CELEX ID: 32016R2336

--- ENGLISH ---

Document:
23.12.2016
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 354/1
REGULATION (EU) 2016/2336 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 14 December 2016
establishing specific conditions for fishing for deep-sea stocks in the north-east Atlantic and provisions for fishing in international waters of the north-east Atlantic and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee 
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,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure 
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,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
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 requires that fishing activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed in a way that is consistent with the objectives of achieving economic, social and employment benefits, and of contributing to the availability of food supplies. The common fisheries policy (CFP) should apply both the precautionary and the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management so as to ensure that negative impacts of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem are minimised and to endeavour to ensure that fisheries activities avoid the degradation of the marine environment. In that context, Article 2(2) and Articles 7, 20 and 22 of that Regulation are also of particular relevance.
(2)
The Union is committed to implementing the Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, in particular Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72, which call on States and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations to ensure the protection of vulnerable deep-sea marine ecosystems from the impact of bottom fishing gears, as well as the sustainable exploitation of deep-sea fish stocks.
(3)
The Commission evaluated Council Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 
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 and found, in particular, that the scope of the fleet concerned was too large, that there was a lack of guidance on control in designated ports and on sampling programmes, and that the quality of Member States' reporting of effort levels was too variable. Furthermore, the Commission evaluation concluded that the capacity ceiling, applicable since 2002 and consisting of the aggregate capacity of all the vessels that caught more than 10 tonnes of any mixture of deep-sea species in any of the years between 1998 and 2000, had no substantial positive effect. The capacity ceiling regime should therefore be updated as part of the measures to remedy the shortcomings identified in that Regulation.
(4)
For the purpose of maintaining necessary reductions in fishing capacity in deep-sea fisheries and in order to obtain more comprehensive information about deep-sea fishing activities and their impact on the marine environment, fishing for deep-sea species should be made subject to a fishing authorisation. Each application for a fishing authorisation should be accompanied by a detailed description of the intended fishing area, including International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) subareas, divisions and subdivisions, as well as the type of gears, the intended depth range, the intended frequency and duration of the fishing activity and the names of deep-sea species concerned.
The system of fishing authorisations should also contribute to the limitation of the capacity of vessels eligible to fish for deep-sea species. With a view to focusing management measures on the part of the fleet that is the most relevant for deep-sea fisheries, fishing authorisations should be issued according to whether they relate to target or by-catch fishery. The application of the landing obligation established in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 should, however, not prevent vessels that catch a small quantity of deep-sea species and that are not currently subject to a deep-sea fishing permit from continuing their traditional fishing activities.
(5)
Holders of a fishing authorisation allowing the catch of deep-sea species should cooperate in scientific research activities in order to improve the assessment of deep-sea stocks and research into deep-sea ecosystems.
(6)
In order to further enhance the protection of the marine environment, it is appropriate to allow targeted fishing activities only in those areas where deep-sea fishing activity has occurred during the reference period 2009-2011. However, for the purpose of exploratory fisheries, it should be possible for vessels targeting deep-sea species to fish beyond the existing fishing area provided that, according to an impact assessment carried out in accordance with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) guidelines, the extension of the fishing area does not pose a significant risk of a negative impact on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs).
(7)
Deep-sea fishing with bottom trawls carries a higher risk for VMEs among the different gears used and reports the highest rates of unintended catch of deep-sea species. In order to minimise negative impacts of such deep-sea fishing activities on the marine ecosystem, fishing with bottom trawls should be limited to waters above a particular depth and fishing with bottom gears should be subject to specific requirements for the protection of VMEs. The use of bottom gears should furthermore be subject to an evaluation after 13 January 2021. In addition, bottom-set gillnets are currently restricted in entering deep-sea fisheries by Council Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 
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.
(8)
In order to mitigate the potential damaging impacts of bottom trawling, it is appropriate to permit fishing with bottom trawls only at, or above, a depth of 800 metres. That limit builds on existing industry-led voluntary measures that are applied in Union waters and takes into account the specificities of deep-sea fisheries in Union waters.
(9)
In order to minimise the impact of fishing activities occurring in deep-sea waters on VMEs, it is appropriate to provide for a set of measures aiming at reducing encounters with VMEs. In particular, a move-on rule and a reporting obligation should apply where an encounter with a VME occurs. Furthermore, a list of areas where VMEs occur or are likely to occur should be established where fishing with bottom gear is prohibited.
(10)
Given that biological information can best be collected by means of harmonised data collection standards, it is appropriate to integrate data collection on deep-sea métiers into the general framework of scientific data collection, while ensuring the provision of additional information necessary to understand the dynamics of fisheries. Funding for the collection of data under this Regulation is available under the terms and principles of the data collection framework provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 
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(11)
Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 
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 lays down more stringent control and enforcement requirements that apply in specific circumstances. Fishing for deep-sea species, which are by nature vulnerable to fishing, should thus be subject to higher levels of control. It is also appropriate to provide for specific cases of infringement of CFP rules, which should lead to the withdrawal of a fishing authorisation.
