Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, of the other part (2025–2030)
Date: 2024-12-12
Institutions: Denmark, European Union, Greenland
Subjects: Denmark, Greenland, agreement (EU), catch quota, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing rights, protocol to an agreement, sea fishing, sustainable fisheries




L_202403203EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2024/3203


30.12.2024







            PROTOCOL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF GREENLAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK, OF THE OTHER PART (2025–2030)
         



Article 1

Objective

The objective of this Protocol is to implement the provisions of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, of the other part (1) (‘Agreement’), done at Brussels on 22 April 2021. This Protocol includes an Annex and Appendices.


Article 2

Indicative fishing opportunities and process for fixing their annual level


1.   The Greenlandic competent authorities authorise Union vessels to engage in fishing activities for the species and respective management areas listed below according to the following annual indicative level (in tonnes):






Species and respective management areas in the Greenlandic EEZ outside 12 nautical miles from the baseline


Indicative opportunities




Cod in ICES subareas II, V, XII, XIV


2 050 




Pelagic redfish (REB) in ICES subareas XII, XIV and in NAFO division 1F, unless fished under the pelagic redfish flexibility scheme set out in Appendix 5 to the Annex


0 (2)





Demersal redfish (RED) (3) in ICES subareas II, V, XII, XIV


2 100 




Greenland halibut in NAFO subarea 1 – south of 68o North


1 900 




Greenland halibut in ICES subareas II, V, XII & XIV (4)



4 775 




Northern prawn in NAFO subarea 1


2 431 




Northern prawn in ICES subareas II, V, XII, XIV


4 150 




Capelin in ICES subareas II, V, XII, XIV (5)



13 000 




Mackerel in ICES subareas II, V, XII, XIV


0




Grenadier species in ICES subareas II, V, XII, XIV (6)



100




Grenadier species in NAFO subarea 1


100




By-catch


300






2.   For each year of the duration of this Protocol and no later than 1 December of the previous year, the Joint Committee shall adopt the actual level of the fishing opportunities for the species listed above, based on the indicative level set out in paragraph 1 and taking into account available scientific advice, relevant management plans adopted by the Government of Greenland or regional fisheries management organisations, the precautionary approach and the needs of the Greenlandic fishing industry.


3.   If the actual fishing opportunities for some species are lower than those indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Joint Committee may compensate with other fishing opportunities in the same year. If no compensation is agreed, the Joint Committee shall adjust the financial contribution referred to in Article 3(2), point (a), proportionately with the fishing opportunities relative to the indicative fishing opportunities in paragraph 1 of this Article.


4.   If the actual fishing opportunities are higher than those indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Joint Committee shall adjust the financial contribution referred to in Article 3(2), point (a), proportionately.


5.   Beyond the annual process as described in paragraphs 2 to 4 of this Article, additional fishing opportunities for the species listed in paragraph 1 of this Article may be offered by Greenland and accepted in whole or in part by the Union. In such circumstances, the Joint Committee shall review the additional fishing opportunities and adjust the financial contribution referred to in Article 3(2), point (a), proportionately. The Union competent authorities shall provide Greenland with a response no later than 6 weeks after receipt of the offer.


6.   Union vessels operating in the Greenlandic EEZ shall abide by the applicable rules on by-catch, both for regulated and non-regulated species, and on a discard ban.


7.   For the purposes of this Protocol, ‘by-catch’ means a catch of any marine living organism that is not mentioned as a target species on the fishing authorisation of the vessel or does not meet the minimum size requirements.


8.   By-catch shall be limited to a rate of 5 % in the Northern prawn fisheries and 10 % in other fisheries.


9.   No specific fishing authorisation shall be granted for by-catches.


10.   All catches, including by-catches and discards shall be recorded and reported by species in accordance with applicable Greenlandic legislation.


11.   No specific fishing authorisation fee shall be paid for by-catches, considering that fees laid down in the Annex to this Protocol for target species have been fixed taking into account rules on authorised by-catches.


12.   In addition and without prejudice to the by-catch rates and rules referred to in paragraphs 7 to 11, Union vessels shall implement fishing strategies to ensure by-catches of redfish and cod in Greenland halibut directed fisheries, by-catches of redfish and Greenland halibut in cod directed fisheries and by-catches of cod and Greenland halibut in redfish directed fisheries do not exceed 5 % of the authorised catches for the targeted species by trip. A trip is the period between an entry into and an exit from the Greenlandic EEZ. If a vessel is fully unloaded in a Greenlandic port, subsequent catches are treated as a new trip.



Article 3

Financial contribution and methods of payment


1.   For the period referred to in Article 13 of this Protocol, the financial contribution of the Union referred to in Article 8 of the Agreement shall be EUR 17 296 857 per year.


2.   This financial contribution shall comprise:






(a)


an annual amount for the access to the Greenlandic EEZ of EUR 14 096 857 subject to Article 2(2) to (5), and Article 7;










(b)


a specific amount of EUR 3 200 000 per year for the support and implementation of Greenlandic sectoral fisheries policy.






3.   The total amount of the financial contribution paid by the Union shall not be more than twice the amount indicated in Article 3(2), point (a).


4.   The Union shall pay the amount as set out in paragraph 2, point (a), no later than 30 June in the first year and no later than 1 March in the following years. The Union shall pay the specific amount as set out in paragraph 2, point (b), no later than 30 June in the first year and no later than 1 June in the following years.


5.   The Greenlandic authorities shall have full discretion regarding the use of the financial contribution as specified in paragraph 2, point (a).


6.   The financial contribution shall be paid into a public treasury account opened with a financial institution specified by the Greenlandic authorities.



Article 4

Sectoral support


1.   The financial contribution for sectoral support as set out in Article 3(2), point (b), shall be separate from the payments for access costs. It shall be determined by and conditional on the achievements of Greenlandic sectoral fisheries policy objectives, identified by the Joint Committee, and in the light of the annual and multiannual programming to attain them.


2.   As soon as this Protocol starts to apply and no later than 3 months after that date, the Joint Committee shall agree on a multiannual sectoral programme and detailed implementing rules covering, in particular:






(a)


annual and multiannual guidelines for using the part of the financial contribution referred to in Article 3(2), point (b), for the initiatives to be carried out each year;










(b)


the objectives, both annual and multiannual, to be achieved with a view to securing a continuation, over time, of responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries, based on the priorities of Greenland's national fisheries policy and other policies relating to or having an impact on the continuation of responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries;










(c)


criteria and procedures for evaluating the results obtained each year.






3.   Any proposed amendments to the multiannual sectoral programme shall be agreed by the Joint Committee.


4.   The financial contribution for sectoral support shall be paid based on a detailed analysis of the outcomes of the sectoral support and of the needs identified during the programming. The Union may suspend, partially or totally, payment of this specific financial contribution:






(a)


if the results obtained are inconsistent with the programming, following an evaluation carried out by the Joint Committee;










(b)


in the event of failure to implement this financial contribution in line with the agreed programming.




Suspension of the payment shall require the Union to notify its intention in writing at least 3 months before the date on which suspension is due to take effect.
Payment of the financial contribution shall resume after consultation and agreement by the Parties, or if the results of the financial implementation referred to in paragraph 5 so warrant.
Where this Protocol is suspended in accordance with Article 8, the amount of the financial contribution shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata temporis according to the period during which the application of this Protocol was suspended.


5.   The Joint Committee is responsible for the follow up of the implementation of the multiannual sectoral support programme. If necessary, both Parties shall continue this follow up through the Joint Committee after the expiry of this Protocol until the specific financial counterpart related to sectoral support set up in Article 3(2), point (b), has been fully utilised.



Article 5

Scientific cooperation

Both Parties undertake to promote cooperation as regards responsible fishing, including at a regional level, in particular within NEAFC and NAFO and any other subregional or international body concerned. The Joint Committee may consider how to ensure the sustainable exploitation of the fishery resources, in compliance with relevant conservation and management measures.


Article 6

Experimental fisheries

Parties will cooperate, including in the framework of Article 4, to implement sustainable experimental fisheries for species and stocks not included in Article 2(1) through the process set out in Chapter VI of the Annex and without consequence for the Union's financial contribution referred to in Article 3(2), point (a).


Article 7

New fishing opportunities


1.   New fishing opportunities are fishing opportunities for species and respective management areas to be included in Article 2(1), subject to a proportional increase in the part of the financial contribution referred to in Article 3(2), point (a).


2.   When an interest is expressed by either of the Parties in including a new fishing opportunity in Article 2(1), it shall be considered by the Joint Committee based on Greenlandic laws and regulations, the best available scientific advice, the need of the Greenland fishing industry, and the precautionary approach. New fishing opportunities shall thereafter be subject to the process set out in Article 2(2) to (5). The Joint Committee shall also fix the reference price for the new species and the authorisation fees to apply until this Protocol expires.



