sea JDP 2016

04 January to 18 December 2016

DE, DK, EE, ES, FR, UK, IE, LT, LV, NL, PL, PT

EU waters of ICES Subareas IVa, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, 
and CECAF 34.1.1

Coordination Centre in Charge (CCIC)

Number of Weeks

Location

From Date

8

4

3

22

5

1

3

4

7

6

5

5

11

8

8

UK

IE

EFCA

IE

EFCA

EFCA

DE

FR

EFCA

ES

FR

EFCA

EFCA

FR

EFCA

04/01/2016

29/02/2016

28/03/2016

18/04/2016

19/09/2016

24/10/2016

31/10/2016

21/11/2016

04/01/2016

22/02/2016

04/04/2016

09/05/2016

13/06/2016

29/08/2016

24/10/2016

MS

UK

IE

NL

IE

NL

DE

DE

FR

ES

ES

FR

PT

PT

FR

ES

To Date

28/02/2016

27/03/2016

17/04/2016

18/09/2016

23/10/16

30/10/2016

20/11/2016

18/12/2016

21/02/2016

03/04/2016

08/05/2016

12/06/2016

28/08/2016

23/10/2016

18/12/2016

101

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyDeployment Type

JDP Species

Quantity reported (Tons)

% of Total

A - SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY

Land

Sea

Argentines (Ns) (ARG)

Herring (HER)

Mackerel (MAC)

Blue Whiting (WHB)

Boarfish (BOR)

Chub Mackerel (MAS)

Anchovy (ANE)

Sardine (PIL)

European Sprat (SPR)

Haddock (HAD)

Horse Mackerel (JAX)

Other (OTH)

Whiting (WHG)

Total

Herring (HER)

Mackerel (MAC)

Blue Whiting (WHB)

Boarfish (BOR)

Chub Mackerel (MAS)

Anchovy (ANE)

Sardine (PIL)

European Sprat (SPR)

Greater argentine (ARU)

Haddock (HAD)

Horse Mackerel (JAX)

Other (OTH)

Whiting (WHG)

Total

3

11.520,19

163.568,63

89.878,27

6.117,34

145,28

941,23

2.906,05

35

8

33.919,42

4.226,57

13,56

313.282,54

18.903,97

22.093,54

39.027,29

16,60

16,32

29,66

97,55

0,04

49,46

5,57

3.850,04

1.570,27

11,17

85.671,48

0%

4%

52%

29%

2%

0%

0%

1%

0%

0%

11%

1%

0%

100%

22%

26%

46%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

4%

2%

0%

100%

B - DEPLOYED CONTROL MEANS

Member 
State

Patrol Vessel

Days at sea

Aircraft

Exchange of Inspectors

Joint Teams at Sea

Mixed Teams ashore

Core

Associated

No of Flights

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

DE

DK

ES

FR

UK

IE

NL

PT

16

41

21

189

94

6

4

90

52

98

8

7

Total

371

255

8

10

87

13

1

119

5

17

6

4

6

21

59

6

27

17

5

4

59

5

10

5

10

5

35

15

5

10

5

35

102

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyC - ACTIVITY CARRIED-OUT

Type of Activity

Type of 
Deployment

Type of 
Object

Indicator

DE

DK

Surveillance

Air

Sea

Sightings reported

Sightings reported

56

Vessel

No of inspections

No of targeted inspections

62

2

Land

Transport

No of inspections

Inspections

Business

No of inspections

Country registration object

UK

583

107

121

14

IE

87

429

2

ES

59

1.560

FR

215

2

88

17

78

18

Sea

Vessel

No of inspections

No of targeted inspections

8

1

176

3

93

4

41

17

8

NL

PT

5

Total

949

165

9

48

2.317

4

14

D - RESULTS OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Country registration object

Type of 
Deployment

Object

Indicators

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with 
suspected infringement

Business

% of inspections with suspected 
infringements

Total number of suspected 
infringements

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with 
suspected infringement

% of inspections with suspected 
infringements

Total number of suspected 
infringements

Transport

Air

FR

FO

UK

IE

LT

NL NO

PT

SE

4

0

BE

DE

DK

ES

18

1

5,56

1

78

13

16,67

13

35

78

22

357

8

Total

22

1

4,55

1

78

13

16,67

13

Number of Inspections

2

Number of inspections with 
suspected infringement

1

1

67

1.403

107

4

129

389

6

20

185

4

2.317

3

77

9

2

2

94

Vessel

% of inspections with suspected 
infringements

0

100

4,48

5,49

8,41

0

1,55

0

0

0

1,08

0

4,06

Total number of suspected 
infringements

Total number of inspections of 
targets

1

3

84

9

3

5

1

17

2

12

102

35

103

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency3

3

1

Total

SE

357

10

2,80

12

8

1

Total

108

4

1

2

13

128

Type of 
Deployment

Object

Indicators

Number of Inspections

8

4

BE

DE

DK

D - RESULTS OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Country registration object

Number of inspections with 
suspected infringement

% of inspections with suspected 
infringements

Total number of suspected 
infringements

Sea

Vessel

FO

UK

5

9

IE

19

LT

1

ES

172

4

FR

74

3

NL

22

1

NO

8

PT

35

2

0

0

2,33

4,05

0

0

0

0

4,55

0

5,71

5

3

1

Total number of inspections of 
targets

1

4

Inspections of targets with 
infringements

E- TYPE OF SUSPECTED Infringements DETECTED DURING THE JDP

Suspected Infringement Category

01 - Not fulfilling reporting obligations

02 - Use of prohibited or non-compliant gear

07 - Fishing without a valid licence, authorisation or permit

10 - Obstruction of work of inspectors

16 - Other

Total

104

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyRisk Assessment

105

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentFreezer trawlerMid-waterRefrigerated seawater tank vesselMid-water trawlRefrigerated seawaterMid-water pair trawlRefrigerated seawater tank vesselPurse seineLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearPolyvalentMid-water pairtrawlPolyvalentBottom ottertrawlPolyvalentBottom pair trawlBlue whitingEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyIVVIVIIdRest of VIIIXVIIIWestern WatersPelagic106

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyFreezer trawlerMid-waterPolyvalentBottom ottertrawlPolyvalentMid-water pairtrawlPolyvalentPurse seineLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingAnchovyFleet segmentWestern WatersPelagicIVVVIIXVIIIVIIdRest of VII107