(12)
The Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in North-East Atlantic Fisheries was approved by Council Decision 81/608/EEC 
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 and entered into force on 17 March 1982. That Convention provides for an appropriate framework for multilateral cooperation on the rational conservation and management of fishery resources in international waters of the north-east Atlantic. Management measures adopted in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) comprise a specific system of measures for the protection of VMEs in the Regulatory Area of the NEAFC. However, in order to ensure continuity of the current modus operandi by Union fishing vessels in NEAFC waters, the currently applicable rules provided for in Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 concerning the deep-sea fishing permit, designated ports, and communication of information by Member States should continue to apply to deep-sea fishing activities in the Regulatory Area of the NEAFC. Moreover, in order to continue improving the scientific knowledge about those stocks, and as the applicable NEAFC measures do not include observer coverage, it is appropriate to apply the same observer coverage in all areas in the North Sea and CECAF where fishing for deep-sea species occurs.
(13)
The power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending the list of VME indicators set out in Annex III for the purpose of adapting that list to the latest scientific advice. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making 
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. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.
(14)
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation in respect of the determination of the existing fishing areas and the establishment and adaptation of the list of areas where VMEs are known to occur or are likely to occur, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
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.
(15)
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation in respect of the approval of exploratory deep-sea fisheries, and in respect of the adjustment of the determination of the existing deep-sea fishing area in order to include the locations of the fishing activities conducted under a fishing authorisation issued in accordance with this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised without applying Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
(16)
It is therefore necessary to establish new rules to regulate fishing for deep-sea stocks in the Union waters of the north-east Atlantic and in the international waters within the area of competence of the CECAF,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Objectives
This Regulation shall contribute to the achievement of the objectives listed in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 as far as deep-sea species and habitats are concerned. In addition, it shall aim at:
(a)
improving scientific knowledge on deep-sea species and their habitats;
(b)
preventing significant adverse impacts on VMEs within the framework of deep-sea fishing and ensuring the long-term conservation of deep-sea fish stocks;
(c)
ensuring that Union measures for the purpose of sustainable management of deep-sea fish stocks are consistent with the Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, in particular Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72.
Article 2
Scope
1.   This Regulation applies to fishing activities or intended fishing activities in the following waters:
(a)
by Union fishing vessels and third-country fishing vessels in Union waters of the North Sea, of the north-western waters and of the south-western waters as well as Union waters of ICES zone IIa;
(b)
by Union fishing vessels in international waters of CECAF areas 34.1.1, 34.1.2 and 34.2.
2.   Paragraph 1 of this Article is without prejudice to Article 16(5).
Article 3
Subject matter
1.   This Regulation applies to species that occur in deep-sea waters and that are characterised by a combination of the following biological factors: maturation at relatively old ages, slow growth, long life expectancies, low natural mortality rates, intermittent recruitment of successful year classes and spawning that may not occur every year (‘deep-sea species’).
2.   For the purposes of this Regulation, deep-sea species and, among them, most vulnerable species are listed in Annex I.
Article 4
Definitions
1.   For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions provided for in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 734/2008 
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 apply.
2.   In addition, the following definitions apply:
(a)
‘ICES zones’ means the zones defined in Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
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12
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;
(b)
‘CECAF areas’ means the areas defined in Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
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;
(c)
‘Regulatory Area of the NEAFC’ means the waters subject to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in North-East Atlantic Fisheries which lie beyond the waters under the fisheries jurisdiction of the contracting parties to that Convention;
(d)
‘most vulnerable species’ means the deep-sea species that are indicated in the third column ‘Most vulnerable (x)’ of the table in Annex I;
(e)
‘métier’ means fishing activities targeting certain species by a certain gear in a certain area;
(f)
‘deep-sea métier’ means a métier that targets deep-sea species in accordance with the indications laid down in Article 5(2);
(g)
‘fisheries monitoring centre’ means an operational centre established by a flag Member State and equipped with computer hardware and software enabling automatic data reception, processing and electronic data transmission;
(h)
‘encounters’ means catches of such quantities of VME indicator species that are above the threshold levels set out in Annex IV;
(i)
‘unintended catches’ means incidental catches of marine organisms which, under Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, must be landed and counted against quotas either because they are below the minimum conservation reference size or because they exceed the quantities permitted under the catch composition and by-catch rules;
(j)
‘VME indicators’ means those included in Annex III;
(k)
‘existing deep-sea fishing areas’ means the portion of the area referred to in point (a) of Article 2(1), where deep-sea fishing activities have historically occurred and that is determined in accordance with Article 7.
Article 5
Fishing authorisations
1.   Fishing activities targeting deep-sea species shall be subject to a fishing authorisation (the ‘targeting fishing authorisation’). The targeting fishing authorisation shall indicate the deep-sea species that the vessel is authorised to target.
2.   For the purpose of paragraph 1, a fishing vessel carrying out a fishing activity shall be deemed to target deep-sea species if its communications about catches (in the logbook, landing declarations, sales notes or similar document) in a calendar year concerned contain at least 8 % of deep-sea species in any fishing trip.
