Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1168 of 27 April 2021 establishing the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds as part of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022
Date: 2021-04-27
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, aquaculture, common fisheries policy, data collection, fishery management, fishery research, fishery resources, fishing industry, sustainable fisheries




L_2021253EN.01009201.xml










16.7.2021   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 253/92








            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2021/1168
of 27 April 2021
         
establishing the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds as part of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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


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

Whereas:







(1)


Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) requires the Member States to collect the biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data that are necessary for fisheries management.












(2)


Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 requires the Commission to establish a multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector (EU MAP).












(3)


The EU MAP is necessary for Member States to specify and plan their data collection activities in their national work plans. It sets out a detailed list of data requirements for the collection and management of biological, environmental and socioeconomic data, lists mandatory surveys at sea and sets thresholds for data collection. The EU MAP for 2020-2021 was adopted by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 (3) and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 (4). Both decisions expire on 31 December 2021.












(4)


This Decision therefore establishes the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data from their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea, as referred to in Article 5(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 from 1 January 2022. It also lays down the areas of marine regions for the purposes of data collection as referred to in Article 9(11) of that Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.












(5)


The Commission has consulted the relevant regional coordination groups and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries in line with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.












(6)


This Decision is to be read in conjunction with Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 (5) which repeals Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 and lays down detailed arrangements on the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data by Member States, as referred to in Article 5(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, from 1 January 2022.












(7)


For reasons of legal certainty, Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 should be repealed with effect from 1 January 2022.












(8)


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





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The list of mandatory research surveys at sea, the definitions of geographical areas applicable for the collection of Union fisheries data and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data from their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea from 2022 is set out in the Annex to this Decision. The list of surveys and thresholds form part of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries sector, as referred to in points (b) and (c) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.


Article 2
Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 is repealed.


Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2022.




Done at Brussels, 27 April 2021.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





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

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

(3)  Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 of 13 March 2019 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, p. 27).

(4)  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 of 18 February 2019 establishing the list of mandatory research surveys and thresholds for the purposes of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, p. 21).

(5)  Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 of 27 April 2021 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022 (See page 51 of this Official Journal).




ANNEX
CHAPTER I

Research surveys at sea









1.


The research surveys at sea listed in table 1 below shall be carried out, as a minimum, unless a scientific review of surveys concludes that one or more of those surveys are no longer appropriate for informing stock assessment and fisheries management. New surveys may be added to the table on the basis of the same review criteria.
In the national work plans referred to in Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), Member States shall set out the research surveys at sea to be carried out and shall be responsible for these surveys.
Member States’ national work plans, or regional work plans where applicable, shall ensure continuity with previous survey designs.












2.


It is not mandatory for Member States to participate (physically or financially) in single-species research surveys at sea where:






(a)


their share of a Union total allowable catch (TAC) for the main target species (as listed in the table) is below 3 % unless another threshold of up to 5 % is agreed at marine region level; or










(b)


where no TAC is fixed, their share of the relevant total Union landings is below 3 % in the 3 preceding years unless another threshold of up to 5 % is agreed at marine region level.
















3.


For multispecies and ecosystem surveys, thresholds may be set at marine region level.












4.


Member States contributing to international research surveys shall coordinate their efforts within the same marine region.

Table 1


Research surveys at sea











Name of survey




Acronym




Area(s)




Main target species




Regional coordination group (RCG) governance






Baltic Sea (ICES areas 3aS, 3b-d)





Baltic International Trawl Survey


BITS_Q1


3aS, 3b-d


BLL COD DAB FLE HER PLE TUR


Baltic RCG




Baltic International Trawl Survey


BITS_Q4


3aS, 3b-d


BLL COD DAB FLE HER PLE TUR




Baltic International Acoustic Survey (autumn)


BIAS


3a, 3b-d


HER SPR




Gulf of Riga Acoustic Herring Survey


GRAHS


3d


HER




Sprat Acoustic Survey


SPRAS


3d


SPR




Rügen Herring Larvae Survey


RHLS_DEU


3d


HER




Fehmarn Juvenile Cod Survey


FEJUCS


3c SD22


COD





North Sea and Eastern Arctic (ICES areas 1, 2, 3a, 4, 7d)





Kattegat Cod Survey


CODS_Q4


3a


COD


North Sea and Eastern Arctic RCG




International Bottom Trawl Survey


IBTS_Q1


3a, 4


COD FLE GUG HAD HER NOP PLE RJC RJM RJN RJR SPR SYC TUR WHG WIT




International Bottom Trawl Survey


IBTS_Q3


3a, 4


COD HAD HER NOP PLE POK RJC RJH RJM RJN RJR SPR SYC TUR WHG WIT


 




North Sea Beam Trawl Survey


BTS


4b, 4c, 7d


DAB PLE RJC RJE RJM SDV SOL SYC SYT TUR


 