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentFreezer trawlerMid-waterFreezer trawlerMid-waterpair trawlRefrigerated seawater tank vesselMid-water trawlRefrigerated seawater Mid-water pair trawlLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearRefrigerated seawater tank vesselPurse seineHerringEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyWestern WatersPelagicIVVVIIXVIIIVIIdRest of VII108

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentFreezer trawlerMid-waterFreezer trawlerMid-waterpair trawlRefrigerated seawater tank vesselMid-water trawlRefrigerated seawater Mid-water pair trawlLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearPolyvalentBottom ottertrawlRefrigerated seawater tank vesselPurse seinePolyvalentMid-water pairtrawlEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyMackerelWestern WatersPelagicIVVVIIXVIIIVIIdRest of VII109

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentPolyvalentPurse seinePolyvalentBottom trawlPolyvalentBottom pair trawlPolyvalentLinesLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyMackerelWestern WatersPelagicIVVVIIXVIIIVIIdRest of VII110

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentFreezer trawlerMid-water trawlFreezer trawlerMid-waterpair trawlRefrigerated seawater tank vesselMid-water trawlRefrigerated seawater Mid-water pair trawlLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearPolyvalentBottom ottertrawlRefrigerated seawater tank vesselPurse seinePolyvalentBottom pairtrawlEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyHorse MackerelWestern WatersPelagicIVVVIIXVIIIVIIdRest of VII111

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentPolyvalentPurse seinePolyvalentBottom trawlPolyvalentBottom pair trawlPolyvalentLinesLowMediumHighVery HighNon-compliance withLanding ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyHorse MackerelWestern WatersPelagicIVVVIIXVIIIVIIdRest of VII112

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyGeneric longlineCOD | HAKEGeneric bottom trawlMesh size: <100mmHADDOCK | SAITHENEPHROPS | codWHITING | hakeplaiceGeneric bottom trawlMesh size: ≥100mmhaddock | plaiceNEPHROPS | codWHITING | HAKEBeam trawlMesh size:80mm - 99mmPLAICE | SOLEcod | haddockPots, traps and creelsCOD | NEPHROPSPLAICE | SOLENorthern Western WatersVIIaVIIdVIaRestof VIILowMediumHighVery HighFleet segmentGeneric gillnetCOD | HADDOCKSAITHE | PLAICESOLE | HAKENon-compliance withthe Landing ObligationMisrecordingIllegal gearTrammel netsCOD | PLAICESOLE | HAKETarget species in UPPERCASESNAFO and NEAFC JDP
(Report based on data registered in EFCA JDP information system on 12/01/2017)

NAFO & NEAFC JDP 2016

01 January to 31 December 2016

DE, DK, EE, ES, FR, IE, LT, LV, NL, PL, PT, SE, UK

NAFO Regulatory Area

A - DEPLOYED CONTROL MEANS

Patrol Vessel

Days at sea

Exchange of Inspectors

Joint Teams at Sea

Mixed Teams ashore

Associated

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

Man-days 
Deployed

Man-days 
Hosted

NAFO and NEAFC JDP

Joint Deployment Plan

Reporting period

Participation

Operational area

Member State

DE

ES

EE

LT

LV

PT

Total

Core

13

44

30

87

53

10

21

84

0

B - ACTIVITY CARRIED-OUT

10

44

30

84

DE

14

Type of Activity

Type of Deployment

Type of Object

Indicator

Surveillance

Inspections

Sea

Land

Sea

Vessel

Vessel

Sightings reported

No of inspections

No of inspections

6

8

20

28

Country registration object

ES

20

3

16

PT

16

5

28

28

Total

50

3

27

113

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyType of Deployment

Object

Indicators

Country registration object

C - RESULTS OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Land

Vessel

Sea

Vessel

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringements

% of inspections with suspected 
infringements

Total number of suspected infringements

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with suspected 
infringements

% of inspections with suspected 
infringements

Total number of suspected infringements

ES

JP

EE

1

0

4

0

3

0

10

2

20

3

PT

2

2

100

2

9

0

US

1

0

D- TYPE OF SUSPECTED Infringements DETECTED DURING THE JDP

Suspected Infringement Category

01 - Not fulfilling reporting obligations

09 - Directed fishing for a stock which is subject to a moratorium or for which fishing is prohibited

Total

Total

3

2

66,67

2

27

2

7,41

3

Total

4

1

5

114

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency(Report based on data registered in EFCA JDP information system on 12/01/2017)

NAFO and NEAFC JDP

Joint Deployment Plan

Reporting period

Participation

Operational area

NAFO & NEAFC JDP 2016

1 January to 31 December 2016

DE, DK, ES, EE, FR, IE, LT, LV, NL, PL, PT, SE, UK,  

NEAFC Regulatory Area

A - DEPLOYED CONTROL MEANS

Member 
State

Patrol Vessel

Days at sea

Aircraft

Exchange of Inspectors

Joint Teams at Sea

Mixed Teams ashore

Core

Associated

No of Flights

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

DE

DK

ES

FR

IE

LT

LV

PL

PT

SE

UK

Total

48

15

40

11

4

118

0

31

4

4

39

48

15

40

20

20

15

28

20

103

103

B - ACTIVITY CARRIED-OUT

Type of Activity

Type of 
Deployment

Type of 
Object

Indicator

Country registration object

DE

ES

ES

UK

Surveillance

Inspections

Air

Sea

Sea

Sightings reported

Sightings reported

119

Vessel

No of inspections

15

13

8

194

17

5

3

2

SE

19

IE

33

22

4

Total

57

351

46

115

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyC - RESULTS OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Type of 
Deployment

Object

Indicators

Land

Vessel

Number of Inspections

Number of inspections with 
suspected infringements

% of inspections with suspected 
infringements

Total number of suspected 
infringements

Country registration object

DE

3

ES

6

FO

1

UK

1

IE

1

KA

1

LT

NO

1

1

RU

31

2

Total

46

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

100

6,45

6,52

1

2

3

D- TYPE OF SUSPECTED Infringements DETECTED DURING THE JDP

Suspected Infringement Category

01 - Not fulfilling reporting obligations

06 - Fishing in RFMO area inconsistent/in contravention with conservation and management measures

Total

Total

1

2

3

116

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyMediterranean and Eastern Atlantic JDP
(Report based on data registered in EFCA JDP information system on 12/01/2017)

Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic JDP

Joint Deployment Plan

Reporting period

Participation

Operational area

Campaign

Campaign Mediterranean
Eastern Atlantic

Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic JDP 2016

01 January to 31 December 2016

CY, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, MT, PT, SI, XFX59 

ICES Subareas VIII, IX, X, CECAF Subarea 34.1.2 
and FAO area 37

Coordination Centre in Charge (CCIC)

Number of Weeks

Location

From Date

To Date

EFCA

FR

EFCA

IT

EFCA

01/04/2016

30/06/2016

01/07/2016

01/08/2016

01/09/2016

01/12/2016

31/07/2016

31/08/2016

30/11/2016

31/12/2016

MS

ES
MT

FR

HR

IT

HR

A - DEPLOYED CONTROL MEANS

Member 
State

Patrol Vessel

Days at sea

Aircraft

Exchange of Inspectors

Joint Teams at Sea

Mixed Teams ashore

Core

Associated

No of Flights

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

Man-days Deployed

Man-days Hosted

CY

ES

FR

EL

HR

IT

MT

PT

SI

XFX

Total

16

48

31

11

66

107

10

4

1

294

14

10

5

55

84

6

2

3

1

5

7

168

192

5

8

33

1

12

18

16

1

94

1

33

10

2

17

24

3

4

94

5

40

9

24

38

10

13

14

4

33

3

31

41

33

8

153

153

59 Frontex.

117

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyB - ACTIVITY CARRIED-OUT

Type of Activity

Type of 
Deployment

Type of 
Object

Indicator

Surveillance

Air

Land

Sea

Sightings reported

Sightings reported

Sightings reported

Vessel

No of inspections

Transport

No of inspections

CY

38

25

39

Land

Business

No of inspections

36

Inspections

Fish Farm

No of inspections

Other Trap

No of inspections

Vessel

No of inspections

16

Sea

Fish Farm

No of inspections

ES

74

149

1

23

55

73

2

Country registration control mean

PT

SL

XFX

Total

FR

4

174

237

EL

7

2

11

6

23

HR

23

213

221

24

54

50

MT

72

22

36

67

IT

3

2

58

42

16

52

4

478

103

35

1

3

20

8

36

22

134

139

75

9

5

10

661

40

598

773

66

174

140

59

509

12

Type of 
Deployment

Type of 
Object

Indicator

C - RESULTS OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Country registration control mean

AL

CY

DE

DK

DZ

ES

FR

GR

HR

IE

IT

2

52

1

1

4

1

25

1

20

6

30

7

JA

LY

MT

PA

PT

SI

TN

UK

Total

8

0

67

0

2

174

14

8,05

17

140

1

0,71

1

59

1

2

1

66

13

19,70

14

100

0

20,37

1,92

1

1

23

54

11

2

23

0

55

0

12

50

1

2

1

6

2

34

4

33,33 11,76

4

2

4

1

No. of Inspections

3

39

2

133

241

1

14

1

219

4

47

1

13

22

6

35

3

1

773

6

4

31

0

2,56

0

10,53

0,41

25

2,74

0

8,51

0

0

9,09

16,67 12,86

0

0

4,01

1

19

1

4

6

4

2

1

1

39

36

1

2,78

2

Total number of 
suspected infringements

No. of Inspections

No. of inspections with 
suspected infringements

% of inspections with 
suspected infringements

Total no. of suspected 
infringements

No. of Inspections

No. of inspections with 
suspected infringements

% of inspections with 
suspected infringements

Total no. of suspected 
infringements

No. of Inspections

No. of inspections with 
suspected infringements

% of inspections with 
suspected infringements

Total no. of suspected 
infringements

No. of Inspections

No. of inspections with 
suspected infringements

% of inspections with 
suspected infringements

Total no. of suspected 
infringements

No. of inspections with 
suspected infringements

% of inspections with 
suspected infringements

Total no. of suspected 
infringements

Air

Vessel

Business

Fish 
Farm

Land

Other/
Trap

Trans-
port

Vessel

118

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyType of 
Deployment

Type of 
Object

Indicator

Fish 
Farm

No. of Inspections

Sea

Vessel

No. of Inspections

No. of inspections with 
suspected infringements

% of inspections with 
suspected infringements

C - RESULTS OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Country registration control mean

AL

CY

DE

DK

DZ

ES

FR

GR

HR

IE

IT

JA

LY

MT

PA

PT

SI

TN

UK

Total

2

10

12

2

1

19

2

2

1

49

34

22

126

1

153

2

9

7

5

23

3

1

56

21

5

7

8

2

4

2

1

509

59

50

10,53

0

0

0

18,37 20,59

0

3,97

0

15,03

33,33

12,5

0

0

25

50

0

11,59

Total no. of suspected 
infringements

1

4

12

8

5

32

1

9

2

3

77

D- TYPE OF SUSPECTED Infringements DETECTED DURING THE JDP

Suspected Infringement Category

01 - Not fulfilling reporting obligations

02 - Use of prohibited or non-compliant gear

04 - Concealing, tampering or disposal of evidence

05 - Taking on board, transhipping or landing of undersized fish

06 - Fishing in RFMO area inconsistent/in contravention with conservation and management measures

07 - Fishing without a valid licence, authorisation or permit

08 - Fishing in closed area, closed season or without quota

09 - Directed fishing for a stock which is subject to a moratorium or for which fishing is prohibited

10 - Obstruction of work of inspectors

13 - Non-transmission of landing declaration or a sale note when the landing take place in a third Country

15 - Failure to land any species subject to a quota caught during a fishing operation

16 – Other

Total

Total

33

9

4

3

43

2

11

1

4

1

1

39

151

119

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyRisk Assessment

120

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyEuropean Fisheries Control AgencyFleet segmentMisrecordingTechnicalmeasuresMediterranean Sea and Eastern AtlanticLowMediumHighVery HighMediterranean SeaLowMediumHighVery HighAdriatic SeaLowMediumHighVery HighBlack SeaLowMediumHighVery HighPurse seiners targeting bluefin tuna for farming, associated vessels and farmsPelagic trawlersBait boats (poles and lines)Line vesselsFixed trapsSport and recreational fisheriesOther catch fleetBluefin tuna fisheriesFleet segmentMisrecordingTechnicalmeasuresLine vesselsSport and recreational fisheriesSwordfish fisheriesFleet segmentMisrecordingTechnicalmeasuresSmall pelagics in area GSA 17Mid-water trawlMesh size: >20mmPurse seinersMesh size: >14mmFleet segmentMisrecordingTechnicalmeasuresTurbot fisherySprat fisheryTraining