However, this shall not apply to fishing vessels for which the overall recording of deep-sea species in the calendar year concerned is less than 10 tonnes. This subparagraph is without prejudice to paragraph 6.
3.   Fishing activities of fishing vessels that, although not targeting deep-sea species, catch deep-sea species as a by-catch, shall be subject to a fishing authorisation (the ‘by-catch fishing authorisation’). The by-catch fishing authorisation shall indicate the deep-sea species that the vessel may encounter as by-catch while targeting other species.
4.   The two types of fishing authorisations referred to in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article, respectively, shall be clearly distinguishable in the electronic database referred to in Article 116 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
5.   Fishing vessels not holding any fishing authorisation under this Article shall be prohibited from fishing for deep-sea species in excess of 100 kg in each fishing trip. Deep-sea species caught in excess of 100 kg by such vessels shall not be retained on board, transhipped or landed, except for unintended catches of deep-sea species subject to the landing obligation set out in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, which shall be landed and counted against quotas.
6.   A fishing vessel holding a by-catch fishing authorisation and having access to a quota for by-catches of deep-sea species that exceeds by no more than 15 % the threshold of 10 tonnes set out in paragraph 2 of this Article, shall not be considered to be targeting deep-sea species. It shall land such catches and count them against the quota. Unintended catches of deep-sea species subject to the landing obligation set out in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall be landed and counted against quotas.
7.   This Regulation shall apply 
mutatis mutandis
 to issuance of fishing authorisations to third-country fishing vessels pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 
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Article 6
Capacity management
1.   The aggregate fishing capacity measured in gross tonnage and in kilowatts of all Union fishing vessels to which a Member State has issued a targeting fishing authorisation shall at no time exceed the aggregate fishing capacity of the vessels of that Member State, during 2009-2011, whichever year provides the higher figure, which:
(a)
have caught 10 tonnes or more of deep-sea species during any of the three calendar years between 2009-2011, whichever year provides the higher figure; and
(b)
are registered in any of the outermost regions, within the meaning of Article 349 TFEU, of that Member State and where the catches of deep-sea species of each such vessel in any of the three calendar years between 2009-2011 constituted at least 10 % of their total yearly catches, whichever year provides the higher figure.
2.   By way of derogation from point (a) of paragraph 1, where a Member State has been allocated fishing opportunities for species listed in Annex I before 12 January 2017, but its vessels have not caught 10 tonnes or more of deep-sea species in any of the reference years, the aggregate fishing capacity of such Member State shall at no time exceed the aggregate fishing capacity of its vessels in any of the three latest years in which at least one of its vessels caught 10 tonnes or more of deep-sea species, whichever year provides the higher figure.
Article 7
Existing deep-sea fishing areas
1.   By 13 July 2017, Member States whose vessels have been granted a deep-sea fishing permit in accordance with Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002, and as far as it relates to fishing activities by vessels catching more than 10 tonnes each calendar year, shall inform the Commission, by means of VMS records or, if VMS records are not available, by means of other relevant and verifiable information, of the locations of fishing activities for deep-sea species of such vessels during the reference calendar years 2009-2011.
2.   On the basis of information provided under paragraph 1, as well as on the basis of the best available scientific and technical information, the Commission shall, by 13 January 2018, determine, by means of implementing acts, the existing deep-sea fishing areas. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 18.
Article 8
General requirements for applications for fishing authorisations
1.   Each application for a fishing authorisation shall be accompanied by a detailed description of the area where the fishing vessel intends to carry out fishing activities, the type of gears, the depth range at which the activities will be carried out, the intended frequency and duration of the fishing activity, as well as the names of the deep-sea species concerned.
2.   Targeting fishing authorisations shall only be issued for fishing activities within the existing deep-sea fishing areas.
3.   By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, and until the determination of the existing deep-sea fishing areas in accordance with Article 7, targeting fishing authorisations may be issued provided that the fishing vessel has presented evidence that it had been exercising fishing activities in the deep-sea métier for at least three years before the application for the fishing authorisation is lodged. Such fishing authorisation may be issued only in respect of locations where such previous fishing activities have been carried out.
4.   No fishing authorisation shall be issued for the purpose of fishing with bottom trawls at a depth below 800 metres.
5.   By way of derogation from paragraph 2, a Member State may submit a request to conduct exploratory fisheries in locations outside the existing deep-sea fishing areas. Such a request shall be accompanied by an impact assessment conducted in accordance with the standards set out in the 2008 FAO International Guidelines for the management of Deep-Sea Fisheries in the High Seas. When submitting such a request, the Member State shall indicate the estimated duration of exploratory fisheries and the estimated number of vessels taking part and their capacity. It shall propose mitigating measures to prevent an encounter with or effectively protect VMEs.
6.   The Commission, after having assessed the information provided by the Member States and on the basis of advice from a scientific advisory body, may, by means of implementing acts, grant an approval to conduct the requested exploratory fisheries. In the approval the Commission may, in particular, define:
(a)
the area for exploratory fisheries;
(b)
the maximum number of vessels and the maximum capacity;
(c)
the duration of such fisheries not exceeding one year, renewable once;
(d)
the maximum percentage of the total allowable catch of deep-sea species that may be caught in the exploratory fisheries; and
(e)
mitigating measures that must be complied with in order to protect VMEs.