Article 8

Suspension of this Protocol and review of the financial contribution


1.   The application of this Protocol, including payment of the financial contribution, may be suspended, or reviewed as for the financial contribution, at the initiative of either of the Parties under one or more of the following circumstances:






(a)


where situations, other than natural phenomena, arise which are beyond the reasonable control of the Parties and are such as to prevent fishing activities in Greenlandic EEZ;










(b)


where, as result of significant changes in the policy guidelines which led to the conclusion of this Protocol are enacted, either one of the Parties requests a review of the provisions with a view to a possible amendment thereof;










(c)


where an unresolved serious dispute has arisen within the fisheries sector between the Parties or relating to the interpretation or application of the Agreement; or










(d)


where either one of the Parties ascertains a breach of fundamental rights as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
This point shall not apply if the breach occurs in any area of responsibility or field of competence in which the Government of Greenland, as a result of the status of Greenland as a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark, does not hold formal responsibilities or does not have formal competences.






2.   The Union may suspend the payment of the financial contribution for sectoral support provided for in Article 3(2), point (b), in accordance with Article 4(4).


3.   Suspension of the application of this Protocol, including payment of the financial contribution, shall require the Party concerned to notify its intention in writing, except in cases of special urgency, at least 3 months before the date on which suspension is due to take effect.


4.   Application of this Protocol, including payment of the financial contribution, shall resume once the situation has been remedied following actions to mitigate the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1 and following consultation and agreement between the Parties. The amount of the financial contribution shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata temporis according to the period during which the application of this Protocol was suspended.



Article 9

Termination

Following termination under the conditions laid out in Article 17(1) and (2) of the Agreement, payment of the financial contribution referred to in Article 3(2) of this Protocol for the year in which the termination takes effect shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata temporis.


Article 10

National laws and regulations


1.   The activities of Union vessels when operating in Greenlandic EEZ shall be governed by the applicable laws and regulations in Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark without prejudice to the responsibilities of Union vessels with regards to Union legislation, unless otherwise provided for under the Agreement, this Protocol, and the Annex hereto.


2.   Greenland shall inform the Union of any changes or new legislation which is relevant to foreign vessels fishing in the Greenlandic EEZ in due time before the entry into force of such changes or new legislation. Greenland will endeavour, whenever possible, to give notice of changes in legislation at least 3 months prior to implementation.



Article 11

Data protection


1.   The Parties shall ensure that data exchanged under the Agreement are used by the competent authority solely for the purpose of implementing the Agreement and, in particular, for the purposes of fisheries management, monitoring, control and surveillance.


2.   The Parties undertake to ensure that all commercially sensitive and personal data related to Union vessels and their fishing activities obtained in the framework of the Agreement, as well as all commercially sensitive information related to the communication systems used by the Union, are treated as confidential. Data related to Union vessels and their fishing activities in the framework of the Agreement, including personal data, may be published as required by relevant national law, especially § 52 in Act No 29 of 23 May 2024 on Fisheries issued by Inatsisartut (the Greenlandic Parliament), to ensure transparency with regard to fishing operations. Such law shall apply in a non-discriminatory manner to all vessels fishing in Greenlandic EEZ.


3.   Personal data shall be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.


4.   Personal data exchanged in the framework of the Agreement shall be processed in accordance with the provisions set out in Appendix 6 to the Annex to this Protocol. Further safeguards and legal remedies in relation to personal data and rights of data subjects may be laid down by the Joint Committee.


5.   Data exchanged in the framework of the Agreement shall continue to be processed in accordance with this Article and Appendix 6 to the Annex to this Protocol even after the expiry of this Protocol.



Article 12

Provisional application

This Protocol shall be applied provisionally as from the date of its signature by the Parties.


Article 13

Duration

This Protocol and the Annex thereto shall apply for a period of 6 years from the date of the start of its provisional application.


Article 14

Entry into force

This Protocol and the Annex thereto shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties notify each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for that purpose.


Article 15

Authentic texts

This Protocol shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish languages, each text being equally authentic.




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, duly authorised to this effect, have signed this Protocol.
















(1)  
            OJ EU L 175, 18.5.2021, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2021/793/oj.

(2)  Any allocation of redfish should be in line with management agreement and decisions reached at NEAFC level.

(3)  RED is the FAO code for Sebastes spp. For catch reporting, however, the species shall be encoded according to the species (REG, REB).

(4)  To be fished by no more than 6 vessels at the same time.

(5)  When catchable, subsequent to a minimum quota for Greenland of 30 000 tonnes according to the initial, intermediate and final TAC, the Union shall be offered fishing opportunities as available to a maximum of 7,7 % of the applicable capelin TAC during the fishing season and in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 5. The Union shall respond to offers for fishing opportunities made between 1 October and 31 December within 14 calendar days. For fishing opportunities offered to the Union outside this period, the Union shall endeavour to respond within 5 calendar days, and shall respond by the latest within 7 calendar days.

(6)  Roundnose grenadier and rough-head grenadier shall not be targeted, and catches shall only be taken as by-catch in association with other targeted species.




ANNEX
CONDITIONS GOVERNING FISHING ACTIVITIES BY UNION VESSELS UNDER THE PROTOCOL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF GREENLAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF DENMARK, OF THE OTHER PART
CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.   Designation of competent authority
For the purposes of this Annex and unless otherwise specified, ‘competent authority’ means:






—


for the Union: European Commission,










—


for Greenland: Ministry of Fisheries and Hunting.












2.


‘Fishing authorisation’ means a licence issued in respect of a Union vessel entitling it to carry out specific fishing activities during a specific period, in the Greenland Exclusive Economic Zone as identified in paragraph 3.




3.   Fishing zone








3.1.


The fishery shall take place within the EEZ as provided for in the Regulation No 1020 of 20 October 2004 in accordance with Royal Decree No 1005 of 15 October 2004 on the Entry Into Force of Act on Exclusive Economic Zones for Greenland entering into force Act No 411 of 22 May 1996 on Exclusive Economic Zones.












3.2.


The fishery shall take place at least 12 nautical miles off the baseline in accordance with § 13 Section 2 of Act No 29 of 23 May 2024 on Fisheries issued by Inatsisartut (the Greenlandic Parliament).












3.3.


The baseline is defined in accordance with Royal Decree No 1004 of 15 October 2004 on Amendment of Royal Degree on Delimitation of the territorial Waters of Greenland.




CHAPTER II

APPLICATION FOR AND ISSUE OF FISHING AUTHORISATIONS

1.   Conditions for obtaining fishing authorisations








1.1.


A fishing authorisation referred to in Article 2 of the Agreement may be granted only to owners of Union fishing vessels that are on the Union register of fishing vessels. In order to fish under the pelagic redfish flexibility scheme, vessels must also be notified to NEAFC in accordance with its rules. Moreover, they shall not be on any regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) IUU vessels list.












1.2.


For a vessel to be eligible, neither the owner, the master nor the vessel itself shall be prohibited from fishing in the Greenlandic fishing zone. They shall have fulfilled prior obligations arising under the Agreement, including scientific sampling as required in the fishing authorisations.




2.   Application for fishing authorisations








2.1.


Applications and fishing authorisations shall be communicated in the following manner until such time as an electronic licence system is jointly implemented by both Parties.












2.2.


The Union competent authority shall submit by electronic means to the Greenlandic competent authority the (collective) application for a fishing authorisation or fishing authorisations of one or more vessels seeking to fish under the Agreement. Such an application shall be made on the form provided in Appendix 1. For Union vessels of the same vessel owner or agent, a collective application for a fishing authorisation may be submitted provided that those vessels fly the flag of one and the same Member State.












2.3.


Each fishing authorisation application shall be accompanied by proof of payment of the fee for the species and quantities requested in accordance with paragraph 7.












2.4.


Should the Greenlandic competent authority consider an application incomplete or otherwise not satisfying the conditions under paragraphs 1, 2.2 and 2.3 the Union competent authority shall be notified of the reasons as soon as possible, and in any case within 7 working days of receipt of the application by Greenland.




3.   Issuing of fishing authorisations








3.1.


The Greenlandic competent authority shall transmit the fishing authorisation by electronic means to the Union competent authority within 10 working days of submission of the application. That electronically transmitted fishing authorisation shall have the same value as the original for the purposes of the Protocol, this Annex and Appendices hereto.












3.2.


Each fishing authorisation shall indicate the authorised quantity to be caught, as well as any limitations and specifications that may be applicable, including species, geographical zones or depths. A fishing authorisation issued under a collective application shall indicate the total quantity of the species for which the fishing authorisation fee has been paid.












3.3.


The fishing authorisation or a copy shall be held on board at all times and be presented on request of the Greenlandic competent authority.