Demersal Young Fish Survey


DYFS


Coasts of NS


SOL


 




Sole Net Survey


SNS_NLD


4b, 4c


SOL TUR


 




North Sea Sandeels Survey


NSSS


4a, 4b


SAN


 




International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Seas


ASH


2a


HER


 




Mackerel Egg Survey (triennial)


NSMEGS


4


MAC


 




Herring Larvae Survey


IHLS


4, 7d


HER


 




NS Herring Acoustic Survey


NHAS


3a, 4, 6a


HER SPR


 




Nephrops UWTV survey


UWTV3-4, UWTV6, UWTV7, UWTV8, UWTV9


3a, 4a, 4b


NEP


 





North Atlantic (ICES areas 5-14 and NAFO areas)





International Redfish Trawl and Acoustic Survey (triennial)


REDTAS


5a, 12, 14; NAFO SA 1-3


REB


North Sea and Eastern Arctic RCG




Flemish Cap Groundfish Survey


FCGS


3M


AME COD GRE NOR RED ROU SHO




Greenland Groundfish Survey


GGS


14, NAFO SA1


COD RED REG




3LNO Groundfish Survey


PLATUXA_ESP


NAFO 3LNO


AME COD GRE NOR RED ROU THO WHI WIT YEL




Western IBTS 4th quarter (including porcupine survey)


IBTS_Q4


6a, 7, 8, 9a


OCTs MON ANK ANF BOC BSS COD CTL DGS GAG GFB HAD HER HKE HOM LDB MAC MEG LEZ LDB NEP PLE RJC RJM RJN RNG SDV SHO SQZ SYC WHG


North Atlantic RCG




Western IBTS 1st quarter


IBTS_Q1


6a, 7a


OCTs COD CTL HAD HER HOM LEZ MAC NEP PLE RJC RJM RJN SDV SHO SYC WHG




ISBCBTS September


ISBCBTS


7afg


PLE RJC RJE RJH RJM SDV SOL SYC




Western Channel Beam Trawl Survey


SWECOS_GBE


7efgh


RJB RJC RJE RJH RJM SDV SOL SYC




Blue Whiting Survey


IBWSS


6, 7


WHB




International Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Survey (triennial)


MEGS


6, 7, 8, 9a


HOM MAC




Sardine, Anchovy Horse Mackerel Acoustic Survey


SAHMAS


8, 9


ANE BOC HOM PIL




Sardine DEPM (triennial)


SDEPM


8c, 9a


HOM PIL




Spawning/Pre-spawning Herring/Boarfish Acoustic Survey


WESPAS_IRL


6a, 7a-g


BOC HER




Biomass of Anchovy


BIOMAN


8


ANE PIL




Nephrops UWTV Survey


UWTV11-13, UWTV14, UWTV15, UWTV16-17, UWTV19, UWTV20-22, UWTV30


6a, 7a, 7b, 7ghj, 9a


NEP LDB GFB SHO




Nephrops Survey Offshore Portugal (FU 28-29)


NepS


9a


NEP




Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey


CSHAS_IRL


6a, 7gj


HER




Acoustic Survey on Sardine and Anchovy


ECOCADIZ_ESP


9a


ANE




Swept Area Trawl Survey for Mackerel


IESSNS


2, 3aN, 4, 5, 14


MAC HER WHB




Acoustic Survey for Juvenile Anchovy in the Bay of Biscay


JUVENA_ESP


8a-d


ANE




Bay of Biscay Demersal Resources Survey


ORHAGO_Q4_FRA


8ab


SOL




Deepwater Longline Survey


PALPRO_ESP


8c


GFB




Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey


IAMS_IRL


6a, 7


MON ANK ANF
MEG LEZ LDB




Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (industry-science survey)


SIAMISS_GBS


4a, 4b, 6a, 6b


ANF LEZ




Western Channel Celtic Sea Pelagic Survey


PELTIC


7de


PIL ANE SPR




Herring Acoustic Survey


ISAS


7a


HER





Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea





Pan-Mediterranean Acoustic Survey


MEDIAS


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


ANE PIL


Mediterranean and Black Sea RCG




Bottom Trawl Survey in Black Sea


BTSBS


GSA 29


DGS TUR WHG




Pelagic Trawl Survey in Black Sea


PTSBS


GSA 29


SPR




International Bottom Trawl Survey in the Mediterranean


MEDITS


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


according to the target species list from a relevant MEDITS handbook




Beam Trawl Survey (GSA 17)


SOLEMON


GSA 17


CTC MTS SOL




Bluefin Tuna Larval Survey


TUNIBAL


GSA 5, 6 (Balearic Sea)


ALB BFT


Large pelagic RCG








CHAPTER II

Thresholds for data collection









1.


This Chapter sets thresholds for the collection of Union fisheries data specified in Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 (2).