7.   In order to ensure a collection of representative data that is adequate for the assessment and management of deep-sea fish stocks and of encounters with VMEs, any fishing authorisation issued in accordance with paragraph 6 shall require the presence of scientific observers or remote electronic monitoring on the vessel concerned during the first 12 months of the duration of the fishing authorisation.
8.   On the basis of a request and of information provided by the Member State concerned, the Commission may adjust, by means of implementing acts, the determination of the existing deep-sea fishing area in order to include the locations of the fishing activities conducted under a fishing authorisation issued in accordance with paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Article.
Article 9
Specific requirements for the protection of VMEs
1.   This Article shall apply to fishing operations with bottom gears below a depth of 400 metres.
2.   Where, in the course of fishing operations, the quantity of VME indicators, as defined in Annex III, that has been caught in that fishing operation exceeds the thresholds defined in Annex IV, an encounter with VMEs shall be considered to have taken place. The fishing vessel shall immediately cease fishing in the area concerned. It shall resume operations only when reaching an alternative area at least five nautical miles from the area in which the encounter occurred.
3.   The fishing vessel shall immediately report each encounter with VMEs to the competent national authorities who shall notify the Commission without delay.
4.   Member States shall use the best available scientific and technical information, including biogeographical information and the information referred to in paragraph 3, to identify where VMEs are known to occur or are likely to occur. In addition, a competent scientific advisory body shall be requested by the Commission to carry out an annual assessment of areas where VMEs are known to occur or are likely to occur.
That assessment shall be conducted in accordance with the 2008 FAO International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-Sea Fisheries in the High Seas, shall apply the precautionary approach to fisheries management as referred to in point 8 of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and shall be made publicly available.
5.   Where, on the basis of the procedure referred to in paragraph 4, areas where VMEs are known to occur, or are likely to occur, have been identified, Member States and the competent scientific advisory body shall inform the Commission in a timely manner.
6.   By 13 January 2018, on the basis of the best scientific and technical information available and of the assessments and identifications carried out by Member States and the scientific advisory body, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts for the purpose of establishing a list of areas where VMEs are known to occur or are likely to occur. The Commission shall review the list annually on the basis of advice received from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries and, where appropriate, amend the list by means of implementing acts. The Commission may remove an area from the list provided that it determines, on the basis of an impact assessment and after consulting the competent scientific advisory body, that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that VMEs are not present, or that appropriate conservation and management measures have been adopted which ensure that significant adverse impacts on VMEs in that area are prevented. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 18.
7.   The Commission may review, on the basis of the best available scientific information, the VME indicators, and is empowered to amend the list included in Annex III by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 17.
8.   New impact assessments shall be required if there are significant changes to the techniques used for carrying out fisheries with bottom gear, or where there is new scientific information indicating the presence of VMEs in a given area.
9.   Fishing with bottom gears shall be prohibited in all areas listed in accordance with paragraph 6.
Article 10
Application of specific control provisions
Fisheries and fishing activities covered by this Regulation shall also be subject to the provisions in Articles 7, 17, 42, 43 and 45, Article 84(1)(a), Article 95(3), Article 104(1), Article 105(3)(c), Article 107(1), Article 108(1) and Article 115(c) of, and Annex I to, Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, except where otherwise provided for in this Regulation.
Article 11
Designated ports
1.   Member States shall designate the ports in which any landing or transhipment of deep-sea species or any mixture thereof in excess of 100 kg is to take place. By 13 March 2017, Member States shall transmit to the Commission the list of those designated ports.
2.   No quantity of any mixture of deep-sea species in excess of 100 kg may be landed at any place other than the ports which have been designated by Member States pursuant to paragraph 1.
Article 12
Prior notification
By way of derogation from Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, the masters of all Union fishing vessels intending to land 100 kg or more of deep-sea species shall, irrespective of the length of the fishing vessel, be required to notify, at least four hours before the estimated time of arrival at port, their flag Member State's competent authority of that intention. The master or any other person responsible for the operation of vessels of 12 metres in length or less shall notify the competent authorities at least one hour before the estimated time of arrival at port.
Article 13
Logbook entries in deep waters
1.   Where the obligation to keep a logbook applies, masters of Union fishing vessels holding a fishing authorisation in accordance with Article 5(1) or (3) shall, when engaged in a deep-sea métier or when fishing below 400 metres:
(a)
draw a new line in the paper logbook after each haul; or
(b)
when they are subject to the electronic recording and reporting system, record separately after each haul.
2.   Masters of Union fishing vessels shall also record in the vessel's logbook any quantities of deep-sea species listed in Annex I caught, retained on board, transhipped or landed in accordance with Article 5(5), and any quantities of VME indicators listed in Annex III above the thresholds set out in Annex IV, including species compositions and weight, and report those quantities to the competent authorities.