3.4


A fishing authorisation shall be issued to one fishing vessel owner, and must indicate which fishing vessels are allowed to fish under that authorisation. Fishing authorisations shall not be transferable.












3.5.


A vessel may operate only on the authorisation or authorisations of one fishing vessel owner on any fishing trip.




4.   Amendment of fishing authorisations








4.1.


An amendment of any of the authorised quantities or conditions indicated in the fishing authorisation shall be subject to a new application.












4.2.


Without prejudice to paragraph 4.3, if the amendment of the fishing authorisation concerns quantities caught in excess of an already authorised quantity, the vessel owner shall pay a fee equivalent to three times the amount provided for in paragraph 7.1 for the quantity in excess of the authorised quantity. No new fishing authorisation shall be issued to that vessel until the fees corresponding to the exceeded quantities are paid.












4.3.


In exceptional cases where the Union fishing opportunities for the relevant species have not been used up, and for the sole purpose of avoiding interruption of fishing activities of a Union vessel fishing in the Greenlandic EEZ on a fishing authorisation under the Protocol, if the authorised quantity is likely to be exceeded by that vessel the flag State shall immediately notify the Greenlandic competent authority, with a copy to the Union competent authority, of the intention to submit a formal application for a new fishing authorisation for additional quantities of the same species. The vessel shall be allowed to continue fishing provided that a proof of payment of the relevant fees is made available by the vessel owner to the Greenlandic competent authority within 24 hours of the notification by the flag State and provided that the corresponding application for a new fishing authorisation is forwarded to the Greenlandic competent authority within 5 working days of the flag State notification in accordance with the procedure under paragraph 2. Failure to comply with these provisions shall result in the vessel being subject to the procedure under paragraph 4.2.












4.4.


In a limited number of cases, at the request of the Union competent authority, a vessel's fishing authorisation may be replaced by a new fishing authorisation for another Union vessel. The replacement shall take place on the basis of an application submitted through the Union competent authority. The new fishing authorisation shall indicate the authorised quantity to be caught corresponding to the quantity of the species for which fishing authorisation fees have already been paid less any catch already taken by the first vessel.












4.5.


A replaced fishing authorisation shall cease to be in effect on the day on which the new authorisation is issued by the Greenlandic competent authority.




5.   Period of validity of fishing authorisations








5.1.


Fishing authorisations shall be valid from the date of issue to the end of the calendar year in which the fishing authorisation has been issued.












5.2.


For the capelin fishery, fishing authorisations shall be issued according to the dates agreed by the Coastal States in their framework arrangements and in accordance with Article 2(2) and 2(3) of the Protocol.












5.3.


If Union legislation fixing the fishing opportunities for a given year for Union vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required, has not been adopted by the beginning of the fishing year Union vessels authorised to fish on 31 December in the previous fishing year may receive authorisation in the year for which legislation has not been adopted provided that scientific advice allows for that. A provisional use of 1/12th of the quota indicated in the fishing authorisation of the previous year, per month, shall be allowed provided that the applicable fishing authorisation fee is paid for the quota. The provisional quota may be adjusted in relation to the scientific advice and the conditions of the specific fishery.












5.4.


The unused quantity of a fishing authorisation for Northern prawn and Greenland halibut may be transferred, on request of the Union competent authority, on the 31 December of a given year, to the following year to a maximum of 25 % of the total quantity allocated to the fishing authorisation for the given year. That amount does not include any transfers from the previous year. Unused transferred quantities shall be transferred back to the previous year as unutilised fishing quantity after 31 December.




6.   Suspension and reinstatement of fishing authorisations
Greenland may suspend fishing authorisations provided for in this Annex where:






(a)


a specific vessel is in serious violation of Greenlandic laws and regulations; or










(b)


a court order issued in relation to a violation of a specific vessel has not been respected by the ship-owner; once the court order has been respected, the fishing authorisation for the vessel shall be reinstated for the remaining period of the fishing authorisation.




7.   Fishing authorisation fee, payment and refund








7.1.


The fishing authorisation fees to be paid by Union vessels are as follows:








Species


EUR per tonne 2025/2026


EUR per tonne 2027/2028


EUR per tonne 2029/2030




Cod


208


225


252




Pelagic redfish


136


147


165




Demersal redfish


136


147


165




Greenland halibut


321


347


389




Northern prawn – West


250


270


302




Northern prawn – East


188


203


228




Capelin


23


25


28
















7.2.


Before the Protocol starts to apply, the Greenlandic competent authority shall communicate to the Union the details of the Government bank accounts to be used for all payments by shipowners for the duration of the Protocol. The Greenlandic competent authority shall notify to the Union competent authority any change at least 2 months in advance.












7.3.


The payment of the fee shall include all national and local charges related to access to fishing activities as well as charges imposed by banks for transfers of money. If a vessel has not paid the bank transfer charge that amount will be required to be paid with the next fishing authorisation application of that vessel and is a precondition for the issuing of a new fishing authorisation.












7.4.


Should the authorised quantity not be fished, the fee corresponding to that authorised quantity shall not be reimbursed to the shipowner.












7.5.


However, if either Article 8 or Article 9 of the Protocol becomes applicable and consequently a vessel is unable to fish any part of the authorised catch for the calendar year, or if an application for fishing authorisation is not granted, the Greenlandic competent authority shall fully reimburse the authorisation fee to the vessel owner within 60 calendar days of the request for reimbursement.












7.6.


A fishing authorisation fee shall not be paid for by-catches.




8.   Reference prices








8.1.


The reference prices for the species are as follows:






Species


Live weight price in EUR per tonnes




Cod


3 000 




Pelagic redfish


1 900 




Demersal redfish


1 900 




Greenland halibut


4 960 




Northern prawn


4 726 




Mackerel


PM




Capelin


400




Grenadier species


1 735 




By-catch


2 200 
















8.2.


The annual financial contribution of the Union to Greenland in relation to the financial compensation for access to the Greenlandic EEZ, is based on payment for quotas at 17,5 % of the reference price for the agreed fishing opportunities for the species in the Protocol.




CHAPTER III

TECHNICAL CONSERVATION MEASURES

Before the Protocol is provisionally applied, the Greenlandic competent authority shall make available to the Union competent authority an English-language version of the relevant Greenlandic legislation concerning technical conservation measures, monitoring, control and surveillance.
CHAPTER IV

MONITORING, CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE


Section 1


Recording and reporting









1.


The activities of Union vessels when operating in Greenlandic EEZ shall be governed by the applicable laws and regulations in Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark without prejudice to the responsibilities of Union vessels with regard to Union legislation, unless otherwise provided for under the Agreement, the Protocol, this Annex and Appendices hereto.












2.


Without prejudice to the reporting requirements of their flag State Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC), Union vessels authorised to fish under the Agreement shall communicate their recording and reporting obligations in relation to fishing activities under the Agreement to the Greenlandic competent authority in accordance with applicable Greenlandic law. Upon the entry into force of the Electronic Reporting System (ERS), that will replace the electronic reporting provisions of Chapter IV, Section 1.












3.


The relevant paper logbooks, according to target species and gear, shall be supplied upon request by the Greenlandic competent authority and sent to the vessels representative (agent) as indicated in the application form for fishing authorisation provided for in Appendix 1. An example of each type of logbook shall also be provided to the Union competent authority and the applicable flag State FMCs.












4.


Until such time as an ERS is implemented by both Parties, existing measures for the collection and transmission of catch data shall be used. The existing paper logbooks and notices shall be completed in accordance with applicable Greenlandic law.





Electronic reporting system









1.


The Parties undertake to implement and maintain the IT systems that are necessary to ensure the electronic exchange of all information relating to the implementation of the Agreement.












2.


Detailed arrangements on the implementation of the various electronic exchanges shall be defined and approved by both Parties in the Joint Committee, in particular for reporting catches through the ERS and the procedures in the event of malfunction.












3.


The Parties agree that UN/FLUX (United Nations / Fisheries Language for Universal eXchange) standard and the FLUX TL exchange network are intended to be implemented for exchanging vessel positions, electronic logbook and possibly, in the future, the management of fishing authorisations.












4.


The ERS shall be implemented in a time frame defined by the Joint Committee based on technical provisions to be defined. The Parties shall propose to the Joint Committee the period required for the transition and implementation of the ERS, taking into account possible technical constraints.












5.


Both Parties shall define the trial period required before a transition can be made to effective use of the FLUX standard. Once those trials have been successfully completed, the Parties shall, as soon as possible, set the effective date for the transition to ERS.












6.


Once the ERS is fully functional, a vessel not equipped with an ERS shall not be authorised to engage in fishing activities under the Protocol.












7.


Greenland and the Union shall inform each other immediately of any malfunction of an IT system that prevents the communication between the FMCs.












