Council Regulation (EC) No 2256/2002 of 16 December 2002 amending, for the second time, Regulation (EC) No 2555/2001 fixing for 2002 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required

Council Regulation (EC) No 2256/2002
of 16 December 2002
amending, for the second time, Regulation (EC) No 2555/2001 fixing for 2002 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required
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:
(1) The International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (IBSFC) adopted a Recommendation on 7 June 2002 to increase the TAC for herring in Management Unit 3 during 2002.
(2) A definitive catch limitation for capelin in the North Atlantic has been fixed and, consequently, the definitive Community catch quota for this stock within the waters of Greenland should be fixed.
(3) Within the framework of the Agreed Record of conclusions of fisheries consultations between the European Community and the Faroe Islands of 14 December 2001 the European Community has decided not to give the Faroe Islands access to fishery for blue whiting in the Community waters. Following that decision an imbalance in the fishing possibilities in favour of the Community has occurred, which should be corrected by the Community reducing its fishing possibilities for redfish and flatfish in zone Vb (Faroese waters).
(4) Cod and haddock should be covered by the by-catch provisions for Norway lobster in the Skagerrak and in the Kattegat.
(5) The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) adopted, at its annual meeting in June 2002, catch limitations for yellowfin tuna; although the Community is not a member of this organisation, it is necessary to implement those catch limitations to ensure sustainable management of this fish resource.
(6) Regulation (EC) No 2555/2001(2) should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7) In order to ensure the livelihood of Community fishermen, it is important to apply these provisions before 31 December 2002. Given the urgency of the matter, it is imperative to grant an exception to the six-week period mentioned in paragraph I(3) of the Protocol on the role of national Parliaments of the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Communities,