L 28/6
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
31.1.2023
(29)
For the first time, ICCAT also adopted a management procedure (MP) for Atlantic bluefin tuna.
This measure aims to ensure long-term, sustainable and profitable fisheries of both the western stock and eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock.
The MP implements the management objectives for Eastern and Western Bluefin Tuna, including the adoption of management cycles of three years, and an implementation schedule up to 2028.
The TAC pursuant to the MP for the period 2023-2025 is 40 570 tonnes per year for the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock.
Those measures should therefore be implemented in Union law.
(30)
ICCAT adopted a management plan for South Atlantic shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) caught in association with other ICCAT fisheries, starting in 2023 to counteract overfishing immediately, and gradually achieve biomass levels sufficient to support MSY.
This plan allows for a retention of by-catches of South Atlantic shortfin mako at a total of 1 295 tonnes, representing 503 tonnes for the Union.
According to the ICCAT Recommendation, the limited retention allowance does not constitute any long term-right and is without prejudice to any future process of allocation.
This measure should therefore be implemented in Union law by establishing a by-catch TAC and a corresponding Union quota.
(31)
In order to reduce the fishing mortality of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna, ICCAT also maintained a maximum limit of 300 fish aggregating devices (FADs) per fishing vessel in 2023 and a seventy-two-day closure period for the use of FADs.
Those measures should be implemented in Union law.
(32)
At its 2021 annual meeting, ICCAT adopted a 15-year rebuilding plan for Mediterranean albacore from 2022 to 2036.
For 2023, ICCAT set the TAC for Mediterranean albacore at 2 500 tonnes.
In addition, ICCAT set a TAC for North Atlantic albacore of 37 801 tonnes for the period from 2022 to 2023, based on the harvest control rule with a view to adopting a long-term MP for this stock.
Those measures should be implemented in Union law.
(33)
Under several ICCAT recommendations, the Union may upon request carry over a percentage of its unused quota of ICCAT stocks in the period of two years.
Those recommendations should be implemented in Union law on the basis of the Commission proposal of 21 April 2022 (10) as soon as possible, so that the Member States can use the Union quotas for ICCAT stocks in their totality as provided by ICCAT for 2023.
Pending the implementation of those recommendations in Union law, quotas should be established for individual Member States for certain stocks on the basis of a total Union quota for 2023 as agreed by ICCAT before any adjustments due to overfishing or underfishing by Member States.
The adjustments to the quotas of individual Member States for 2023 reflecting any deductions applied by ICCAT should be carried out subsequently on the basis of Union rules on deductions pursuant to Article 105 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and taking into account the Communication from the Commission (11) on guidelines for the deduction of quotas under Article 105(1), (2) and (5) of that Regulation.
(34)
At its 2022 annual meeting, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) adopted catch limits for target and by-catch species for the period from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.
Those measures should be implemented in Union law.
(35)
At its 2022 annual meeting, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), maintained the previously adopted measures applicable in the IOTC Area of Competence.
Those measures should continue to be implemented in Union law.
(36)
The annual meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) will be held from 6 to 15 February 2023.
The current measures in the SPRFMO Convention area that are functionally linked to the TACs should therefore be provisionally maintained until the annual meeting is held and the TACs for 2023 are determined.
(10) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 laying down management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Convention area of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and Regulation (EU) 2022/... establishing a multiannual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
(11) Communication from the Commission on guidelines for the deduction of quotas under Article 105(1), (2) and (5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and replacing Communication 2012/C 72/07 2022/C 369/03 (C/2022/6757) (OJ C 369, 27.9.2022, p. 3).