Area

Type of action

Action

Date(s)

Place

Nº of
participants

Outcome (% 
of good or 
very good)

JDP Operational 
Workshop

MED JDP - Adriatic Inspector 
Training Seminar

25-26 Feb

Portoroz (SL)

JDP Operational 
Workshop

MED/E. Atlantic JDP Seminar 
for trainers

09-10 Mar

Rome (IT)

JDP Operational 
Workshop

MED Sea going inspectors’ 
Workshop for inspectors to 
be deployed at sea 2016

12-13 Apr

Vigo (ES)

Assistance to MS

MED
Black Sea

Assistance to MS

MED National Training 
Fisheries Inspectors

MED National Training 
Fisheries Inspectors

21-22 Apr

Nantes (FR)

21-22 Apr

Livorno (IT)

Assistance to MS

Participation in Malta National 
Training (IUU + Inspection)

26-29 April

Valetta (MT)

Assistance to MS

Assistance to MS

MED Farming Workshop 
– Training for Croatian 
inspectors

MED National Training 
Fisheries Inspectors

26-28 Apr

Split (HR)

22-23 Sept

Livorno (IT)

Assistance to MS

Black Sea Training

13-14 Dec

Burgas (BG)

JDP Operational 
Workshop

NEAFC Training for 
inspectors

17-18 Feb

Vigo (ES)

Assistance to MS

NEAFC Training Ireland

03 Mar

Haulbowline (IE)

NAFO
NEAF
WW

Assistance to MS

NEAFC Training for FMC 
Staff

04 Apr

Edinburgh (UK)

Assistance to MS

NEAFC National Training for 
Vestkysten Crew Members

03 May

Copenhagen 
(DK)

North Sea
Baltic Sea

JDP Operational 
Workshop

WW Pelagic Training for 
inspectors

05-06 Apr

Edinburgh (UK)

JDP Operational 
Workshop

JDP Operational 
Workshop

Assistance to MS

NAFO Training for inspectors

26-28 Oct

Vigo (ES)

NS Training for Union 
inspectors

8-9 Mar

Hamburg (DE)

Participation in BE national 
training

20-26 
March

Ostende (BE)

JDP Operational 
Workshop

BS Training for Union 
inspectors

05-06 Oct

Helsinki (FI)

Assistance to MS

Participation in SE national 
training

08-09 Nov

Gothenburg 
(SE)

Assistance to MS

Newcomers training 
workshop

05-06 April

Vigo (ES)

Assistance to MS

Advanced training workshop

14-15 June

Las Palmas (ES)

AII MS

EFCA Workshop

Seminar CCIC

18-19 Oct

Vigo (ES)

17

8

18

7

16

28

20

22

40

15

28

6

5

16

23

21

10

27

27

18

19

16

EFCA E-learning 
platform

Third 
countries

Assistance to 
Commission

Port inspection/sea 
inspection on line courses 
for fisheries officials/Union 
inspectors

Fisheries control and 
inspection training for officials 
from Liberia

Total

No of events: 24

All year

on line

150 registered 
users

08-09 Dec

Monrovia

14

No of 
days: 

-

No of participant: 
430 +150 
(e-learning) = 580

100%

96%

100%

-

-

-

-

-

-

100%

100%

100%

-

86%

100%

91%

-

89%

95%

100%

100%

94%

-

-

-

121

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex II. Statistics on financial management

Summary Results 2016

Description

Result / Figures of the period

Current year

Previous year

Budget implementation % of commitment appropriations (C1)

Budget implementation % of payment appropriations (C1)

Budget implementation % of commitment appropriations excluding salaries (chapters 11 
and 12) (C1)

Implementation of carried over appropriations (C8)

Budget implementation % of commitment appropriations (R0 to implement in 2016 & 
2017)

Budget implementation % of payment appropriations (R0 to implement in 2016 & 2017)

Budget implementation % of commitment appropriations (C1, C8, R0)

Budget implementation % of payment appropriations (C1, C8,R0)

Payment delay 

99,6%

88,5%

99,6%

95,3%

42,6%

35,8%

95,3%

85,2%

0,7%

99,6%

92,2%

99,5%

96,5%

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

0,1%

Budget Implementation (C1)

STAFF EXPENDITURE

Commitments (€)

Payments (€)

Carried 
Forward

Chapter

Description

Budget 2016

Transfers

CA (€)

Committed

%

PA (€)

Paid

%

€

%

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.7

Staff in active 
employment

Expenditure related 
to recruitment

Administrative 
missions and duty 
travel

Socio-medical 
infrastructure, 
training

Reception and 
representation 
expenses

5.810.000

-100.315

5.709.685

5.703.784

100% 5.709.685

5.673.928

99%

29.857

1%

110.000

-20.467

89.533

74.820

84%

89.533

62.302

70%

12.518

14%

85.000

-16.700

68.300

66.500

97%

68.300

59.887

88%

6.613

10%

142.000

-38.268

103.732

97.760

94%

103.732

80.462

78%

17.297

17%

2.000

0

2.000

1.568

78%

2.000

1.568

78%

0

0%

TOTAL TITLE I

6.149.000,00

-175.750

5.973.250

5.944.432

100% 5.973.250

5.878.147

98% 66.285

1%

122

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyBudget Implementation (C1)

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

Commitments (€)

Payments (€)

Carried Forward

Chapter

Description

Budget 2016

Transfers

CA (€)

Committed

%

PA (€)

Paid

%

€

%

2.0

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

Rental of building 
and associated 
costs

Data processing 
expenditure and 
associated costs

Movable property 
and associated 
costs

Current 
administrative 
expenditure

Postal charges and 
telecommunications

311.400

-19.620

291.780

289.813

99%

291.780

264.136

91%

25.677

9%

350.000

208.650

558.650

558.226

100%

558.650

330.448

59%

227.778

41%

31.600

12.280

43.880

43.706

100%

43.880

20.872

48%

22.834

52%

22.000

-6.400

15.600

15.445

99%

15.600

13.938

89%

1.507

10%

65.000

-4.300

60.700

60.584

100%

60.700

53.168

88%

7.416

12%

Meeting expenses

62.000

28.000

90.000

89.755

100%

90.000

89.755

100%

0

0%

Supplementary 
Services

General Info/
Communications

433.000

62.640

495.640

493.921

100%

495.640

246.656

50%

247.265

50%

55.000

1.000

56.000

55.997

100%

56.000

47.318

84%

8.680

15%

TOTAL TITLE II

1.330.000

282.250

1.612.250

1.607.448

100% 1.612.250

1.066.291

66%

541.156

34%

OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURE

Commitments (€)

