2008/323/EC: Commission Decision of 1 April 2008 establishing a specific control and inspection programme related to the recovery of bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (notified under document number C(2008) 1202)

22.4.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 110/7
COMMISSION DECISION
of 1 April 2008
establishing a specific control and inspection programme related to the recovery of bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean
(notified under document number C(2008) 1202)
(2008/323/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (1), and in particular Article 34c(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1559/2007 (2) establishes a multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean as recommended by the International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
(2) To ensure the success of the multi-annual recovery plan, it is necessary to establish a specific control and inspection programme involving France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta, Cyprus and Greece, with the objective of guaranteeing an appropriate level of implementation of the conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in relation to the recovery of bluefin tuna stocks.
(3) That specific control and inspection programme should be set up for the period from 1 April to 31 December 2008. The results obtained by the application of the specific control and inspection programme should be periodically evaluated in cooperation with the Member States concerned.
(4) In order to harmonise the control and inspection of the bluefin tuna fishery at Community level, it is appropriate to draw up common rules for the control and inspection activities to be carried out by the competent authorities of the Member States concerned, and that Member States adopt national control programmes in order to match such common rules. To that end, benchmarks for the intensity of control and inspection activities should be fixed, as well as control and inspection priorities and procedures.
(5) To ensure the follow-up of infringements in accordance with Article 25 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (3), a framework should be set up under which all the authorities concerned may request mutual assistance and exchange relevant information in accordance with Articles 34a and 34b of Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 and Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002.
(6) Joint inspection and surveillance activities should be carried out in accordance with joint deployment plans established by the Community Fisheries Control Agency set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 (4).
(7) The measures provided for in this Decision have been established in concert with the Member States concerned.
(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,