Article 14
Withdrawal of fishing authorisations
Without prejudice to Article 7(4) and Article 92 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and in accordance with Article 90(1) thereof, the fishing authorisations referred to in Article 5(1) and (3) of this Regulation shall be withdrawn for a duration of at least two months in any of the following cases:
(a)
failure to conform to the conditions set in the fishing authorisation with regard to limits on the use of gears, allowed areas of operation or catch limits on the species whose targeting is allowed; or
(b)
failure to take on board a scientific observer or to allow sampling of catches for scientific purposes as specified in Article 16 of this Regulation.
Article 15
Rules on data collection and reporting
1.   Without prejudice to more specific provisions in this Regulation, Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 shall apply.
2.   When collecting data on deep-sea métiers in accordance with the general rules on data collection and with the precision levels laid down in the relevant multiannual Union programme for collection and management of biological, technical, environmental, social and economic data, Member States shall observe the specific data collection and reporting requirements set out in Annex II for the deep-sea métier.
3.   Member States shall include the necessary conditions in all fishing authorisations issued in accordance with Article 5 to ensure that the vessel concerned participates, in cooperation with the relevant scientific institute, in any data collection scheme the scope of which would comprise the fishing activities for which authorisations are issued.
4.   The master of a vessel, or any other person responsible for the vessel's operation, shall be required to take on board the scientific observer whom the Member State has assigned for his vessel, unless this is not possible for security reasons. The master shall facilitate the discharging of the scientific observer's tasks.
5.   Upon a request from the Commission, a Member State shall submit annual reports containing aggregate data on the number of vessels flying its flag that are involved in deep-sea fishing, their fishing area, the type of gear, the size, the number of each type of fishing authorisations issued, their originating port, the total deep-sea fishing opportunities available to its vessels and the aggregate percentage of the use of such fishing opportunities. Those reports shall be made publicly available.
Article 16
Observer coverage
1.   Member States shall establish a programme for observer coverage to ensure the collection of relevant, timely and accurate data on the catch and by-catch of deep-sea species and encounters with VMEs and other relevant information for the effective implementation of this Regulation. Vessels using bottom trawls or bottom set gillnets with a fishing authorisation to target deep-sea species shall be subject to at least 20 % observer coverage, excluding vessels that, for security reasons, are not suitable to receive an observer. All other vessels with an authorisation to catch deep-sea species shall be subject to at least 10 % observer coverage, excluding vessels that, for security reasons, are not suitable to receive an observer.
2.   Where an operator has been requested by its Member State to receive an observer on board its vessel, the absence of an observer for reasons beyond the control of the operator shall not prevent that vessel from leaving the port.
3.   By 1 January 2018, the Commission shall seek scientific advice, based on the data collected under this Regulation, on whether the observer coverage set out in paragraph 1 of this Article is sufficient to achieve the objectives of Article 1, in particular to prevent significant adverse impact on VMEs within the framework of deep-sea fishing, and on whether it should be adapted on the basis of an updated sampling methodology. The Commission shall, without delay, inform the European Parliament and the Council of the results of the scientific advice sought.
4.   Where, on the basis of the scientific advice referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission considers that the percentages of the observer coverage set out in paragraph 1 should be adjusted, the Commission may, as a matter of urgency, submit a proposal for the revision of those percentages.
5.   By way of derogation from Article 2, this Article shall apply 
mutatis mutandis
 to fishing for deep-sea species by vessels using bottom trawls or bottom set gillnets in the Regulatory Area of the NEAFC.
Article 17
Exercise of the delegation
1.   The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
2.   The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 9(6) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 12 January 2017. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.
3.   The delegation of power referred to in Article 9(6) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the 
Official Journal of the European Union
 or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
4.   Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.
5.   As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
6.   A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 9(6) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months from the notification of that act to the European Parliament and to the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Article 18
Committee procedure
1.   The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee for fisheries and aquaculture. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
2.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Article 19
Evaluation
1.   By 13 January 2021, the Commission shall, on the basis of Member States' reports and scientific advice that it shall request to that effect, evaluate the impact of the measures laid down in this Regulation and determine to what extent the objectives referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 1 have been achieved.
2.   The evaluation shall focus on trends in the following subjects:
(a)
the use of all types of fishing gear when targeting deep-sea species, with a particular emphasis on the impact on the most vulnerable species and on VMEs;
(b)
the vessels that have changed to using gears with a reduced impact on the sea bottom, and progress as regards the prevention, minimisation and, where possible, the elimination of unintended catches;
(c)
the range of operation of vessels engaging in each deep-sea métier;
(d)
the completeness and reliability of data that Member States provide to scientific bodies for the purpose of stock assessment, or to the Commission in case of specific data calls;
(e)
the deep-sea stocks for which the scientific advice has improved;
(f)
the effectiveness of accompanying measures to eliminate discards and reduce catches of the most vulnerable species;
(g)
the quality of the impact assessments carried out pursuant to Article 8;
(h)
the number of vessels and ports in the Union directly affected by the implementation of this Regulation;
(i)
the effectiveness of measures established to ensure the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks and to prevent by-catch of non-target species, in particular by-catch of the most vulnerable species;
(j)
the extent to which VMEs have been effectively protected through the restriction of authorised fishing activities to existing deep-sea fishing areas, the move-on rule and/or by other measures;
(k)
the application of the depth limitation of 800 metres.
