CELEX: 51995PC0714
Language: en
Date: 1995-12-15
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) allocating, for 1996, Community catch quotas in Greenland waters

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                          Brussels, 15.12.1995
                                          COM(95) 714 final
                           Proposal for a
                 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)
allocating, for 1996, Community catch quotas in Greenland waters
                  (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                              EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
The European Community and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government
of Greenland agreed to extend their Fisheries Agreement in 1994 for an additional period of
six years until 31 December 2000. The Parties to the Agreement subsequently agreed on a
Third Fisheries Protocol covering the same six years and laying down the terms and
conditions for fishing by Community vessels in Greenland waters, in particular catch quotas
for the Community for each year of the Protocol. They also agreed to allow for the
establishment of joint ventures and temporary associations.
The Agreement allows for the quantities to be taken by vessels which do not fly the flag of
a Member State of the Community, to extent where this is necessary for the proper
functioning of the fisheries agreements concluded by the Community with other Parties.
Under the provisions of the Fisheries Protocol, the authorities responsible for Greenland
undertake to offer to the Community, by 15 November each year, such supplementary catch
possibilities as referred to in Article 8 of the Agreement, which at that time are expected to
be available in the following year. On 15 November 1995, the Greenland Home Rule
authorities offered supplementary quantities for 1996:
 Cod                              NAFO 0,1; ICES V, XIV                     2,000 t
 Redfish (pelagic trawl)          ICES V, XIV                              15,0001
 Greenland halibut                NAFO 0,1                                  1,750 t
 Greenland halibut                ICES V, XIV                               1,8001
  Halibut                         NAFO 0,1                                    200 t
  Halibut     ,                   ICES V, XIV                                 200 t
 Catfish      '                   NAFO 0,1                                  1,8001
 Blue whiting                     ICES V, XIV                              10,0001
  Round nose grenadier            NAFO 0,1                                  1,7501
  Roundnose grenadier             ICES V, XIV                               1,8001
Depending on the outcome of negotiations between the Community and Norway and
considering the quantities of the species concerned already available to the Community for
1996 under the Fisheries Protocol, it may be felt to be in the Community's interest to accept
one or more of the supplementary quantities offered by the Greenland Home Rule
Government. To that end, the Commission will complete its proposal as soon as possible.
Therefore, the Commission proposes that the Council should agree to react appropriately to
the supplementary catch possibilities referred to above and to allocate the annual catch quotas
in Greenland waters by adopting the attached regulation.
 ---pagebreak---                                          Proposal for a
                        COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No                   /95
                                    of.... December 1995
              allocating, for 1996, Community catch quotas in Greenland waters
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
  Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
 Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing
 a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture(1) and, in particular, Article 8(4) thereof,
 Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
 Whereas the Agreement on fisheries between the European Community, on the one hand, and
 the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other
 hand(2), has been extended for an additional period of six years, until 31 December 2000;
 Whereas the European Community, on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and
 the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other hand, have subsequently approved
 the Third Fisheries Protocol, establishing the conditions for fishing and, in particular, the
 catch quotas for Community vessels in Greenland waters for the period from 1 January 1995
 to 31 December 2000;
Whereas these quotas may be used by vessels not flying the flag of a Member State of the
 Community, to the extent that this is necessary for the proper functioning of the fisheries
agreements which the Community has concluded with third countries;
Whereas it is appropriate to react [positively] [partly positively] [negatively] to the offer
regarding supplementary catch possibilities made by the authorities responsible for Greenland
pursuant to Article 8 of the Agreement on 15 November 1995;
Whereas, to ensure efficient management of the catch possibilities available, they should be
allocated among Member States by means of quotas in accordance with Article 8 of
Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92;
Whereas the fishing activities covered by this Regulation are subject to the relevant control
measures provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993,
establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy(3),
a) OJNoL389, 31.12.1992, p.
(2)
    OJNoL29, 1.2.1985, p. 9.
(3)
    OJNoL252, 15.9.1993, p. 2.
                                                                                               "S
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION
                                           Article 1
For 1996, the allocation of the Community catch quotas in Greenland waters shall be as set
out in the Annex.
                                           Article 2
Should the authorities responsible for Greenland make an offer regarding supplementary catch
possibilities, as referred to in Article 8 of the Agreement on fisheries, the Council shall,
acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, take a decision on that
offer within six weeks of receipt thereof.
                                           Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1996.
        This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
        States.
        Done at Brussels, .... December 1995.
                                                                               For the Council
                                                                                 The President
                                                                                               <i
 ---pagebreak---                                                                  ANNEX
                       Allocation of Community catch quotas in Greenland waters for 1996
    Species         Geographical      Community          Quotas allocated to Member           j Quantities    Quantities        Faroese
                         area             catch                       States                  ! allocated      allocated        quotas
                                          quotas                                              ! to Norwav     to Iceland      under EC/
                                                                                                                   IS)
                                       (in tonnes)                                                                            Greenland
                                                                                              i
Cod                all zones                31 000    Germany                       25 360
                                                      United Kingdom                 5 640
          (l)
Redfish            NAFO 0/1                  5 500    Germany                        5 395                                             500
                                                      United Kingdom                    105
                   ICES   xrv/v             46 820    Germany                       46 270
                                                      France                           330
                                                      United Kingdom                   220
Greenland         NAFO 0/1                    1 350   Germany                          550        pm {7)                               150
halibut           ICES xrv/v                 4 650    Germany                        4 040        pm (7)                               150
                                                      United Kingdom                   210 |
                                                                                              !            S
Deep-water        ICES    xrv/v              4 525    France                         1 012 j       pm      j                         1 150
                  (5)
prawns                                                Denmark                        1 012 !               !