2.


It is not mandatory for Member States to collect biological data for certain stocks where one of the following conditions is met:






(a)


their share of the relevant (individual or combined) TAC is less than 10 % of the Union total, unless the sum of the shares of the Member States concerned exceeds 25 % of the TAC; or










(b)


where no TAC is fixed, the total landings of a Member State from a stock are less than 10 % of the relevant average total European Union landings in the previous 3 years; or










(c)


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




Where the collective 25 % threshold referred to in point (a) is reached, the Member States concerned shall share tasks relating to the collection of biological data at marine region level to ensure that the relevant stocks are covered by sampling in accordance with end-user needs.












3.


For species under tuna regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), thresholds as set out in RFMO requirements shall apply.












4.


No thresholds shall apply to:






(a)


diadromous species; and










(b)


sensitive species as defined in Article 6(8) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).
















5.


No thresholds shall apply to obtaining catch estimates from recreational catches. Thresholds on biological data collection from recreational catches shall be agreed and coordinated at marine region level and shall be based on end user needs.












6.


Without prejudice to specific international obligations under RFMOs, it is not mandatory to collect biological data where the Union’s share of an internationally exploited stock is less than 10 %.












7.


As regards the collection of social, economic and environmental data on aquaculture:






(a)


it is not mandatory for Member States to collect such data if their total aquaculture production is less than 1 % of total Union aquaculture production by both weight and value;










(b)


it is not mandatory for Member States to collect such data for species accounting for less than 5 % of the Member State’s aquaculture production by both weight and value; and










(c)


where the total aquaculture production of a Member State is between 1 % and 2,5 % of total Union aquaculture production by both weight and value, that Member State may use simplified methodologies to estimate such data.




The thresholds referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) shall be calculated on the basis of the latest Eurostat publication of the relevant Member State’s data.
Without prejudice to points (a), (b) and (c), Member States shall collect data on the value and weight of their aquaculture production, on a yearly basis.




CHAPTER III

Geographical stratification by region

For the purposes of the collection of Union fisheries data specified in the Annex to Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167, the definitions of the geographical areas of marine regions listed in table 2 below shall apply.

Table 2


Geographical stratification by region










Areas that should be covered for DCF purposes




Region




Supra region
 (4)





Baltic Sea (FAO area 27)


ICES areas 3b-d


Baltic Sea


Baltic Sea; North Sea; Eastern Arctic; NAFO; extended North Western waters (ICES areas 5, 6 and 7) and extended South Western waters (ICES areas 10, 12 and 14)




Eastern Arctic, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, North Sea and Eastern Channel,
North-East Atlantic and Western Channel (FAO area 27)


ICES areas 1, 2, 3a, 4 and 7d


North Sea and Eastern Arctic




ICES zones 5, 6, 7 (excluding 7d), 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14


North-East Atlantic




North-West Atlantic (FAO area 21)


NAFO Convention area


Other regions where fisheries are operated outside EU waters by Community vessels and are under reporting obligations to Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO) or regional fisheries bodies to which the Community is contracting party or observer.




Eastern Central Atlantic (FAO area 34)


CECAF Convention area


Other regions




Western Central Atlantic (FAO area 31)


WECAFC (*1) Convention area




South-East Atlantic (FAO area 47)


SEAFO Convention area




South Pacific (FAO area 81 and 87)


SPRFMO Convention area




Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas (FAO 21, 27, 31, 37, 41, 47, 34, 48)


ICCAT Convention area




Indian Ocean (FAO area 51 and 57)


IOTC Convention area




Indian Ocean (FAO area 51 and 57)


SIOFA Convention area




Indian Ocean (FAO area 51 and 57)


CCSBT Convention area




Western Central Pacific (FAO area 71)


WCPFC Convention area




Eastern Central Pacific (FAO area 77 and 87)


IATTC Convention area




Antarctic and Southern Indian Ocean (FAO area 48, 58 and 88)


CCAMLR Convention area




EU Outermost Regions


EU waters around Mayotte and la Réunion Islands


Outermost regions




EU waters around French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe islands




EU waters around Azores (FAO 27.10.a.2)


Baltic Sea; North Sea; Eastern Arctic; NAFO; extended North Western waters (ICES areas 5, 6 and 7) and extended South Western waters (ICES areas 10, 12 and 14)




EU waters around Madeira and Canary Islands (FAO 34.1.2)




Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea (FAO area 37)


GFCM GSA 1-29


Mediterranean and Black Sea


Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea






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

(2)  Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 of 27 April 2021 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022 (OJ L 253, … 51).

(3)  Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005 (OJ L 198, 25.7.2019, p. 105).

(4)  Each vessel not engaged in long distance fishing shall be allocated to a supra region based on the number of days at sea (more than 50 %) spent in the supra region.

(*1)  excluding EU waters