8.


Until such time as an ERS is jointly implemented by both Parties, at the end of each fishing trip a copy of the fishing logbook shall be sent to the Greenlandic competent authority immediately after arrival in port by either mail or email.





Landings and transhipment

The master of the vessel shall transmit landing data required by the Agreement through the ERS to the Greenlandic competent authority. That should include landings made in ports outside of Greenland of catches which have been taken under a Greenlandic fishing authorisation. During the transition period, and until the time the ERS is implemented, the master shall endeavour to transmit landing data through the appropriate means as agreed by the Parties.

Section 2


Satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS)









1.


Any Union vessel authorised under the Protocol shall be equipped with a fully operational satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS) installed on board and capable of continuous automatic transmission of its position to a land-based FMC of its flag State.












2.


The VMS system of vessels subject to satellite monitoring under the Protocol shall automatically transmit vessel positions to the FMC of their flag State, which shall without delay transmit them to the Greenlandic FMC. If agreed by both Parties, the vessel positions shall be transmitted through the Union central node using the UN/FLUX standard and the FLUX TL exchange network once the agreed trial periods have been successfully completed.












3.


The flag State and the Greenlandic authorities shall each designate a VMS correspondent who shall act as the point of contact.
The FMC of the flag State and Greenland shall, prior to the date of application of the Protocol, communicate the coordinates (authority, address, telephone, email) of their respective VMS correspondent. Any changes to the contact details of the VMS correspondent shall be notified immediately.












4.


The VMS contact points shall exchange all relevant information on the vessels' equipment, the transmission protocols and any other function necessary for satellite monitoring.












5.


The arrangements for the implementation of the VMS and the procedures in the event of malfunction are set out in Appendix 3.





Section 3


Inspection at sea or in port









1.


Inspections in the Greenlandic EEZ or ports of Union vessels holding a fishing authorisation shall be carried out by vessels and inspectors of Greenland clearly identified in accordance with international convention and shall be carried out in accordance with FAO measures and any relevant Port State measures of RFMOs.












2.


The competent authority of each party may invite a representative from the other party to observe an inspection.












3.


The competent authority of each party conducting international inspection in NEAFC and NAFO regulatory areas may invite inspectors from the other party to embark an inspection vessel conducting international inspection.





Section 4


Observer scheme









1.


Fishing operations in the Greenlandic EEZ are subject to the observer scheme provided for under Greenlandic law. Masters of Union vessels holding a fishing authorisation to fish within the Greenlandic EEZ shall cooperate with the Greenlandic competent authorities for the purpose of embarking observers on board.












2.


The salary and social contributions of the observer shall be borne by the Greenlandic competent authorities.












3.


Whilst they are on board, observers shall:






(a)


take all appropriate measures so as not to interrupt or hinder fishing operations;










(b)


respect on-board property and equipment; and










(c)


respect the confidential nature of any document belonging to the vessel.
















4.


The observer shall embark in a port or at a specific location at sea agreed between the Greenlandic competent authority and the master. If the observer does not arrive to embark within 3 hours of the date and time set, the vessel owner shall be automatically discharged from his obligation to allow the observer to embark and the vessel shall be free to leave the port and start fishing operations.




5.   Observer report








5.1.


Before leaving the vessel, the observer shall submit a report of the observations made by the observer to the master of the vessel. The master of the vessel shall have the right to make comments in the observer's report. The report shall be signed by the observer and the master. The master shall receive an electronic copy of the observer's report.












5.2.


Upon receiving a request from the Union competent authority or the flag Member State a copy of the observer's report shall be transmitted by the Greenlandic competent authority within 8 working days.





Section 5


Infringements

1.   Violations and infringements
Where a Union vessel has not complied with the Protocol, in particular with catch reporting, it is considered a serious violation as referred to in paragraph 6, point (a), of Chapter II of this Annex. The Greenlandic competent authority is entitled to suspend an existing fishing authorisation until the catch reporting obligations are fulfilled. If the offence is repeated, the Greenlandic competent authority may refuse to renew the fishing authorisation of the vessel concerned. The Union competent authority and the flag State shall without delay be kept duly informed.
2.   Handling of infringements








2.1.


Any infringement committed in the Greenlandic EEZ by a Union vessel holding a fishing authorisation under the Agreement shall be mentioned in an inspection report.












2.2.


The signature of the inspection report by the master shall be without prejudice to the master's and vessel owner's right of defence in respect of an infringement.












2.3.


For any infringement committed in the Greenlandic EEZ by a Union vessel holding a fishing authorisation under the Agreement the notification of the infraction defined and the accessory sanctions imposed to the master or the fishing company shall be sent directly to the vessel owners following the procedures set in applicable Greenlandic law.












2.4.


A copy of the inspection report and the infringement notification shall be sent by the Greenlandic competent authority to the Union competent authority and the flag State competent authority by email as soon as possible.












2.5.


Where settling the infringement involves legal proceedings, before those are launched, and provided that the infringement does not involve a criminal act, an attempt shall be made to settle the presumed infringement amicably within 4 days of the notification of the infringement. If such an amicable settlement is not possible, the legal proceedings shall take their course.




3.   Detention of a vessel








3.1.


Greenland shall notify immediately the Union competent authority and the flag State of any detention of a Union vessel holding a fishing authorisation under the Agreement. That notification shall provide the reasons for the detention and shall be accompanied by documentary evidence of the infringement.












3.2.


Before taking any other measure against the detained Union vessel, its master, crew or cargo, except measures intended to protect evidence, Greenland shall designate an investigating officer and organise, at the request of the Union authority, within 1 working day of notification of the reasons for the vessel detention, an information meeting. A representative of the flag State and the vessel owner may attend the meeting.




4.   Penalties for infringements








4.1.


The penalty for the infringement shall be set by Greenland in accordance with applicable national legislation.












4.2.


In the event of an amicable settlement, any penalty to be paid shall be determined by referring to the applicable Greenlandic legislation.




5.   Legal proceedings and bank security








5.1.


If amicable settlement is not possible and the infringement is brought before the competent court, the owner of the Union vessel which committed the infringement shall deposit a bank security at a bank designated by the Greenlandic competent authority, the amount of which, as set by the Greenlandic competent authority, shall cover the costs linked to the detention of the Union vessel, the estimated fine and any compensation. The bank security may not be recovered until the legal proceedings have been concluded. However, where legal proceedings are ongoing for more than 4 years, the Greenlandic competent authority shall update regularly the Union competent authority and the flag State concerned of the steps being taken to conclude the legal proceedings.












5.2.


The bank security shall be released and returned to the vessel owner without delay after the judgment has been given:






(a)


in full, if no penalty has been imposed;










(b)


for the amount of the remaining balance, if the penalty is a fine which is lower than the amount of the bank security.
















5.3.


The legal proceedings shall open as soon as possible in accordance with the national law.












5.4.


Greenland shall inform the Union of the outcome of the legal proceedings within 14 days following the judgement.




6.   Release of the vessel and the crew








6.1.


The Union vessel shall be authorised to leave port and continue fishing once the bank security has been deposited or the penalty has been paid or the obligations arising under the amicable settlement have been fulfilled.




CHAPTER V

TEMPORARY JOINT VENTURES


Section 1


Method and criteria for assessing projects for temporary joint ventures and joint enterprises









1.


The activities of Union vessels when operating in Greenlandic EEZ shall be governed by the applicable laws and regulations in Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark without prejudice to the responsibilities of Union vessels with regard to Union legislation, unless otherwise provided for under the Agreement, the Protocol, and the Annex hereto.












2.


Greenland will inform without delay the Union competent authority should any opportunities for temporary joint ventures or joint enterprises arise with Greenlandic companies. The Union competent authority will inform accordingly all Member States of the Union. In the case of a joint undertaking, projects will be submitted and assessed in accordance with this Chapter.












3.


In application of Article 12(2), point (e), of the Agreement the Union shall present to Greenland as soon as possible and in any case no later than 10 working days in advance of a Joint Committee meeting a technical dossier for projects for temporary joint ventures and joint enterprises involving Union operators. The projects shall be submitted to the Union competent authority via the authorities of the Union Member States concerned.












4.


The Joint Committee shall as a priority encourage the full utilisation by Union vessels of the indicative quotas for species listed under Article 2(1) of the Protocol. For species where the Joint Committee without scientific advice justification has agreed annual fishing opportunities lower than indicated under Article 2(1) of the Protocol, projects for temporary joint ventures or joint enterprises for the same species and the same calendar year shall not be considered.












5.


The Joint Committee shall assess the projects in accordance with the following criteria:






(a)


target species and fishing zones;










(b)


the state of the stocks, on the basis of the best available scientific advice and the precautionary approach;










(c)


vessel details and technology appropriate for the proposed fishing operations;










(d)


in the case of temporary joint ventures, the total duration and that of fishing operations; and










(e)


previous experience of the vessel owner and the partner of the vessel owner in the fisheries sector.
















