CELEX: 51977PC0546
Language: en
Date: 1977-10-24
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) prohibiting fishing for Norway pout (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (77) 546
Vol. 1977/0174
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 ---pagebreak---      COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                         COM(77 ) 546 final .
                                                         Brussels , 24 October 1977 •
                                    Proposal for a
                               COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC )
                      prohibiting fishing for Norway pout
                     ( submitted to the Council "by the Commission)
C°K(77 ) 546 final .
 ---pagebreak---                       Explanatory Memorandum
To "better appreciate the effects of direct "industrial " fishing of
Norway pout on the stocks of this species and the species that make
up most of the "by-catches taken in the course of industrial fishing ,
the Commission has asked the ICES ( international Council for the
Exploration of the Sea ) to prepare a scientific report evaluating
these effeots .   The report has "been forwarded to the Council .
Among the conclusions of the report attention should "be drawn to the
following :
– acoording to recent estimates of "industrial " stocks of Nox'way pout
  and sandeels there is no need to restriot fishing of these stocks ;
– in the course of industrial fishing where small– sized mesh is used ,
  quantities of whiting and haddock are taken as "by–catches ;
– the above mentioned by-catches vary with the fishing grounds and
  seasons as regards their distribution by age group , as to the
  proportion taken in direct catches , and as to the quantities
  expressed by weight or number of fish ;
– restrictions on industrial fishing ( using different methods ) would
  make possible certain benefits in terms of quantities of whiting
  and haddock ;
– the ICES report , in particular the estimates of theoretical benefits
  in terms of quantities of whiting and haddock that might result from
  a reduction in industrial fishing is based mainly on information
  on fishing activity in 1975 and- 1976 .
 ---pagebreak--- While the choice and. "the scope of conservation measures for some stocks leave
 only very restricted room for manoeuvre because of their critical situation ,
the problems involved mean that a number of irreconcilable factors have to be
taken in account :
– The fact of protecting some stocks by limiting fishing to other stocks which
   do not call for protection , implies an economic and social choice between
   the use of different species and , in some cases , between different uses for
   these species .  This choice may be affected by forecasts as to market
   outlets and the increased quantities of these species , the interchangeability
   of these species with others .
– when the protection measures for the stocks in question are introduced the
   consequences of these measures for relations with interested nonr-member
   countries must be taken into account .
– the need to allow for the redirection of the fishing effort to other stocks
  when conservation measures are introduced for one or more of these stocks
   poses particular problems as to the choice of measure which in a given
   instance may require one or a combination of measures such as the closure
   of certain zones to industrial fishing for varying periods , provisions
  regarding by-catches , restrictions on fishing , etc .
 ---pagebreak--- The Commission considers that an examination of the problems set
out "below would lead to the conclusion that limits should be imposed
on industrial fishing in order to speed up the recovery of stocks
of other species , e.g. , haddock .
For that reason and as a precautionary measure , the Commission will
propose that- the "ban currently in force should be extended until the
end of 1977 in a zone             '  ' north-east of Scotland .
The case in point raises particularly difficult problems , however ,
which are further complicated by the faot that the conclusions of
the ICES report must be re-examined in the light of the future fishing
activities concerned . The situation will be influenced , not only by
measures adopted in 1 977 ? but also by the estimated level of fishing
activity in 1978 which will be affected by the provisions already proposed
by the Commission .
 ---pagebreak---                            COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEO NO       m
                                      of      October 1977
                            prohibiting fishing for Norway pout
    THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
    Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
    Having regard to Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 350/ 77 of 18 February 1977 laying
    down certain interim measures for the conservation and management of fishery
    resources ( 1 ), as last amended by Regulation ( EEC ) No 2243/ 77 ( 2 ), and in
    particular Article 5 ( 2 ) thereof ,
    Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
    Whereas during fishing for Norway pout for industrial purposes a high proportion
    of immature fish of demersal species are caught as by-catches ;
    Whereas Article 5 ( 2 ) of Regulation ( EEC ) No 350 / 77 provides for the adoption
    of measures on fishing for Norway pout ; whereas , in      implementation of that
    Regulation , fishing for Norway pout was prohibited by Regulation ( EEC )
,   No 2243 / 77 until   31 October 1977 in part of the North Sea situated to the
    north-east of the coast of the United Kingdom ; whereas for the immediate
  • future , pending the full examination of the situation on the basis of the
    Ices report on Norway pout , this prohibition should be extended for the
    zone referred to above until 31 December 1977 ,
    HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                                                           • •/•• •
    ( 1 ) 0J No L 48, 19.2.1977 , p. 28 .
    ( 2 ) 0J No L 260 , 13.10.1977, p. 1 .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        2 .-
                        Article 1
Fishing for Norway pout shall be prohibited from 1 November to 31 December
1977 in that part of the North Sea bounded by a line joining the following
points :
- east coast of the United Kingdom at 56° 00 * latitude North .
- 56° 00' latitude North - 00° 00' longitude ,
- 60° 00' latitude North - 00° 00' longitude ,
- 60° 00' latitude North - 03° 00' longitude West ,
- 58° 30' latitude North - 03° 00' longitude West ,
- east coast of the United Kingdom at 58° 30 * latitude North .
                       Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 November 1977 .
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable
in all Member States .
 Done at Luxembourg ,                           For .the Council
                                                 The President