Implementing Decision 2014/156/EU is amended as follows:
The title is replaced by the following:
‘Commission Implementing Decision 2014/156/EU of 19 March 2014 establishing a specific control and inspection programme for fisheries exploiting stocks of bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and for certain demersal and pelagic fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea’;
Article 1 is replaced by the following:
1.This Decision establishes a specific control and inspection programme applicable to fisheries exploiting stocks of:
(a)bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean;
(b)swordfish in the Mediterranean;
(c)albacore in the Mediterranean;
(d)sardine and anchovy in the Northern and Southern Adriatic Sea; and
(e)European hake and deep-water rose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily.
2.The Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Northern and Southern Adriatic Sea and the Strait of Sicily are referred to hereinafter as ‘the areas concerned’.
3.For the purpose of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)‘Northern Adriatic’ and ‘Southern Adriatic’ means the geographical subareas (GSAs) 17 and 18 as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council(1);
(b)‘Strait of Sicily’ means the GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011;
(c)‘Mediterranean’ means Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) subareas 37.1, 37.2 and 37.3;
(d)‘Eastern Atlantic’ means International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) subareas VII, VIII, IX, X as defined in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) and FAO division 34.1.2.’;
in Article 2, paragraph 2 is deleted;
in Article 5, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:
‘3.In case where a fishing vessel flying the flag of a Member State which is not a Member State concerned, or a third country fishing vessel, operates in the area(s) referred to in Article 1, it shall be attributed a level of risk in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article. In the absence of information and unless its flag authorities provide, in the framework of Article 9, the results of their own risk assessment performed according to Article 4(2) and to paragraph 2 of this Article leading to a different risk level, it shall be considered as a ‘very high’ risk level fishing vessel.’;
Article 12 is amended as follows:
paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:
‘3.The information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be transmitted by electronic means to the Commission and to the EFCA on 15 September and shall be updated on 31 January of the following year.’;
paragraph 4 is deleted;
Annexes I and II are replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 January 2018.
For the Commission
Karmenu Vella
Member of the Commission