                                                                                             1              :
Atlantic          NAFO 0/1                     200                                                pmn)      |
halibut (2)       ICES    xrv/v                200                                                pm (7>   i
Catfish           NAFO 0/1                   1 000    Germany                        1 000
                  ICES    xrv/v              1 000    Germany                        1 000
Blue whiting      ICES xrv/v                30 000    Denmark                        3 000
                                                     France                          3 000
                                                     Germany                       24 000
Capelin           ICES   xrv/v            63 150(6)                                                pm             30 000            10 000
Roundnose         NAFO 0/1                   1 350   Germany                           550         pm
grenadier         ICES   xrv/v               4 650   Germany                         4 400
                                                     United Kingdom                    250
                                                                                            1
Roundnose         all zones                  2 000                                          s
grenadier (3)                                                                               <
                                                                                            i
Polar cod (4)     all zones                  2 000
  A maximum of 20 000 tonnes may be fished by pelagic trawl. Catches from the bottom trawl fishery and the pelagic trawl fishery shall
  be reported separately.
  If by-catches of Atlantic halibut in trawl cod and redfish fisheries imply over-runs of this quota, the Greenland authorities will provide
  solutions to the effect that Community cod and redfish fisheries can nevertheless continue until the respective quotas have been
  exhausted.
  Experimental fishery, to be conducted at depths greater than 1 500 metres. The maximum by-catch of Greenland halibut will be 40%
  and will be counted against this quota.
  To be fished only by pelagic trawl or longline. A by-catch of up to 10%, excluding deep-water prawns and Greenland halibut, will be
  admitted. The by-catch will be counted against this quota.
  Up to 1 000 tonnes can be caught in NAFO areas 0/1 under agreement with Greenland license holders.
  70% of the Greenland share of the TAC for capelin minus 10 000 tonnes to the Faroe Islands. Calculated on the basis of a provisional
  TAC of 950 000 tonnes. Upon revision of this TAC in the course of 1996, the Community quota shall be revised accordingly.
  To be fished only with longline.
  Shown for information only.
 ---pagebreak---                          FINANCIAL          S T A T E M E N T
1. TITLE:          Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) allocating, for 1996,
                   Community catch quotas in Greenland waters.
2. BUDGETARY LINE CONCERNED:                            B7-800
3. LEGAL BASIS:           Article 8 (4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92
4. DESCRIPTION:
   4.1     General objective:
   To establish the definitive fishing quotas for Norway in Greenland waters after the
   conclusion of the bilateral arrangement on mutual access fishing rights between the
   Community and Norway for 1996.
   4.2     Period covered:
   Until 31 December 1996.
5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE:                       C D . Obligatory expenditure.
6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE:
   The expense is the payment for supplementary catch possibilities in Greenland waters,
   under the terms and conditions of Article 8 of the bilateral Fisheries Agreement
   between the Community and Greenland. The maximum supplementary catch
   possibilities required will include 1,200 tonnes of Greenland halibut and 1,300 tonnes
   of roundnose grenadier.
7. AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE:
   The amount required to be committed in 1996 and to be paid for 1,200 tonnes of
   Greenland halibut and 1,300 tonnes of roundnose grenadier is calculated on the basis
   of a contribution of 319.58 ECU per ton of cod-equivalent, taking into account a cod
   equivalent of 0.8 for Greenland halibut and 0.6 for roundnose grenadier:
   1,200 tonnes Greenland halibut . . .              x 0.8 x 319.58 = 306,796 ECU
   1,300 tonnes of roundnose grenadier               x 0.6 x 319.58 = 249,272 ECU
                                                               Total        556,068 ECU
                                                                                          L
 ---pagebreak--- 8.  ANTI-FRAUD PROVISIONS:
    Under the Fisheries Agreement between the Community and Greenland, the financial
    contribution from the Commission is not subject to any specific provision as to the
    end use of funds.
9.  ELEMENTS OF COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS:
    The bilateral, mutual-access Agreement between the Community and Norway is
    managed on an annual basis, by calculating the balance between Community catch
    possibilities in Norwegian waters and Norwegian catch possibilities in Community
    waters for different species. This arrangement is variable annually according to the
    state of the different fish stocks concerned. For 1996, the arrangement with Norway
    is particularly difficult to achieve due to the poor state of some of the fish stocks in
    Community waters. This fact makes it extremely difficult to compensate the access
    of Community vessels to Norwegian resources with Norwegian access to the poor
    Community resources. For this reason, it will be necessary to compensate Norway
    with some of the Community catch possibilities in Greenland waters under the terms
    of the bilateral Agreement between the Community and Greenland.
    In spite of the improvement of the catch possibilities under the Third Protocol of the
    Agreement with Greenland, some of the concessions made to Norway require the
    purchase of additional fishing possibilities from Greenland.
    For this reason, the purchase of such fishing possibilities from Greenland has been
    the only way to find a satisfactory solution to the mutual-access arrangement with
    Norway, without jeopardizing the conservation of some fish stocks in Community
    waters.
10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:                       None
                                                                                             1
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                    JSSJSI 0254-1475
                                                             COM(95) 714 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                          03 11
                                     Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-743-EN-C
                                                              TSBN 92-77-98336-1
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