3.   On the basis of the evaluation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Commission may make proposals for amendments to this Regulation, as appropriate. In particular, if that evaluation indicates that fishing with bottom gears does not comply with the objectives set out in Article 1, the Commission may submit a proposal to amend this Regulation with the aim of ensuring that targeting fishing authorisations for vessels using bottom trawls or bottom-set gillnets expire or are revoked and that any measures necessary regarding bottom gears, including longliners, are put in place to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable species and VMEs.
Article 20
Repeal and transitional provisions
1.   Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 is repealed.
2.   References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation.
3.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, Articles 3, 7 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 shall continue to apply to Union fishing vessels carrying out fishing activities in the Regulatory Area of NEAFC.
4.   Special fishing permits issued in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 shall remain valid for a maximum period of one year after 12 January 2017.
Article 21
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Union
.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 14 December 2016.
For the European Parliament
The President
M. SCHULZ
For the Council
The President
I. KORČOK
(
1
)
  
            
OJ C 133, 9.5.2013, p. 41
.
(
2
)
  Position of the European Parliament of 10 December 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and position of the Council at first reading of 18 October 2016 (
OJ C 433, 23.11.2016, p. 1
). Position of the European Parliament of 13 December 2016 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(
3
)
  Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (
OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22
).
(
4
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 of 16 December 2002 establishing specific access requirements and associated conditions applicable to fishing for deep-sea stocks (
OJ L 351, 28.12.2002, p. 6
).
(
5
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 of 27 November 2009 establishing transitional technical measures from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011 (
OJ L 347, 24.12.2009, p. 6
).
(
6
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 of 25 February 2008 concerning the establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy (
OJ L 60, 5.3.2008, p. 1
).
(
7
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (
OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1
).
(
8
)
  Council Decision 81/608/EEC of 13 July 1981 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries (
OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, p. 21
).
(
9
)
  
            
OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1
.
(
10
)
  Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (
OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13
).
(
11
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 734/2008 of 15 July 2008 on the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas from the adverse impacts of bottom fishing gears (
OJ L 201, 30.7.2008, p. 8
).
(
12
)
  Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic (
OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 70
).
(
13
)
  Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic (
OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 1
).
(
14
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 of 29 September 2008 concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93 and (EC) No 1627/94 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 3317/94 (
OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 33
).
ANNEX I
Deep-sea species
Scientific name
Common name
Most vulnerable (x)
Centrophorus
 spp.
Gulper sharks
Centroscyllium fabricii
Black dogfish
x
Centroscymnus coelolepis
Portuguese dogfish
x
Centroscymnus crepidater
Longnose velvet dogfish
x
Dalatias licha
Kitefin shark
x
Etmopterus princeps
Greater lanternshark
x
Apristuris
 spp.
Iceland catshark
Chlamydoselachus anguineus
Frilled shark
Deania calcea
Birdbeak dogfish
Galeus melastomus
Blackmouth dogfish
Galeus murinus
Mouse catshark
Hexanchus griseus
Bluntnose six-gilled shark
x
Etmopterus spinax
Velvet belly
Oxynotus paradoxus
Sailfin roughshark (Sharpback shark)
Scymnodon ringens
Knifetooth dogfish
Somniosus microcephalus
Greenland shark
Alepocephalidae
Smoothheads (Slickheads)
Alepocephalus Bairdii
Baird's smoothhead
Alepocephalus rostratus
Risso's smoothhead
Aphanopus carbo
Black scabbardfish
Argentina silus
Greater silver smelt
Beryx
 spp.
Alfonsinos
Chaceon (Geryon) affinis
Deep-water red crab
Chimaera monstrosa
Rabbitfish (rattail)
Hydrolagus mirabilis
Large-eyed rabbitfish (Ratfish)
Rhinochimaera atlantica
Straightnose rabbitfish
Coryphaenoides rupestris
Roundnose grenadier
Epigonus telescopus
Black cardinalfish
x
Helicolenus dactilopterus
Bluemouth (Bluemouth redfish)
Hoplostethus atlanticus
Orange roughy
x
Macrourus berglax
Roughhead grenadier (Rough rattail)
Molva dypterigia
Blue ling
Mora moro
Common mora
Antimora rostrata
Blue antimora (Blue hake)
Pagellus bogaraveo
Red (blackspot) seabream
Polyprion americanus
Wreckfish
Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
Greenland halibut
Cataetyx laticeps
Hoplosthetus mediterraneus
Silver roughy (Pink)
Macrouridae
 other than 
Coryphaenoides
rupestris
 and 
Macrourus
berglax
Grenadiers (rattails) other than roundnose grenadier and roughhead grenadier
Nesiarchus nasutus
Black gemfish
Notocanthus chemnitzii
Snubnosed spiny eel
Raja fyllae
Round skate
Raja hyperborea
Arctic skate
Raja nidarosiensus
Norwegian skate
Trachyscorpia cristulata
Spiny (deep-sea) scorpionfish
Lepidopus caudatus
Silver scabbardfish (Cutlass fish)
Lycodes esmarkii
Greater eelpout
Sebastes viviparus
Small redfish (Norway haddock)
ANNEX II
Specific data collection and reporting requirements referred to in Article 15(2)
1.