Payments (€)

Carried Forward

Chapter

Description

Budget 2016

Transfers

CA (€)

Committed

%

PA (€)

Paid

%

€

%

3.0

3.1

3.2

Capacity Building

963.000

-68.300

894.700

894.558

100%

894.700

569.891

64%

324.667

36%

Operational 
Coordination

Acquisition of 
means

775.000

-38.200

736.800

736.459

100%

736.800

642.695

87%

93.764

13%

0

0

-  

-  

0%

0%

TOTAL TITLE III

1.738.000

-106.500

1.631.500

1.631.017

100% 1.631.500

1.212.586

74%

418.431

26%

TOTAL BUDGET

9.217.000

0

9.217.000

9.182.897

99.6% 9.217.000

8.157.024

88.5% 1.025.873

11%

123

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyBudget Implementation (C8)

STAFF EXPENDITURE

Chapter

Description

Carried Forward from 2015

Paid

Cancelled 

% cancelled/carry forward

1.1

1.3

1.4

1.7

Staff in active employment

Administrative missions and duty travel

Socio-medical infrastructure, training

Reception and representation expenses

18.742 

10.634 

26.331 

170 

18.133 

9.955 

609 

678 

23.301 

3.031 

170 

TOTAL TITLE I

55.877 

51.559 

4.318 

3,3%

6,4%

11,5%

0,0%

7,7%

Chapter

Description

Carried Forward from 2015

Paid

Cancelled 

% cancelled/carry forward

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

2.0

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.6

2.7

Rental of building and associated costs

26.151 

25.417 

Data processing expenditure and associated 
costs

Movable property and associated costs

Current administrative expenditure

Postal charges and telecommunications

Supplementary Services

General Info/Communications

139.022 

138.439 

9.904 

655 

5.426 

59.943 

35.820 

9.781 

655 

4.556 

56.476 

34.325 

734 

583 

123 

-  

870 

3.468 

1.495 

TOTAL TITLE II

276.921 

269.649 

7.272 

2,8%

0,4%

1,2%

0,0%

16,0%

5,8%

4,2%

2,6%

OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURE

Chapter

Description

Carried Forward from 2015

Paid

Cancelled 

% cancelled/carry forward

3.0

3.1

Capacity Building

Operational Coordination

242.664 

101.943 

235.567 

7.097 

88.597 

13.345 

TOTAL TITLE III

344.607 

324.165 

20.442 

2,9%

13,1%

5,9%

TOTAL BUDGET

677.405 

645.373 

32.033 

4,7%

124

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
Budget Implementation (R0 to implement in 2016 & 2017)

Chapter

Description

Appropiat. (€)

Committed (€)

%

Appropiat. (€)

Paid (€)

%

Commitments

Payments

1

STAFF

1.1

Staff in active employment

325.842

325.842

155.842

155.842

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

0

0

47.8%

47.8%

0%

325.842

325.842

0

153.711

153.711

0

47,2%

47,2%

0%

OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURE

Capacity Building

Operational Coordination

424.158

270.000

154.158

164.000

38.7%

424.158

114.931

27,1%

19.000

7.0%

270.000

11.153

4,1%

145.000

94.1%

154.158

103.778

67,3%

TOTAL R0 FUND SOURCE

750.000

319.842

42.6%

750.000

268.641

35,8%

2

3

3.0

3.1

Annex III. Organisational Chart

Executive Director

Secretariat

Internal Control

Governance and 
Communication

Accounting

Unit Operations

1A. Desk Operations 
in EU Waters

1B. Desk Operations 
International Waters

1C. Desk Maritime 
Operations Centre

Unit Resources and IT

3A. Human Resources 
and Legal

3B. Finance and 
Procurement

3C. Facilities

3D. ICT

Unit Programmes and 
Assistance

2A. Desk Assistance 
and Expertise

2B. Desk 
Harmonisation and 
Standardisation EU

2C. Desk Harmonisation 
and Stardardisation 
International Dimension, 
Cooperation and 
Coastguard 

2D. Desk Assistance 
Training & IUU

125

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
Annex IV. Establishment plan

Category

Authorised under the EU Budget

Filled as of 31/12/2016

Officials

TA

Officials

TA

2016

AD 16

AD 15

AD 14

AD 13

AD 12

AD 11

AD 10

AD 9

AD 8

AD 7

AD 6

AD 5

1

2

2

3

6

5

2

1

1

2

2

3

6

5

2

1

TOTAL AD

0

22

0

22

AST 11

AST 10

AST 9

AST 8

AST 7

AST 6

AST 5

AST 4

AST 3

AST 2

AST 1

TOTAL AST

TOTAL AST/SC

TOTAL

0

0

7

3

3

8

2

6

29

0

0

0

7

3

3

8

2

6

29

0

51

51

126

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex V. Information on entry levels for each type of post

Key functions (examples)

Type of contract 
(official, TA or CA)

Function group, grade of 
recruitment (or bottom of the 
brackets if published in brackets)

Indication whether the function is 
dedicated to administrative support 
or operational or neutral

Operational

Head of Department, Deputy 
Director, etc. 

Not applicable

Head of Unit (level 2)

Head of Section  (level 3)

Senior Officer

Officer, Specialist

Junior Officer

Senior Assistant

Junior Assistant

Assistant to the Director

Support

Head of Administration (level 2)

Head of Section (level 3)

Senior Officer

Officer, Specialist

Junior Officer

Senior Assistant

Junior Assistant

TA

TA

TA

TA

TA

TA, CA

TA, CA

TA

TA

TA

TA

TA

TA

AD9

AD7

AD7

AD6

AD5

AST10-11, FG III

AST1, FG II

AST4

AD11

AD7

AD7

AD6

AD5

TA, CA

TA, CA 

AST10-11, FG III

AST1, FG II

Head of Human Resources

Not applicable 

Head of Finance

Head of Communication

Head of IT

Webmaster - Editor

Secretary

Mail Clerk

Data Protection Officer

Accounting Officer

Not applicable 

Not applicable 

Not applicable 

Not applicable

TA, CA

AST/SC1-2, FG II

Not applicable

TA

TA

AD6

AD9

Internal Auditor

Not applicable

Operational

Operational

Operational

Operational

Operational

Operational

Operational

Operational

Support

Support

Support

Support

Support

Support

Support

Support

Support

Neutral

127

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex VI. Human resources by job type

Human resources by job type 2015 and 2016
EFCA  carried  out  a  benchmarking  exercise  following  the  Methodology  for  agencies  job  screening.  The  analysis  was 
made for the situation of 2015 and 2016. The results are displayed in the table below and allow a comparative view on the 
allocation of human resources (measured by working time) into predefined types of activities. 