6.


The Joint Committee shall issue an opinion on the projects following the assessment under paragraph 5.












7.


For species listed under Article 2(1) of the Protocol, catches taken by Union vessels in the frame of temporary joint ventures or joint enterprises shall be without prejudice to existing sharing arrangements among Member States of the Union.





Section 2


Conditions concerning access in the framework of temporary joint ventures

1.   Fishing authorisations








1.1.


In the case of temporary joint ventures, once a project has received a favourable opinion from the Joint Committee, the Union vessels concerned shall apply for a fishing authorisation in accordance with Chapter II. Such application shall clearly indicate that it concerns a temporary joint venture.












1.2.


The fishing authorisation shall be issued for the duration of the temporary joint venture but in any case for a duration no longer than the calendar year.












1.3.


The fishing authorisation shall clearly indicate that catches will take place on fishing opportunities allocated by the Greenlandic authorities within the respective Greenlandic TAC but outside the fishing opportunities under Article 2(1) of the Protocol.




2.   Replacement of vessels
A Union vessel operating under a temporary joint venture may be replaced by another Union vessel with similar capacity and technical specifications only on duly justified grounds and with the agreement of the Parties.

Section 3


Arrangements for transfer of quota of northern prawn between authorisation holders

1.   Arrangements for transfer








1.1.


Vessel owners from Greenland and the Union may establish on a company-to-company basis arrangements for quota exchange of fishing opportunities for Northern prawn in ICES subareas II, V, XII and XIV with fishing opportunities for Northern prawn in NAFO subarea 1.












1.2.


The Greenlandic authorities shall undertake to facilitate such arrangements on receipt of a request from the Union competent authorities on behalf of Union Member States concerned.












1.3.


The maximum annual amount to be transferred, subject to scientific advice, shall be 2 000 tonnes.












1.4.


The fishery carried out by the Union vessels shall take place on the same conditions as those provided for in relation to a fishing authorisation issued to a Greenlandic vessel owner subject to the provisions of Chapter II.




CHAPTER VI

EXPERIMENTAL FISHERIES









1.


In application of Article 11 and Article 12(2), point (f), of the Agreement, where interest to engage in experimental fisheries has been notified to Greenland by the Union competent authority regarding species and stocks not listed under Article 2(1) of the Protocol:






1.1.


The Union competent authority shall present to Greenland no later than 15 days in advance of the Joint Committee meeting technical dossiers specifying:






(a)


the species to be targeted;










(b)


a proposal for the technical parameters of the campaign (technology to be used for the operation, duration, fishing zones etc.);










(c)


the expected benefits for scientific research and development of the fishing sector of the Union participation in the experimental campaign; and










(d)


an assessment of the potential impacts of the vessels' intended fishing activities demonstrating that such activities are not likely to have significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems.














1.2.


Greenland shall inform the Joint Committee about:






(a)


the details and conditions of the relevant experimental fishing campaigns conducted by domestic and third country vessels;










(b)


outcomes of any previous experimental campaigns for the same species; and










(c)


existing scientific and other information.




















2.


The Joint Committee shall assess the technical dossiers giving due consideration to the best available scientific advice and the precautionary approach.












3.


Following a positive opinion by the Joint Committee on the Union participation, its level and the technical parameters of the experimental fishing campaign, Union vessels shall submit applications for fishing authorisations in accordance with the provisions of Chapter II. The fishing authorisation shall not exceed the end of the calendar year.












4.


All provisions of Chapter IV shall be applicable to Union vessels engaging in experimental fisheries.












5.


Without prejudice to paragraph 4, during the experimental campaign at sea, Union vessels concerned shall:






(a)


notify the Greenlandic competent authority of the commencement of the campaign and submit a declaration of any catches on board before the start of the experimental fishery;










(b)


provide the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, the Greenlandic competent authority and the European Commission with a weekly report on catches per day and by haul, including the description of the campaign's technical parameters (position, depth, date and time, catches and other observations or comments);










(c)


ensure the presence on board of one Greenlandic observer or an observer chosen by the Greenlandic competent authority; the observer shall be treated as a ship's officer and the vessel owner shall cover the living costs of the observer during his stay on the vessel; the decision on the observer's time on board, the length of the observer's stay, the boarding and landing harbour will be fixed by the Greenlandic authorities; and










(d)


notify the Greenlandic competent authority of the end of the experimental campaign and submit the vessels to inspection before leaving the Greenlandic EEZ if the Greenlandic competent authority so requests.
















6.


The catches consistent with and obtained during the experimental campaign remain the property of the vessel owner.












7.


The Greenlandic competent authority will designate a contact person responsible for addressing any unforeseen problems that might hinder the development of the experimental fisheries.












8.


Based on the recommendations of the relevant scientific advisory bodies, Greenland may request the implementation of conservation and management measures with regard to the experimental fishery, including time and area closures.












9.


Union vessels concerned shall present to both Parties, no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the experimental fishery, an evaluation report addressing as a minimum:






(a)


whether the fishery went according to the proposed technical parameters; and










(b)


whether the expected benefits for scientific research and developments of the fishing sector as specified in the technical dossiers were fulfilled and, if not, why;










(c)


whether the vessel encountered unforeseen problems, including by-catches;










(d)


whether the vessel complied with paragraph 5 and, if not, that must be appropriately justified.
















10.


Where the Parties conclude that an experimental fishery has achieved positive results and if new fishing opportunities are set by the Joint Committee in accordance with Article 2(2), Article 2(4) and Article 7 of the Protocol, the Greenlandic authorities may offer fishing opportunities proportionate to the relative quota uptake by Union vessels that have participated in the experimental fishery in the previous 5 years. The quantity allocated to the Union cannot exceed 50 % unless Greenland decides to offer more. This provision shall apply until the Protocol expires.




APPENDICES TO THIS ANNEX
Appendix 1 – Application form for a fishing authorisation
Appendix 2 – Contact details for the Greenlandic competent authorities
Appendix 3 – Implementation procedures for satellite monitoring (vessel monitoring system – VMS)
Appendix 4 – VMS data format
Appendix 5 – Flexibility scheme in the pelagic redfish fishery between Greenlandic and NEAFC waters
Appendix 6 – Processing of personal data



Appendix 1
APPLICATION FORM FOR A FISHING AUTHORISATION
Application form for a fishing authorisation in the Greenlandic EEZ and on Greenlandic quota outside the Greenlandic EEZ








 


M/O/C (mandatory/ optional/conditional)


 




Licence details




1


Licence type for application (species and area)


M


 




2


Quantity applied for


M


 




3


Time period for a fishing authorisation


M


 




4


Address to which the fishing authorisation application should be mailed


 


European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, fax: + 32 2 2962338, e-mail: Mare-licences@ec.europa.eu




Vessel information




5


Flag State


M


 




6


Name of vessel


M


 




7


External identification letters and number


M


 




8


International radio call sign (IRCS)


M


 




9


IMO number


C


If the vessels has been assigned an IMO number




10


Flag state internal reference number


O


 




11


Year of building


M


 




12


Port of registration


M


 




13


Type of vessel (FAO code)


M


 




14


Primary type of fishing gear (FAO code)


M


 




15


Previous name(s) (flag State, name, IRCS, and dates for change)


C


If previous information exists




16


Inmarsat number / Iridium number (telephone, email)


C


Telephone, email optional




17


Owners, address of natural or legal person, telephone, fax, email


C


Fax optional




18


Vessel representative (agent), name and address


M


 




19


Engine power (kilowatt)


M


 




20


Length (L.O.A.)


M


 




21


Tonnage in GT


M


 




22


Freezing capacity in tonnes per day


M


 




23


Capacity of refrigerated seawater (RSW) or chilled seawater (CSW) tanks in cubic metres


M


 




24


Digital colour photograph of the vessel of adequate resolution (max 0,5  MB) to show a detailed lateral view of the vessel, including the vessel's name and identification number visible on the hull.


M


 








Appendix 2
CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE GREENLANDIC COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
Transmission of reports and notices
Reports and notices to be given according to Chapter IV, Section 1, of the Annex shall be in Greenlandic, Danish or English.
Notices shall be transmitted by coastal radio or email to the Greenland Fishing License Control Authority (GFLK) and to the Joint Arctic Command (AKO):





GFLK, telephone no. + 299 34 50 00,




Email: GFLK@NANOQ.GL




AKO, telephone no. + 299 364000,




Email: FKO-KTP-A-FIO@FIIN.DK




Fishing logbooks shall be sent to:





Greenland Fishing License Control Authority (GFLK)




P.O. Box 501, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland




Application for fishing authorisation and other permits shall be communicated to:




Ministry of Fisheries and Hunting




Email: APN@NANOQ.GL








Appendix 3
IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES FOR SATELLITE MONITORING (VESSEL MONITORING SYSTEM – VMS)
1.   Vessel position messages – VMS








1.1.