Member States shall ensure that data collected for an area that comprises both Union waters and international waters are further disaggregated so that they refer to Union waters or international waters separately.
2.
Where the activity in the deep-sea métier overlaps with activity in another métier in the same area, the data collection concerning the former shall be carried out separately from the data collection concerning the latter.
3.
Discards shall be sampled in all deep-sea métiers. The sampling strategy for landings and discards shall cover all the species listed in Annex I, as well as species belonging to the seabed ecosystem such as deep-water corals, sponges or other organisms belonging to the same ecosystem.
4.
An observer deployed on board shall be requested to identify and document the weight of any stony coral, soft coral, sponges or other organisms belonging to the same ecosystem taken on board by the vessel's gear.
5.
Where the applicable multiannual data collection plan requires the collection of fishing effort data in terms of hours fished by trawls and soak time for passive gear, Member States shall collect and be ready to present, together with such fishing effort data, the following additional data:
(a)
geographical location of the fishing activities on a haul-by-haul basis, from VMS data transmitted by the vessel to the fisheries monitoring centre;
(b)
the fishing depths at which the gears are deployed in the event that the vessel is subject to reporting by electronic logbook. The master of the vessel shall notify fishing depth following the standardised reporting format.
ANNEX III
VME Indicator species
The following is a list of VME habitat types, with the taxa most likely to be found in those habitats which shall be considered as VME indicators.
VME Habitat type
Representative Taxa
1.
Cold-water coral reef
(a)
Lophelia pertusa
 reef
Lophelia pertusa
(b)
Solenosmilia variabilis
 reef
Solenosmilia variabilis
2.
Coral garden
(a)
Hard bottom garden
(i)
Hard bottom gorgonian and black coral gardens
Anthothelidae
Chrysogorgiidae
Isididae, Keratoisidinae
Plexauridae
Acanthogorgiidae
Coralliidae
Paragorgiidae
Primnoidae
Schizopathidae
(ii)
Colonial scleractinians on rocky outcrops
Lophelia pertusa
Solenosmilia variabilis
(iii)
Non-reefal scleractinian aggregations
Enallopsammia rostrata
Madrepora oculata
(b)
Soft-bottom coral gardens
(i)
Soft-bottom gorgonian and black coral gardens
Chrysogorgiidae
(ii)
Cup-coral fields
Caryophylliidae
(iii)
Cauliflower coral fields
Flabellidae
Nephtheidae
3.
Deep-sea sponge aggregations
(a)
Other sponge aggregations
Geodiidae
Ancorinidae
Pachastrellidae
(b)
Hard-bottom sponge gardens
Axinellidae
Mycalidae
Polymastiidae
Tetillidae
(c)
Glass sponge communities
Rossellidae
Pheronematidae
4.
Sea pen fields
Anthoptilidae
Pennatulidae
Funiculinidae
Halipteridae
Kophobelemnidae
Protoptilidae
Umbellulidae
Vigulariidae
5.
Tube-dwelling anemone patches
Cerianthidae
6.
Mud- and sand-emergent fauna
Bourgetcrinidae
Antedontidae
Hyocrinidae
Xenophyophora
Syringamminidae
7.
Bryzoan patches
ANNEX IV
An encounter with a possible VME is defined as:
(a)
for a trawl tow, and other fishing gear than longlines: the presence of more than 30 kg of live coral and/or 400 kg of live sponge of VME indicators; and
(b)
for a longline set: the presence of VME indicators on 10 hooks per 1 000 hook segment or per 1 200 m section of longline, whichever is the shorter.

Summary:
Fishing in the north-east Atlantic – rules on deep-sea stocks and international waters
SUMMARY OF:
Regulation (EU) 2016/2336 – rules protecting deep-sea fishing stocks and vulnerable marine ecosystems
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
It seeks to ensure the sustainable exploitation of deep-sea stocks while reducing the environmental impact of these fisheries on 
vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs)
1
 in the deep waters and improving the information base for scientific assessment through data collection.
It repeals and replaces Regulation (EC) 
No 
2347/2002
, which set the rules on access to deep-sea fish stocks in the 
European Union
 (EU).
KEY POINTS
Deep-sea fishing with bottom trawls (i.e. gear designed to catch species on or near the bottom of the sea) below 800 metres from the water surface is banned.
Based on the best available scientific advice, the 
European Commission
 established in 2022, by means of Regulation (EU) 
2022/1614
, the list of areas where VMEs are known to occur or are likely to occur in EU waters. These areas are closed to all bottom gears operating in EU waters at a depth below 400 metres.
