Council Regulation (EC) No 1351/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down certain control measures to ensure compliance with the measures adopted by ICCAT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1351/1999
of 21 June 1999
laying down certain control measures to ensure compliance with the measures adopted by ICCAT
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),
(1) Whereas the European Community has been a contracting party to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter referred to as "the ICCAT Convention", since 14 November 1997;
(2) Whereas the ICCAT Convention provides a regional framework for cooperation with a view to the conservation and management of resources of tuna and tuna-like fish in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas through the agency of an International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter referred to as "ICCAT", and the adoption of recommendations on conservation and management in the Convention area that become binding on contracting parties;
(3) Whereas, with a view to ensuring compliance with the conservation measures in place, ICCAT adopted at its fifteenth ordinary meeting from 14 to 21 November 1997 a recommendation on transhipments and vessel observation that became binding on contracting parties from 13 June 1998; whereas the Community should apply that recommendation;
(4) Whereas it is necessary to lay down rules on the transmission of information on vessels suspected of fishing activity detrimental to the effectiveness of the conservation measures adopted by ICCAT;
(5) Whereas it is essential to strengthen control at sea by allowing Community fishing vessels and mother ships to receive transhipments only from vessels flying the flag of a contracting party or cooperating party, entity or fishing entity;
(6) Whereas ICCAT has constantly encouraged non-contracting parties, entities and fishing entities fishing in the Convention area for species falling within ICCAT's competence to become cooperating parties, entities or fishing entities by making a firm commitment to comply with ICCAT's conservation and management measures,