Commission Implementing Decision of 29 March 2011 establishing a specific control and inspection programme related to the recovery of bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (notified under document C(2011) 1984) (2011/207/EU)

CHAPTER IIU.K. OBJECTIVES, PRIORITIES, BENCHMARKS AND PROCEDURES

Article 4U.K.Objectives

Control and inspection activities shall aim at ensuring compliance with the following provisions:

1.

annual fishing plans, as provided for by Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 302/2009;

2.

the prohibition to use spotting aircrafts and helicopters, as provided for by Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 302/2009;

3.

measures on fishing and farming capacities, as provided for by Articles 5 and 6 of Regulation (EC) No 302/2009;

4.

[F1the implementation of any observer programme in the Union, including the Member States’ observer programme, and the ICCAT Regional Observer Programme, as provided for by points 90, 91 and 92 and Annex 7 to ICCAT Recommendation 12-03;]

5.

rules on recording of authorised catching vessels and other fishing vessels, as provided for by Articles 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 302/2009;

6.

[F1specific technical measures and conditions for fishing for bluefin tuna as provided in ICCAT Recommendation 12-03, in particular minimum size rules and associated conditions;

7.

quantitative restrictions on catches and any specific conditions associated therewith, including the monitoring of quota uptake, as provided for by ICCAT Recommendation 12-03;

8.

documentation rules applicable to bluefin tuna, as provided for by ICCAT Recommendation 12-03;

9.

the implementation of pilot studies on how to better estimate both the number and the weight of bluefin tuna at the point of capture and caging including through the use of stereoscopical systems;

10.

the implementation of a programme using stereoscopical cameras systems or alternative techniques that provide the equivalent precision, which shall cover 100 % of all caging operations in order to refine the number and weight of the fish in each caging operation.]

Article 5U.K.Priorities

Different gear categories shall be subject to different levels of prioritisation, according to the annual fishing plan. For that reason, each Member State shall set specific priorities.

Article 6U.K.Benchmarks

The inspection benchmarks are set out in Annex I.

Article 7U.K.Procedures

Control and inspection activities shall be carried out in accordance with the following procedural provisions:

1.

[F1the ICCAT Scheme of Joint International Inspection, as provided for by points 99, 100 and 101 and Annex 8 to ICCAT Recommendation 12-03;

2.

the methodology of inspection as provided for by ICCAT Recommendation 12-03, and in particular its Annex 8;]

3.

the procedures to be followed by officials as laid down the Annex II to this Decision;

4.

the procedures to be followed by Member States as laid down in Articles 8 to 13 of this Decision.

Article 8U.K.Joint procedures

Member States referred to in Article 12 shall ensure that officials from other Member States concerned are invited to participate in joint inspection and surveillance activities and establish joint operational procedures applicable to their surveillance crafts.

Article 9U.K.Notification of surveillance and inspection activities

[F11. Member State intending to conduct surveillance and inspect fishing vessels in the waters under the jurisdiction of another Member State in the framework of a Joint Deployment Plan shall notify its intentions to the contact point of the coastal Member State concerned, as referred to in Article 80, paragraph 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and to the EFCA.]

2.The notification referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain the following information:

(a)type, name and call sign of the inspection vessels and inspection aircraft on the basis of the list referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1042/2006;

(b)the areas where the surveillance and inspection operations shall be carried out;

(c)the duration of the surveillance and inspection activities.

[F2Article 10 U.K. Information of infringements

Member States whose officials detect any infringement while carrying out an inspection on the activities listed in Article 3 shall inform without delay the Commission of the date of inspection and the details of the infringement.]

Article 11U.K.Immediate enforcement measures in case of serious infringements

1.If a serious infringement is discovered onboard a Union fishing vessel, the flag Member State shall ensure that, following the inspection, the fishing vessel flying its flag ceases all fishing activities and shall inform the Commission in a timely manner.

2.If the Union fishing vessel is not called to port, the flag Member State shall provide due justification to the Commission within 72 hours.