Union vessels holding a fishing authorisation under the Agreement and operating in the Greenlandic fishing zone, or fishing on Greenlandic quota in NEAFC waters (as set out in Appendix 5), must be equipped with a fully operational satellite-tracking device (vessel monitoring system – VMS) installed on board and capable of continuous automatic transmission of their position to a land-based fisheries monitoring centre (FMC) of their flag State no less frequently than once an hour while being present in the fishing zone.












1.2.


All position reports of a vessel which is fishing under the Agreement and is subject to satellite tracking under the Protocol shall, once it has entered the fishing zone, be transmitted immediately by the FMC of the flag State to the Greenland FMC. If agreed by both Parties, all position reports shall be transmitted through the Union central node. Once both parties have switched to UN/FLUX, VMS positions will be transmitted via the flag State and through the FLUX TL network operated by the European Commission. Those messages shall be sent as follows:






(a)


electronically using a secure exchange protocol;










(b)


when entering and leaving the fishing zone










(c)


in the format indicated in Appendix 4.
















1.3.


Each position message shall contain:






(a)


the vessel identification;










(b)


the most recent geographical position of the vessel with a margin of error of less than 500 metres, and with a confidence interval of 99 %;










(c)


the date and time in UTC the position is recorded;










(d)


the vessel's instant speed and course at the time the position is recorded.
















1.4.


The FMC of the flag State shall ensure the automatic processing and electronic transmission of position messages. Position messages shall be securely recorded and stored in a database for current and previous year. However, in the event of technical constraints this period may be shortened by mutual agreement.












1.5.


The VMS hardware and software components shall be tamper-proof, i.e. shall not permit the input or output of false positions and shall not be capable of being manually overridden. The system shall be fully automatic and operational at all times regardless of environmental conditions. It shall be prohibited to destroy, damage, render inoperative or otherwise interfere with the satellite-tracking device.












1.6.


The Parties agree to exchange, for monitoring and inspection purposes, information relating to the equipment used where necessary and upon request.




2.   Technical breakdown or failure affecting a vessel's monitoring equipment








2.1.


The Greenlandic and Union authorities must be immediately informed by the flag State of any technical breakdown or failure affecting the equipment used for the continuous monitoring by satellite installed on board a fishing vessel.












2.2.


The defective equipment must be replaced or repaired by first port of call where service is available and at least within 30 working days of the failure being notified by the flag State to the Greenland FMC. After that period, the vessel in question must have returned to a port designated by the authorities of Greenland for regulatory follow-up and repair, or leave the zone, provided that the flag State has sent the inspection report on the defective equipment to the Greenland FMC and informed it of the reasons for the breakdown.












2.3.


Until the equipment has been repaired or replaced, the master of the vessel shall send a global position report every 4 hours manually by electronic mail, radio or fax to the FMC of the flag State, stating the positions recorded by the master of the vessel under the conditions referred to in paragraph 1.2.












2.4.


Manual messages as referred to in paragraph 2.3 of this Appendix shall be immediately recorded by the FMC of the flag State in the database referred to in paragraph 1.4 of this Appendix and transmitted without delay by the FMC of the flag State to the Greenland FMC, using the same protocol and format as set out in Appendix 4.












2.5.


After the period referred to in paragraph 2.2, the vessel shall no longer be authorised to undertake fishing activities in the Greenlandic fishing zone.




3.   Secure communication of the position messages between FMCs








3.1.


The FMC of the flag State shall automatically send the position messages of the vessels concerned to the Greenland FMC.












3.2.


The FMCs of both Parties shall exchange their coordinates, e.g. email addresses, fax, telex and telephones, and inform each other without delay of any change to these coordinates.












3.3.


Without prejudice to future improvements being implemented, the transmission of position messages between the FMCs concerned and the flag States shall be carried out electronically by HTTPS protocol. The exchange of certificates shall take place between Greenlandic authorities and relevant flag State FMC.












3.4.


VMS data will be utilised in accordance with Article 11 of the Protocol.




4.   Malfunction of the communication system








4.1.


The Greenlandic competent authority and the FMCs of the Union flag States shall ensure the compatibility of their electronic equipment and inform the other immediately of any malfunction as regards the communication and receiving of position messages with a view to finding a technical solution as soon as possible.












4.2.


Communication failures between FMCs shall not affect the operation of the vessels.












4.3.


All non-transmitted messages during the downtime, shall be forwarded as soon as the communication is re-established between the FMCs concerned.




5.   FMC Maintenance








5.1.


Planned maintenance of an FMC (maintenance programme) which may affect the exchange of VMS data must be notified at least 72 hours in advance to the other FMC, indicating, where possible, the date and duration of the maintenance work. Information about unplanned maintenance work shall be sent to the other FMC as soon as possible.












5.2.


During the maintenance work, the provision of VMS data may be put on hold until the system is operational again. The relevant VMS data shall be sent immediately after the maintenance work has been completed.












5.3.


If the maintenance work takes more than 24 hours, VMS data shall be sent to the other FMC using a mutually agreed alternative means of electronic communication.












5.4.


Greenland shall inform its competent authorities for monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) so that Union vessels are not considered by the Greenlandic FMC as being in violation of their obligations for not transmitting VMS data, owing to the maintenance of an FMC.




6.   Revision of the frequency of position messages








6.1.


On the basis of documentary evidence pointing to an infringement, Greenland may ask the flag State's FMC, copying in the Union, to reduce the interval for sending position messages from a vessel to every 30 minutes for a set period of investigation. Greenland shall send this documentary evidence to the flag State's FMC and the Union. The flag State's FMC shall immediately send position messages to Greenland at the new frequency.












6.2.


At the end of the set investigation period, Greenland shall inform the flag State's FMC and the Union of any follow-up that is required.








Appendix 4
SECTION 1 – VMS NAF FORMAT (*)

VMS data format
Format for communication of VMS messages to the FMC of the other Party
(1)   ‘ENTRY’ message








Data Element:


Field Code:


Mandatory/Optional:


Remarks:




Start Record


SR


M


System detail; indicates start of record




Address


AD


M


Message detail; destination Party ALPHA-3 ISO country code




From


FR


M


Message detail; the transmitting Party ALPHA-3 ISO country code




Record Number


RN


O


Message detail; serial number of the record in the relevant year




Record Date


RD


O


Message detail; date of transmission




Record Time


RT


O


Message detail; time of transmission




Type of Message


TM


M


Message detail; message type, ‘ENT’




Radio Call Sign


RC


M


Vessel detail; international radio call sign of the vessel




Internal Reference Number


IR


M


Vessel detail. Unique Party vessel number as ALPHA-3 ISO flag country code followed by number




External Registration Number


XR


O


Vessel detail; the side number of the vessel




Latitude


LT


M


Position detail; position ± 99.999 (WGS-84)




Longitude


LG


M


Position detail; position ± 999.999 (WGS-84)




Speed


SP


M


Position detail; Vessel speed in tenths of knots




Course


CO


M


Position detail; Vessel course 360o scale




Date


DA


M


Position detail; UTC date of position (YYYYMMDD)




Time


TI


M


Position detail; UTC time of position (HHMM)




End of Record


ER


M


System detail; indicates end of the record




(2)   ‘POSITION’ message/report








Data Element:


Field Code:


Mandatory/Optional:


Remarks:




Start Record


SR


M


System detail; indicates start of record




Address


AD


M


Message detail; destination Party ALPHA-3 ISO country code




From


FR


M


Message detail; the transmitting Party ALPHA-3 ISO country code




Record Number


RN


O


Message detail; serial number of the record in the relevant year




Record Date


RD


O


Message detail; date of transmission




Record Time


RT


O


Message detail; time of transmission




Type of Message


TM


M


Message detail; message type, ‘POS’ (1)





Radio Call Sign


RC


M


Vessel detail; international radio call sign of the vessel




Internal Reference Number


IR


M


Vessel detail. Unique Party vessel number as ALPHA-3 ISO flag country code followed by number




External Registration Number


XR


O


Vessel detail; the side number of the vessel




Latitude


LT


M


Position detail; position ± 99.999 (WGS-84)




Longitude


LG


M


Position detail; position ± 999.999 (WGS-84)




Activity


AC


O (2)



Position detail; ‘ANC’ indicating reduced reporting mode




Speed


SP


M


Position detail; Vessel speed in tenths of knots




Course


CO


M


Position detail; Vessel course 360o scale




Date


DA


M


Position detail; UTC date of position (YYYYMMDD)