Job Type (sub) category

2015

Administrative support and Coordination

Administrative Support

Coordination

Operational

Top level Operational Coordination

Programme management & Implementation

Evaluation & Impact assessment

General Operational

Neutral

Finance/Control

Linguistics

Total

Total

29%

25%

4%

61%

3%

50%

1%

7%

10%

10%

0%

100%

100%

2016

31 %

29 %

2 %

59 %

2.5 %

45 %

2.5 %

9 %

10 %

10 %

0%

100%

100%

128

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex VII. Procurement

Contracts signed in 2016 (figures only)

Framework Contracts awarded

Of which from an Open Call for Tenders

Of which negotiated procedures

Contracts implementing Framework Contract

Of which Order Forms

Of which Specific Contracts

Contracts (not framework contracts) awarded

Of which Purchase Orders

Of which Direct Contracts

Total legal commitments awarded

Open calls were 50% of all procedures 2016

6

4

2

79

38

41

17

10

7

102

List of Open procedures (above 135.000€) launched in 2016

Reference

Volume (as per Contract Notice)

Title

EFCA/2016/OP/01

675.000€

Workplace Improvement Services (furniture, equipment, layout & design)

EFCA/2016/OP/02

20€ million

Charter of offshore vessels for multipurpose activities
lot 1: offshore vessel in the North Atlantic (12,4 MEURO)
lot 2: offshore vessel in the Mediterranean Sea (7,6 MEURO) 
(tender was unsuccessful)

EFCA/2016/OP/03

EFCA/2016/OP/04

225.000€

Supply of office stationery and material (tender still on-going at the end 2016)

20€ million

Chartering of offshore fisheries patrol vessel (tender still on-going at the end 2016)

No negotiated procedures were carried out above 15.000€ (3 procedures under 15.000€ were carried out) in 2016. 

List of Negotiated procedures without prior publication of a contract notice based on Article 134.1.b of Commission 
Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012

Reference

EFCA/2016/NP/02

Volume

45.000€

Provision of corrective and preventive maintenance for vTrack by VISMA 
CONSULTING A/S

Title

EFCA published a Call for expression of interest (CEI) on 27/07/2016 with a view to compiling a list of experts to support 
EFCA activities in relation to capacity building and coast guard related functions.

129

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex VIII. Administrative Board decisions

(all amounts in EUR)

Date

Decision

Subject

10 March

No 16-I-04

Adoption of EFCA Annual Report 2015 

10 March

No 16-I-07

Amendment to AB Decision no 15-II-08 concerning the adoption of the MWP 2016-2020 and AWP 2016 and the final budget 
2016 for EFCA

10 March

No 16-I-10

Amendment to AB Decision No 15-II-8(1) concerning the adoption of the policy on the prevention and management of 
conflicts of interest of the EFCA

10 March

No 16-I-13

Implementing rules of the Financial Regulation of the EFCA

10 March

N/A

Extension term of office of EFCA’s Executive Director

21 June

No 16-II-2

Adoption of the MWP 2016-2020 & AWP 2016 & Final Budget 2016

21 June

No 16-II-5

Adoption of the Final Annual Accounts for financial year 2015

21 June

No 16-II-6 (1) General implementing provisions regarding Art. 54 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of EU

21 June

No 16-II-6 (2) General implementing provisions regarding Art. 87(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of EU

21 June

No 16-II-6(3)

Adoption of implementing provisions of the Staff Regulations under the procedures for implementing Art. 110 of the Staff 
Regulations

21 June

No 16-II-6(4)

Setting up Staff Committee

21 June

No 16-II-6(5)

Non-application of the Commission Decision on the maximum duration for the recourse to non-permanent staff in the 
Commission services 

11 October

No 16-III-5

Adoption of the EFCA Single Programming Document (SPD) containing the MWP 2017-2021 and the AWP for year 2017 and 
the Final Budget and Establishment Plan for year 2017 

11 October

No 16-III-6

Adoption of the draft Single Programming Document (SPD) containing the MWP 2018-2022 and the AWP for year 2018

11 October

No 16-III-9

Annual appraisal of the EFCA Executive Director

11 October

No 16-III-11(1)

Implementing rules on Working time

11 October

No 16-III-11(2)

Request for the non-application of several Commission Decisions adopting implementing provisions to the Staff Regulations 
under the procedures for implementing Art.110(2) (learning and development, middle management and function of adviser) 

11 October

No 16-III-12

Appointment of EFCA Accounting Officer

130

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex IX.  Materiality criteria 

According to current EC guidelines and reporting instructions as well as best practices, a reservation should be included 
in the annual declaration of assurance in the context of the annual activity reporting on the basis of the materiality criteria. 
Even  if  no  reservation  has  been  issued,  the  Agency  should  explain  the  materiality  criteria  that  are  applicable  in  its 
operations. 

On the basis of the materiality criteria, the Authorizing Officer is enabled to determine significant deficiencies that would 
lead to a formal reservation in the declaration of assurance. 

Types of possible weaknesses that are considered include: 
•  Significant occurrence of errors in the underlying transactions (legality and regularity) detected during the controls 

or supervision exercises; 

Insufficient audit coverage and/or inadequate information from internal control systems; 

•  Significant control system weaknesses; 
• 
•  Critical issues outlined by the European Court of Auditors, the Internal Audit Service and the OLAF; 
•  Significant reputational events. 

Materiality includes qualitative and quantitative criteria. 

From a qualitative point of view, significance of a weakness is judged on the basis of: 
•  Nature and scope of the weakness; 
•  Duration of the weakness; 
•  Existence of satisfactory compensatory measures (mitigating controls); 
•  Existence of probably effective corrective actions (action plans). 

From a quantitative point of view, a weakness is considered material and could lead to reservation if the financial impact 
or risk of loss is greater than 30.000 EUR which represents 1% of the total budget (excepting salaries) or if it implies a 
significant reputational risk.

Based on statistical information derived from the magnitude of Agency’s financial transactions, EFCA has also defined 
a practical threshold for disclosing the weaknesses and exceptions in the Annual Report if the financial impact or loss is 
estimated of being more than 2.500 EUR.

