31.1.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 28/29
4.
No more than three supply vessels shall operate in support of not less than ten purse-seine vessels, all flying the flag of a Member State.
This provision shall not apply to Member States using only one supply vessel. 5.
A single purse-seine vessel shall not be supported by more than one supply vessel flying the flag of a Member State at any time.
6.
The Union shall not register new or additional supply vessels in the IOTC record of authorised vessels.
Article 32 Sharks 1.
It shall be prohibited to retain on board, tranship or land any part or whole carcass of thresher sharks of all species of the Alopiidae family in any fishery. 2.
It shall be prohibited to retain on board, tranship or land any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in any fishery, except for fishing vessels under 24 m overall length engaged solely in fishing operations in their flag Member State’s exclusive economic zone, provided that their catch is destined solely for local consumption. 3.
When accidentally caught, specimens of the species referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.
Article 33 Mobulid rays 1.
Union fishing vessels shall not fish for, and shall not retain on board, tranship, land, store, offer for sale or sell any part or whole carcass of mobulid rays (Mobulidae family, including the genera Manta and Mobula), except where the fish caught are consumed directly by the fishers’ families (‘subsistence fishery’).
However, mobulid rays that are unintentionally caught through artisanal fishing (fisheries other than surface fisheries, i.e. purse seines, pole and line, gillnet fisheries, handline and trolling vessels, or longline fisheries undertaken by vessels registered in the IOTC record of authorised vessels) may be landed for purposes of local consumption. 2.
All fishing vessels, other than those engaged in subsistence fishery, shall promptly release mobulid rays alive and unharmed, to the extent practicable, as soon as they are seen in the net, on the hook or on the deck, in a manner that will result in the least possible harm to those specimens.
Section 6 S P R F M O C o n ve n t i o n a r e a
Article 34 Pelagic fisheries 1.
Only those Member States that have actively exercised pelagic fisheries activities in the SPRFMO Convention area in 2007, 2008 or 2009 may fish for pelagic stocks in that area in accordance with the TACs set out in Annex IH. 2.
The Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall limit the total gross tonnage of fishing vessels flying their flag and fishing for pelagic stocks in 2023 to the total Union level of 78 600 gross tonnage in that area.