Time


TI


M


Position detail; UTC time of position (HHMM)




End of Record


ER


M


System detail; indicates end of the record




(3)   ‘EXIT’ message








Data Element:


Field Code:


Mandatory/Optional:


Remarks:




Start Record


SR


M


System detail; indicates start of record




Address


AD


M


Message detail; destination Party ALPHA-3 ISO country code




From


FR


M


Message detail; the transmitting Party ALPHA-3 ISO country code




Record Number


RN


O


Message detail; serial number of the record in the relevant year




Record Date


RD


O


Message detail; date of transmission




Record Time


RT


O


Message detail; time of transmission




Type of Message


TM


M


Message detail; message type, ‘EXI’




Radio Call Sign


RC


M


Vessel detail; international radio call sign of the vessel




Internal Reference Number


IR


M


Vessel detail. Unique Party vessel number as ALPHA-3 ISO flag country code followed by number




External Registration Number


XR


O


Vessel detail; the side number of the vessel




Date


DA


M


Position detail; UTC date of position (YYYYMMDD)




Time


TI


M


Position detail; UTC time of position (HHMM)




End of Record


ER


M


System detail; indicates end of the record




(4)   Format details
Each message in a data transmission is structured as follows:






—


double slash (//) and the character SR indicates the start of a message,










—


a double slash (//) and field code indicates the start of a data element,










—


a single slash (/) separates the field code and the data,










—


pairs of data are separated by space,










—


the character ER and a double slash (//) indicate the end of the record.




All field codes in this Annex are in the North Atlantic Format as described in the NEAFC Scheme of Control and Enforcement.
SECTION 2 – VMS UN/FLUX FORMAT
UN/FLUX format: mandatory data to be transmitted in position reports







Data


Mandatory/optional


Comments




Addressee


M


Message detail – Addressee Alpha-3 country code (ISO-3166)
Note: Part of the FLUX TL envelope




From


M


Message detail – Sender Alpha-3 country code (ISO-3166)




Unique message identifier


M


UUID according to RFC 4122 defined by IETF




Date and time of transmission


M


Date and time when the message was created in UTC according to ISO 8601, using the format YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss[.000000]Z (1)





Flag State


M


Message detail – Flag of flag State, Alpha-3 country code (ISO-3166)




Type of message


M


Message detail – Type of message
The following codes are to be used:
ENTRY: first position recorded after entering the fishing zone)
EXIT: first message recorded after leaving the fishing zone
POS: positions transmitted while being in the fishing zone)
MANUAL: position transmitted manually




Radio call sign


M


Vessel detail – Vessel international radio call sign (IRCS)




Contracting party internal reference number


O


Vessel detail – Unique contracting party vessel identifier




Unique Vessel Identifier (UVI)


O


Vessel detail – IMO number




External registration number


O


Vessel detail – Number on side of vessel (ISO 8859.1)




Latitude


M


Vessel position detail – Position in degrees and decimal degrees DD.ddd (WGS-84)
Positive coordinates for positions north of the Equator; Negative coordinates for positions south of the Equator.




Longitude


M


Vessel position detail – Position in degrees and decimals DD.ddd (WGS-84)
Positive coordinates east of the Greenwich meridian; Negative coordinates west of the Greenwich meridian.




Course


M


Vessel course 360o scale




Speed


M


Vessel speed in knots




Date and time


M


Vessel position detail – date and time of recording of the position in UTC according to ISO 8601, using the format YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss[.000000]Z (2)





The transmission of data in UN/FLUX format is to be structured in the manner set out in the separate technical implementation document to be developed and agreed by the Parties before the switch to UN/FLUX takes place.


(*)  As stated in Chapter IV, Section 1, of the Annex, the UN/FLUX (United Nations / Fisheries Language for Universal eXchange) standard and the FLUX TL exchange network are intended to be implemented for exchanging vessel positions once the agreed trial periods have been successfully completed and both parties are ready. Consequently, once the UN/FLUX format is in use, specifications related to NAF format above for the exchange of VMS positions shall be replaced by the VMS UN/FLUX format set out in Section 2 of this Appendix.

(1)  Type of message shall be ‘MAN’ for reports communicated by vessels with a defective satellite tracking device.

(2)  Applicable only if the vessel is transmitting POS messages at a reduced frequency.

(1)  YYYY= year; MM= month, including leading 0 where month number is less than 10; DD= day of the month including leading 0 where day number is less than 10; T= the letter T to indicate the part of the time section; H24= hours of the day expressed with 2 digits using the 24-hour notation; MI=minutes expressed as 2 digits; SS=seconds expressed as 2 digits; [.000000]= optionally fractions of seconds may be included, not including the brackets; Z= time zone, which must be Z (i.e. UTC).

(2)  YYYY= year; MM= month, including leading 0 where month number is less than 10; DD= day of the month including leading 0 where day number is less than 10; T= the letter T to indicate the part of the time section; H24= hours of the day expressed with 2 digits using the 24-hour notation; MI=minutes expressed as 2 digits; SS=seconds expressed as 2 digits; [.000000]= optionally fractions of seconds may be included, not including the brackets; Z= time zone, which must be Z (ie. UTC).




Appendix 5
FLEXIBILITY SCHEME IN THE PELAGIC REDFISH FISHERY BETWEEN GREENLANDIC AND NEAFC WATERS

1.   

To fish under the flexibility scheme in the pelagic redfish fishery between Greenlandic and NEAFC waters a Union vessel shall be in possession of a fishing authorisation issued by Greenland in accordance with Chapter II of the Annex to the Protocol. The application and the fishing authorisation will clearly refer to activities outside the Greenlandic EEZ.



2.   

All measures concerning that fishery in the NEAFC regulatory area adopted by NEAFC shall be observed.



3.   

A Union vessel may only fish its Greenlandic redfish quota once it has exhausted its share of the Union NEAFC redfish quota allocated by its flag State.



4.   

A vessel may fish its Greenlandic quota within the same NEAFC area, where its NEAFC quota has been caught, subject to paragraph 5.



5.   

A Union vessel may fish its Greenlandic quota within the redfish conservation area (RCA) under the conditions as set out in the NEAFC recommendation on the management of redfish in the Irminger sea and adjacent waters, but excluding any part which lies within the fishing zone of Iceland.



6.   

A Union vessel carrying out fishing activities in the NEAFC Regulatory Area shall transmit a VMS position report to NEAFC via its flag State's FMC in accordance with regulatory requirements. Whilst fishing on the Greenlandic quota within the NEAFC RCA, the flag State's FMC shall specifically arrange for the results of hourly polling of the vessel's VMS position report to be transmitted to the Greenland FMC in near real time.



7.   
Master of the vessel shall ensure that when reporting to NEAFC and the Greenlandic authorities, redfish catches which have been caught in the NEAFC regulatory area under the Greenlandic flexibility scheme are clearly identified as caught on the Greenlandic fishing authorisation issued under the flexibility scheme.
Before commencing to fish on its Greenlandic fishing authorisation, a vessel shall transmit a NOTICE OF ACTION report.
While fishing on a Greenlandic fishing authorisation a DAILY CATCH report shall be transmitted daily by no later than 23:59 UTC.
On stopping its fishing activities on the Greenlandic quota, a vessel shall transmit an END OF ACTION report.
The NOTICE OF ACTION report, the DAILY CATCH report and the NOTICE END OF ACTION report shall be reported in accordance with Chapter IV, Section 2, of the Annex.


8.   

To enhance the protection of the areas of larval extrusion, fishing activities shall not commence prior to the date set out in the NEAFC recommendation on the management of redfish in the Irminger sea and adjacent waters.



9.   

The flag State shall report catches taken under the Greenlandic quota in Greenlandic waters and in the NEAFC regulatory area to the Union authorities. That shall include all catches taken under the flexibility scheme clearly identifying the catch and corresponding fishing authorisation.



10.   

At the end of the fishing season each flag State FMC shall transmit to the Greenlandic authorities catch statistics on the pelagic redfish fishery under this flexibility scheme.






Appendix 6
PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA
1.   Definitions and scope
1.1.   Definitions
For the purposes of this Appendix, the definitions set out in Article 2 of the Agreement and the following definitions shall apply:






(a)


‘personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (‘data subject’); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, or location data;










(b)


‘processing’ means any operation or set of operations performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction;










(c)


‘transferring authority’ means a public authority that sends personal data;










(d)


‘receiving authority’ means a public authority to which personal data are disclosed;










(e)


‘data breach’ means a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed;










(f)


‘onward transfer’ means the transfer of personal data by a receiving party to an entity that is not a signatory to the Protocol (‘third party’);










(g)


‘supervisory authority’ means an independent public authority responsible for monitoring the application of this Appendix in order to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons in relation to the processing of personal data.