Both the materiality level and the threshold for disclosure are subject for yearly review. 

131

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex X. Annual accounts60

Balance Sheet @ 31 December 2016

31.12.2016 
(provisional)

31.12.2015
(final)

Variation

ASSETS

NON- CURRENT ASSETS

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

CURRENT ASSETS

Short-term pre-financing

Short-term receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Provisions for risks and charges

Accounts payable

Accounts payable with EC

TOTAL LIABILITIES

TOTAL NEW ASSETS

Accumulated surplus / deficit

Result of the Year

813.338

317.124

496.214

1.243.590

552.686

690.904

1.951.144

1.056.764

0

420.202

1.530.942

2.764.482

0

1.385.682

5.000

563.148

817.534

1.385.682

1.378.800

1.638.406

-259.606

0

211.812

844.952

2.300.354

0

661.947

0

422.273

239.674

661.947

1.638.407

1.794.818

-156.411

-430.252

-235.562

-194.690

894.380

0

208.390

685.990

464.128

0

723.735

5.000

140.875

577.860

723.735

-259.606

-156.411

-103.195

Statement of Financial Performance (SFP)

20016 (provisional)

2015 (final)

Variation

REVENUES

Revenues from  EU subsidy

Other exchange operating revenue 

9.444.176

0

9.124.326

11.903

319.851

-11.903

TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE

9.444.176

9.136.229

307.948

EXPENSES

Operational expenses

Administrative expenses

All Staff expenses

Fixed assets related expenses

Other administrative expenses

Net foreign exchange result

-1.143.466

-8.560.794

-5.738.091

-529.655

-2.293.632

584

-1.025.809

-8.271.206

-5.695.180

-459.468

-2.116.175

-383

-117.657

-289.588

-42.911

-70.187

-177.457

967

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

-9.704.260

-9.297.015

-407.245

Interest Income

Other Financial expenses

TOTAL FINANCIAL RESULT

SFP - Result of the Year

812

-336

476

4.697

-323

4.374

-3.885

-13

-3.898

-259.606

-156.411

-103.195

60 The information presented above is an extract of the EFCA 2016 Provisional Annual Accounts which are still subject to audit by the financial auditors. It is thus 
possible that amounts included in these tables may have to be adjusted.

132

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex XI. Executive Director KPIs

Executive Director KPI's

KPIs in Relation to Operational Obectives

To provide evidence of the Agency performance

Deliverable

Timely submission of the draft AWP (SPD)

Percentage of completion of the activities of the AWP

Timely achievement of objectives of the AWP

Target

100%

> 80%

> 80%

Achieved

100%

97%

97%

KPIs in Relation to Management of Financial and Human Resources

A)  To provide evidence of the swift, timely and full use of the financial resources allocated by the budgetary authorities

Deliverable

Rate (%) of implementation of Commitment Appropriations

Rate (%) of cancellation of Payment Appropriations

Rate (%) of outturn (total payments in year N and carry-forwards to Year N+1, as a % of the total EU funding and 
fee income, where applicable, received in Year N)

Rate (%) of payments executed within the legal/contractual deadlines

Target

>95%

<5%

<5%

> 98%

B)  To provide evidence of timely improvements in the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control systems

Deliverable

Rate (%) of external and accepted internal audit recommendations implemented within agreed deadlines 
(excluding 'desirable')

Target

100%

B)  To provide evidence of timely improvements in the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control systems

Achieved

99.6%

0.7%

0.7%

99.3%

Achieved

100%

Deliverable

Average vacancy rate 
(% of authorised posts of the annual establishment plan which are vacant at the end of the year, including job 
offers sent before 31st December)

Annual average number of days of sick leave per staff member (excluding week ends and public holidays)

Number of complaints under Article 90 (2) SR with a positive outcome per 100 staff members

Target

Achieved

<5%

<6

≤ 5

0%

6,5 (3,7)61 

0

61 In brackets the figure obtained if long term sickness (>1 month) is excluded.

133

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyAnnex XII. List of the most relevant acronyms and abbreviations

Automatic Identification Systems
Administrative Board
Accrual Based Accounting
Activity Based Budgeting
Activity Based Costing
Activity Based Management System
Automatic behaviour monitoring
Advisory Council
Associated Coordination Centre
Administrator (Staff) 
Assistant (Staff)
Annual work programme
Baltic Sea Fisheries Forum
Bluefin Tuna Catch Document
Bluefin Tuna
Baltic Sea
Contract Agent
Core Curricula
Coordination Centre in Charge
Core Curriculum Development platform
Control Expert Group
Common Fisheries Policy
Common Information Sharing Environment
Demonstration of Satellites enabling the Insertion of RPAS in Europe (H2020 project)
Declarations of Interests
European Commission
European Court of Auditors
European Coast Guard Function
Exclusive Economic Zone
Electronic Inspection Report
European Fisheries Control Agency
Environmental Management and Auditing Scheme
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
European Maritime Safety Agency
European Parliament

AIS 
AB 
ABAC 
ABB 
ABC 
ABMS 
ABM 
AC 
ACC 
AD 
AST 
AWP 
BALTFISH 
BCD 
BFT 
BS 
CA 
CC 
CCIC 
CCDP 
CEG 
CFP 
CISE 
DeSIRE  
DoI 
EC 
ECA 
ECGF 
EEZ 
EIR 
EFCA 
EMAS 
EMCDDA 
EMFF 
EMSA 
EP 

134

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EPN 
ERS 
ESA 
EU 
EUCG 
EUIPO   
FFR 
FIS 
FLUX 
FMC 
FPV 
FTE 
GFCM 
IAS 
ICC 
ICCAT 
ICES 
ICS 
ICT (also IT) 
IMDatE   
IMP 
IOC 
ISMS 
ISO 
IUU 
JRC 
JDP 
JISS 
KPI(s) 
LE 
LO 
LRIT 
MARSURV 
MCS 
MED 
MOC 
MS 

