CHAPTER IIIFISHING ACTIVITIES OF THIRD COUNTRY FISHING VESSELS IN COMMUNITY WATERS

Article 23Control of catches and fishing effort

1

Third country fishing vessels engaging in fishing activities in Community waters shall, on a weekly basis, transmit to their national authorities and to the Commission, or to a body designated by the Commission, the data:

a

required under the agreement concerned;

b

established by the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in the agreement concerned; or

c

established in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(2).

Notwithstanding the first subparagraph, third country fishing vessels exceeding 24 metres in overall length shall, as from 1 January 2010, transmit this data electronically on a daily basis. As from 1 January 2011, this shall also apply to third country fishing vessels exceeding 15 metres in overall length.

2

As far as required under the agreement concerned, third countries shall collect the catch data transmitted by their vessels in accordance with paragraph 1 and, before the 15th of each calendar month, shall submit by electronic transmission to the Commission, or to a body designated by the Commission, the quantities for each stock, group of stocks or fishing category, caught in Community waters in the previous month by all vessels flying their flag.

3

The catch data referred to in paragraph 2 shall be accessible to a Member State upon request and shall be subject to the rules governing data confidentiality.