Council Regulation (EC) No 1036/2001 of 22 May 2001 prohibiting imports of Atlantic bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) originating in Belize, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Honduras

Council Regulation (EC) No 1036/2001
of 22 May 2001
prohibiting imports of Atlantic bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) originating in Belize, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Honduras
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) Fishery resources, which are an exhaustible natural resource, must be protected in the interests of biological balances and global food security.
(2) In 1998 the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), to which the European Community is a Contracting Party, adopted Resolution 98-18 concerning the unreported and unregulated catches of tuna by large-scale longline vessels in the Convention area.
(3) The stock concerned cannot be managed effectively by the ICCAT Contracting Parties, whose fishermen are obliged to reduce their catches of Atlantic tuna, unless all non-Contracting Parties cooperate with ICCAT and comply with its conservation and management measures.
(4) ICCAT has identified Belize, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Honduras as countries whose vessels fish Atlantic bigeye tuna in a manner which diminishes the effectiveness of the organisation's tuna conservation measures, substantiating its findings with data concerning catches, trade and the observation of vessels.
(5) ICCAT's attempts to encourage five of the six States mentioned to comply with measures for the conservation and management of Atlantic swordfish have been to no avail. Honduras has been given extra time to prove that it is complying with conservation and management measures. In consequence, the result of the country's measures will be reviewed at the 2001 annual meeting.
(6) ICCAT has recommended the Contracting Parties to take appropriate measures to prohibit imports of Atlantic bigeye tuna products originating in Belize, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Honduras. These measures will be lifted as soon as it is established that the countries in question have brought their fishing practices into line with ICCAT's measures. These measures must be implemented by the Community, which has sole competence in this matter.
(7) In the case of Atlantic bigeye tuna products originating in Honduras, ICCAT's prohibition will enter into force on 1 January 2002, unless the country can provide documentary proof at ICCAT's 2001 meeting that its fishing activities have been brought into line with ICCAT's management and conservation measures.
(8) These measures are compatible with the Community's obligations under other international agreements,