European Patrol Network
Electronic Reporting System
European Space Agency
European Union
European Union Coast Guard
European Union Intellectual Property Office
Framework Financial Regulation
Fisheries Information System
Fisheries Language for Universal Exchange
Fisheries Monitoring Centre
Fishing Patrol Vessel
Full-Time Equivalent (unit to measure the use of human resources)
General Fisheries Commission for Mediterranean
Internal Audit Service
Internal Control Coordinator
International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tuna
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Internal Control Standards
Information and Communication Technologies
Integrated Maritime Date Environment
Integrated Maritime Policy
Indian Ocean Commission
Information Security Management System
International Organisation for Standarisation
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (Fishing) 
Joint Research Centre
Joint Deployment Plan
Joint Inspection and Surveillance Scheme
Key Performance Indicator(s)
Long Éireannach (Irish Ship)
Landing Obligation
Long Range Identification and Tracking
Maritime Surveillance Information System
Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
Mediterranean
Maritime Operations Centre
Member States

135

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Multiannual work programme
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation
Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission
North Sea
North Western Waters
South Western Waters
Official Journal
Partnership, Accountability, Cooperation and Transparency
Pelagic Advisory Council
Paymaster’s Office
Proof of Concept
Regional Fisheries Management Organisation
Remotely Piloted Aircrafts Systems
Regional Steering Group
European Union Satellite Centre
Specific Control and Inspection Programme
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement
Steering Group
Steering Group on training and exchange of practice
Special Mixed Team
Seconded National Expert
Standard operational procedures
South Regional Fisheries Commission
Standing Committee on International Control
Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries
Temporary Agent
Technical Advisory Group
Technical Joint Deployment Group
Terms of Reference
Tripartite Working Arrangement
United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and E-business
Vessel Detection System
Vessel Monitoring System
Working Groups
Working Group on training and exchange of practice
Western Waters

MWP 
NAFO 
NEAFC   
NS 
NWW 
SWW 
OJ 
PACT  
PelAC 
PMO 
PoC 
RFMO 
RPAS 
RSG 
SATCEN 
SCIP 
SFPA 
SG 
SGTEE   
SMT 
SNE 
SOP 
SRFC 
STATIC   
STECF   
TA 
TAG 
TJDG 
ToR 
TWA 
UT/CEFACT 
VDS 
VMS 
WG 
WGTEE  
WW 

136

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annex XII. List of terms and projects

Capacity Building (operational activity) 
Assistance to the Member States and the European Commission in the area of control, inspection and surveillance, with 
specific regard to activities enhancing the potential of national enforcement services to apply the rules of the CFP in a 
uniform and effective manner. These activities include reporting and exchange of data on fishing, control and inspection 
activities,  arranging  the  accessibility  of  those  data  to  the  Coordination  Centre  in  Charge  (CCIC)  and  Associated 
Coordination Centres (ACCs), developing and coordinating training programmes, fighting against IUU and the possible 
acquisition of equipment necessary for the implementation of JDPs or on the request of Member States. 

Core Curricula Development Platform (CCDP) 
This online application supports the collaboration of experts, Member States (MS), the European Commission and EFCA 
for the development of Core Curricula (CC) training materials. Authorised users are able to exchange, to track comments of 
the different versions of the documents, and to manage meetings, discussion groups, calendar, news, or announcements.

EFCA Corporate systems
They include EFCA website, intranet, e-mail services, file servers and any application developed or used internally in 
support to internal EFCA activities.

EFCA Electronic Reporting System (ERS)
This system will allow EFCA to receive and parse ERS messages, exchange them with the stakeholders involved in JDP 
operations (CCIC), ensure data quality, integrity and reliability through validation operations, and to provide the user with 
a set of tools, accessible through a web user interface, to view, search, analyse and produce statistics and reports based 
on specific criteria.

EFCA Electronic Inspection Report System (EIR)
This system will allow EFCA to receive and parse EIR messages, exchange them with the stakeholders involved in JDP 
operations (CCIC), ensure data quality, integrity and reliability through validation operations, and to provide the user with 
a set of tools, accessible through a web user interface, to view, search, analyse and produce statistics and reports based 
on specific criteria.

EFCA E-Learning
The Core Curricula training modules will be adapted to e-courses and made available on this distance learning platform.

EFCA Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
The system allows EFCA to capture and process VMS data (which in addition to the vessels geographical position, course 
and speed, also includes the vessels name, registration number, radio call-sign) and to present this information through a 
geographical information system to support JDP Operations for the various areas covered by the relevant SCIPs.

137

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control AgencyFISHNET 
It is the portal to most of EFCA applications (ERS, VMS, EIR, DMS, CCDP, E-training, JADE) and the portal to provide 
EFCA stakeholders with collaboration tools (e.g. sharing data and documents, exchange information, teleconferencing). 
This system is designed to support decision making, planning, operational coordination, and assessment of joint control 
operations, and to promote remote collaboration in support to EFCA activities.

Governance and Representation (functional activity)
For  the  purpose  of  the  functioning  of  EFCA  as  an  independent  EU  body,  all  activities  deployed  in  support  of  the 
Administrative Board, the Advisory Board, inter-agency cooperation, representation and communication are considered 
as EU governance activities. The resources allocated to EFCA’s functional activity are linked to the general objectives and 
are carried out in close connection with its operational activities.

Grade size 
Fish size category by individual weight as defined in Annex II in Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 of 26 November 
1996 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products 

Gramme size 
Average weight in grams of the individual fishes determined through sample weighing of individuals in a catch or fishing 
operation in pelagic fisheries, 

Inspection
EFCA understand as an “inspection” a critical appraisal of fishing vessels, in ports or at sea, by competent inspectors for 
the purpose of determining that the vessel carried out fishing activities in accordance with conservation and management 
measures. It should imply detailed examination, measurement, testing, gauging, and comparison of all the items identified 
as compulsory by the Annex XXVII of the Regulation (EU) 414/2011. The same applies to other types of inspections as 
markets, vehicles and premises.

JADE 
JADE is a web application internally used by the EFCA coordinators to record, manage and report activity on JDPs. JADE 
stands for Joint deployment plan Activity Database.

Maritime Surveillance Information Systems
Information  systems  developed  in  cooperation  with  external  stakeholders  to  integrate  available  information  sources 
and  data  sets  within  the  framework  of  Integrated  Maritime  Policy,  inter-agency  cooperation  and  the  CISE  (Common 
Information Sharing Environment).

Operational Coordination (operational activity)
Organisation  of  the  operational  coordination  of  control  activities  by  Member  States  for  the  implementation  of  specific 
control  and  inspection  programmes,  international  control  and  inspection  schemes  adopted  by  Regional  Fisheries 
Management Organisations (RFMOs), and Operational Plans upon request of two or more Member States.

138

Annual Report 2016European Fisheries Control Agency 
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