Two types of 
fishing authorisation
 are introduced for: 
vessels that land more than 8% of deep-sea species
 in any fishing trip and at least 10 tonnes in the calendar year concerned (target authorisation); and
vessels that have by-catches
2
 
of deep-sea species
, which are subject to a flexibility of 15% beyond 10 tonnes (by-catch authorisation).
Fishing capacity is capped based on the capacity of vessels that landed more than 10 tonnes of deep-sea species in 2009–2011.
Targeted deep-sea fisheries are confined to areas (known as the ‘footprint area’) where deep-sea fishing occurred in 2009–2011.
EU 
Member States
 may submit to the Commission, on behalf of their fishing fleets, a request to carry out 
exploratory fishing
 outside the footprint area. Requests must be accompanied by an impact assessment and indicate the estimated duration of exploratory fisheries and the estimated number of vessels taking part and their capacity. The Commission sets the conditions for such fishing by means of implementing acts. The duration of exploratory fishing is limited to a maximum of 1 year (renewable once).
Vessels must report 
encounters
3
 with VMEs below a depth of 400 metres and move to an alternative area at least 5 nautical miles away from the area of encounter.
The regulation introduces stricter rules including: 
restrictions on 
transhipment
4
;
real-time reporting on the use of quota;
follow-up of misreported catches;
specific control and inspection programmes.
Quantities exceeding 100 kg of deep-sea species may only be landed in designated ports. The intention to land them must be notified at least 4 hours in advance and 1 hour in advance for vessels of no more than 12 metres.
A fishing authorisation can be withdrawn for at least 2 months in the event of non-compliance with its conditions regarding: 
use of inappropriate fishing gear;
areas of operation and catch limits;
failure to take an observer on board.
It also sets out rules on 
data collection standards
 and requirements for 
observer coverage
 to ensure the collection of relevant, timely and accurate data on catches and by-catches of deep-sea species. Data should also be collected on encounters with VMEs of at least 20% for targeting vessels using bottom trawls and bottom-set gillnets and 10% coverage for other vessels. This coverage may be adapted by the Commission on the basis of scientific advice.
The above measures concern EU waters and certain areas covered by the 
Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic
 where EU vessels fish. In the 
North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
 area, the existing rules on fishing permits, designated ports and data collection continue to apply, along with the increased observer coverage of 20%.
The regulation has been evaluated to determine the extent to which its objectives have been achieved. The 
evaluation
, published in May 2021, is available on the dedicated website: 
deep-sea fisheries
.
FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?
It has applied since 
12 January 2017
.
BACKGROUND
The EU’s 
common fisheries policy
 was reformed and a new basic regulation (
Regulation (EU) 
No 1380/2013
 – see 
summary
) entered into force on 
1 January 2014
. Among other things, it introduced a landing obligation and an obligation for all stocks in EU waters to be managed sustainably.
Deep-sea fishing in the north-east Atlantic is carried out both in EU waters and in international waters governed by agreements within the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. The economy of a number of fishing communities depends, to a certain extent, on deep-sea fisheries. This fishing is dominated by traditional coastal fleets and large nomadic trawlers and accounts for about 1% of landings from the north-east Atlantic.
KEY TERMS
Vulnerable marine ecosystem.
 Marine ecosystems in the deep waters, defined by physical and functional fragility, which risk being damaged because of encounter with fishing gears.
By-catch.
 Unwanted fish and marine species caught unintentionally.
Encounter.
 Catches of such quantities of VME indicator species that are above the threshold levels.
Transhipment.
 The transfer of a catch from a smaller fishing boat to a larger one, which then incorporates it into a larger batch for shipment.
MAIN DOCUMENT
Regulation (EU) 
2016/2336
 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
14 December 2016
 establishing specific conditions for fishing for deep-sea stocks in the north-east Atlantic and provisions for fishing in international waters of the north-east Atlantic and repealing Council Regulation (EC) 
No 2347/2002
 (OJ L 354, 
23.12.2016
, 
pp. 1–19
).
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 
2022/1614
 of 
15 September 2022
 determining the existing deep-sea fishing areas and establishing a list of areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems are known to occur or are likely to occur (OJ L 242, 
19.9.2022
, 
pp. 1–141
).
Council Regulation (EU) 
2016/72
 of 
22 January 2016
 fixing for 2016 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2015/104 (OJ L 22, 
28.1.2016
, 
pp. 1–165
).
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2016/72 have been incorporated into the original document. This 
consolidated version
 is of documentary value only.
Council Regulation (EU) 
2016/2285
 of 
12 December 2016
 fixing for 2017 and 2018 the fishing opportunities for Union fishing vessels for certain deep-sea fish stocks and amending Council Regulation (EU) 2016/72 (OJ L 344, 
17.12.2016
, 
pp. 32–45
).
Council Regulation (EU) 
No 
1367/2014
 of 
15 December 2014
 fixing for 2015 and 2016 the fishing opportunities for Union fishing vessels for certain deep-sea fish stocks (OJ L 366, 
20.12.2014
, 
pp. 1–14
).
See 
consolidated version
.
last update 
21.10.2022

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