1.2.   Scope
The persons concerned by the Protocol are, in particular, natural persons who own fishing vessels, their representatives, the master and crew serving on board fishing vessels operating under the Protocol.
With regard to the implementation of the Protocol, in particular as regards grant applications, monitoring of fishing activities and the fight against illegal fishing, the following data could be exchanged and further processed:






—


the identification and contact details of the vessel;










—


the activities of a vessel or relating to a vessel, its position and movements, its fishing activity or fishing-related activity, collected through checks, inspections or observers;










—


data relating to the owners of the vessel or their representative, such as name, nationality, business contact details and business bank account;










—


data relating to the local agent, such as name, nationality and business contact details;










—


data relating to the vessel masters and crew members, such as names, nationality, function and, in the case of the master, his or her contact details;










—


data relating to the fishers taken on board, such as name, contact details, training and health certificate.




1.3.   Responsible authorities
The authorities responsible for processing the data are the European Commission and the authority of the flag Member State, for the Union, and Greenlandic authority.
2.   Personal data protection safeguards
2.1.   Purpose limitation and data minimisation
The personal data requested and transferred under the Protocol shall be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the implementation of the Protocol, i.e. for the processing of fishing authorisations and for the control and monitoring of Union vessels' activities. The Parties shall exchange personal data under the Protocol only for the specific purposes set out in the Protocol.
The data received shall not be processed for purposes other than those referred to in first subparagraph, or else they shall be anonymised.
Upon request, the receiving authority shall inform the transferring authority without delay of how the data provided are used.
2.2.   Accuracy
The Parties shall ensure that personal data transferred under the Protocol are accurate, up to date and, where appropriate, regularly updated on the basis of the knowledge of the transferring authority. If one of the Parties finds that the personal data transferred or received are inaccurate, it shall inform the other Party without delay and shall correct and update them as necessary.
2.3.   Storage limitation
Personal data shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for the purpose for which they were exchanged. They shall be deleted at the latest 1 year after expiry of the Protocol, unless they are necessary to comply with obligations under Chapter 12 of the Greenlandic Fisheries Act (Act No 29 of 23 May 2024 on Fisheries) or to follow up an infringement, inspection or judicial or administrative proceedings. In the latter case, the data may be kept for as long as is necessary to enable the infringement or inspection to be followed up or until the judicial or administrative proceedings have been definitively closed. With regard to personal data necessary to comply with obligations under Chapter 12 of the Greenlandic Fisheries Act (Act No 29 of 23 May 2024 on Fisheries) data shall be deleted at the latest 5 years after the data was obtained under the Protocol.
If personal data are kept for longer, they shall be anonymised.
2.4.   Security and confidentiality
Personal data shall be processed in such a way as to ensure that they are appropriately secure, taking into account the specific risks of processing, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage. The authorities responsible for processing shall address any data breach and take all measures necessary to remedy or mitigate any adverse effects of a personal data breach. The receiving authority shall notify such a breach to the transferring authority as soon as possible, and the two authorities shall cooperate with each other in a timely manner as necessary for each to comply with its obligations arising as a result of a personal data breach under its national legal framework.
The Parties undertake to put appropriate technical and organisational measures in place to ensure that processing is compliant with the Protocol.
2.5.   Rectification or erasure
Both Parties shall ensure that the transferring and receiving authorities take all reasonable steps to ensure that personal data are, as appropriate, rectified or erased without delay if the processing is not compliant with the Protocol, in particular because the data are not adequate, relevant or accurate or they are excessive in relation to the purpose of the processing.
The two Parties shall notify each other of any rectification or erasure.
2.6.   Transparency
The Parties shall ensure that data subjects are informed, by way of individual notification and publication of the Agreement on their websites, of the categories of data transferred and further processed, the manner in which personal data are processed, the relevant tool used for the transfer, the purpose of the processing, the third parties or categories of third parties to which the information may be further transferred, the individual rights and mechanisms available to them to exercise their rights and obtain redress, and details of where they can bring proceedings or lodge complaints.
2.7.   Onward transfer
The receiving authority shall transfer personal data received under the Protocol to a third party established in a country other than the flag Member States only if this is justified by an important public interest objective that is also recognised in the legislation applicable to the transferring authority and if the other requirements laid down in this Appendix (in particular as regards purpose limitation and data minimisation) are met, and






(a)


if the European Commission has adopted an adequacy decision pursuant to Article 45 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) in respect of the country where the third party is located or where the international organisation is located, and that decision covers the onward transfer; or










(b)


in specific cases, where such transfer is necessary for the transferring authority to fulfil its obligations towards regional fisheries management organisations or regional fisheries organisations; or










(c)


in exceptional cases and where deemed necessary, provided that the third party undertakes to process the data only for the specific purposes for which they are further transferred and to erase them as soon as processing is no longer necessary for that purpose.




3.   Data subject rights
3.1.   Access to personal data
At the request of a data subject, the receiving authority shall:






(a)


confirm to the data subject whether or not personal data relating to the data subject are being processed;










(b)


provide information on the purpose of the processing, categories of personal data, storage period (if possible), right to request rectification/deletion, right to lodge a complaint, etc.;










(c)


provide a copy of the personal data;










(d)


provide general information on the applicable safeguards.




3.2.   Correction of personal data
At the request of a data subject, the receiving authority shall rectify any of the data subject's personal data that are incomplete, inaccurate or obsolete.
3.3.   Deletion of personal data
At the request of a data subject, the receiving authority shall:






(a)


erase any personal data relating to the data subject that have been processed in a manner that is not compliant with the safeguards set out in the Protocol;










(b)


erase any personal data relating to the data subject that are no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were lawfully processed;










(c)


discontinue the processing of personal data if the data subject objects on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, unless there are compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject.




3.4.   Detailed arrangements
The receiving authority shall respond promptly, within a reasonable time frame and in any event within 1 month of the request, to requests from data subjects concerning access to – or rectification or erasure of – their personal data. The receiving authority may take appropriate steps, such as charging reasonable fees to cover administrative costs or refusing to act on a request that is manifestly unfounded or excessive.
If a data subject's request is refused, the receiving authority shall inform the data subject of the reasons for the refusal.
3.5.   Restrictions
The rights under this Appendix may be restricted if such restriction is laid down in law and is necessary and proportionate in a democratic society for the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences.
Those rights may also be restricted in order to safeguard a monitoring, inspection or regulatory function connected, even occasionally, to the exercise of official authority.
They may also be restricted, under the same conditions, for the protection of the data subject or of the rights and freedoms of others.
4.   Redress and independent supervision
4.1.   Independent supervision
Compliance of the processing of personal data with the Protocol shall be subject to independent supervision by an external or internal body that exercises independent supervision and has investigative and remedial powers.
4.2.   Supervisory authorities
For the Union, such supervision shall be exercised by the European Data Protection Supervisor, where the processing falls under the competence of the European Commission, or by the national data protection supervisory authorities, where it falls under the competence of the flag Member State.
For Greenland, The Danish Data Protection Agency (Datatilsynet) shall be competent.
The authorities referred to above shall deal with and resolve complaints from data subjects relating to the processing of their personal data under the Protocol in an effective and timely manner.
4.3.   Right of redress
Each Party shall ensure that, within its legal system, a data subject who believes that an authority has failed to comply with the safeguards set out in Article 11 of the Protocol and this Appendix, or who believes that his or her personal data have been subject to a breach, may seek compensation from that authority to the extent permitted by the applicable legislation before a court of law or equivalent body.
In particular, any complaint against either authority may be addressed to the European Data Protection Supervisor, in the case of the European Commission, and to the Danish Data Protection Agency, in the case of Greenland. In addition, certain complaints against either authority may be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union, in the case of the European Commission, and before the Courts of Greenland, in the case of Greenland.
In the event of a dispute or a complaint lodged by a data subject in connection with the processing of his or her personal data against the transferring authority, the receiving authority or both authorities, the authorities shall inform each other thereof and make every effort to resolve the dispute or complaint amicably as soon as possible.
4.4.   Exchange of information
The Parties shall keep each other informed of any complaints they receive concerning the processing of personal data under the Protocol and of their resolution.
5.   Review
If necessary, the Parties may agree on reviewing its personal data processing policies and procedures to verify and confirm that the safeguards set out in Article 11 of the Protocol and this Appendix are implemented effectively in the Joint Committee.
6.   Suspension of transfer
Where the Parties are unable to amicably settle disputes concerning the processing of personal data in accordance with this Appendix, the transferring Party may suspend or terminate the transfer of personal data until it considers that the matter has been satisfactorily resolved by the receiving Party. Data already transferred shall continue to be processed in accordance with this Appendix.


(1)  Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ EU L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj).




ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/prot/2024/3203/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)