Please note that the date you requested in the address for this web page is not an actual date upon which a change occurred to this item of legislation. You are being shown the legislation from , which is the first date before then upon which a change was made.

Council Regulation (EU) No 1262/2012

of 20 December 2012

fixing for 2013 and 2014 the fishing opportunities for EU vessels for certain deep-sea fish stocks

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Article 43(3) of the Treaty provides that the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, is to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy(1) requires that measures governing access to waters and resources and the sustainable pursuit of fishing activities be established taking into account available scientific, technical and economic advice and in particular reports drawn up by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), as well as in the light of any advice received from Regional Advisory Councils.

(3) It is incumbent upon the Council to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities by fishery or group of fisheries, including certain conditions functionally linked thereto, as appropriate. Fishing opportunities should be distributed among Member States in such a way as to assure each Member State relative stability of fishing activities for each stock or fishery and having due regard to the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy established by Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002.

(4) The total allowable catches (TACs) should be established on the basis of available scientific advice, taking into account biological and socioeconomic aspects whilst ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors, as well as in the light of the opinions expressed during the consultation of stakeholders, in particular at the meetings with the Advisory Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Regional Advisory Councils concerned.

(5) Fishing opportunities should be in accordance with international agreements and principles, such as the 1995 United Nations agreement concerning the conservation and management of straddling stocks and highly migratory fish stocks(2), and the detailed management principles laid down in the 2008 Inter-national Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, according to which, in particular, a regulator should be more cautious when information is uncertain, unreliable or inadequate. The absence of adequate scientific information should not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation and management measures.

(6) The latest scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and from the STECF indicates that most deep-sea stocks are harvested unsustainably and that fishing opportunities for those stocks, in order to assure their sustainability, should be reduced until the evolution of the stock sizes show a positive trend. The ICES has further advised that no directed fishery should be allowed for orange roughy in all areas and for certain stocks of blue ling and red seabream.

(7) Concerning deep sea sharks, the main commercial species are considered depleted and, therefore, no directed fishing should take place.

(8) The fishing opportunities for deep-sea species as defined in Article 2(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 of 16 December 2002 establishing specific access requirements and associated conditions applicable to fishing for deep-sea stocks(3) are decided on a bi-annual basis. Nevertheless, an exception is made for the stocks of greater silver smelt and the main fishery of blue ling for which the fishing opportunities depend on the outcome of the annual negotiations with Norway. The fishing opportunities for those stocks should be established in another relevant annual regulation fixing fishing opportunities.

(9) In the interest of simplification, blue ling TACs autonomously decided by the Union should be regulated in the same legal instrument. Therefore, TACs for blue ling in international waters of II, III and IV should be included, together with the TACs for blue ling in international waters of XII, in the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are not subject to international negotiations or agreements.

(10) In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas(4) the stocks that are subject to various measures referred to therein should be identified. Precautionary TACs should apply for stocks for which no scientifically-based evaluation of fishing opportunities is available specifically for the year in which the TACs are to be set; analytical TACs should apply otherwise. In view of ICES and STECF advice for deep-sea stocks, those for which a science-based evaluation of the relevant fishing opportunities is not available should be subject to precautionary TACs in this Regulation.

(11) In light of the scientific advice, the biological distribution of some stocks of roundnose grenadier does not necessarily correspond to the TAC areas in this Regulation. In order to facilitate the sustainable exploitation of these stocks, it is appropriate to allow for increased flexibility between TAC area Vb, VI, VII, on one hand, and TAC area VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV, on the other.

(12) In order to avoid the interruption of fishing activities and to ensure the livelihood of the fishermen of the Union, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2013. For reasons of urgency, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1U.K.Subject matter

This Regulation fixes for the years 2013 and 2014 the annual fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for fish stocks of certain deep-sea species in EU waters and in certain non-EU waters where catch limits are required.

Article 2U.K.Definitions

1.For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)‘EU vessel’ means a fishing vessel flying the flag of a Member State and registered in the Union;

(b)‘EU waters’ means the waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Member States with the exception of waters adjacent to the territories mentioned in Annex II to the Treaty;

(c)‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means the quantity that can be taken and landed from each fish stock each year;

(d)‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country;

(e)‘international waters’ means waters falling outside the sovereignty or jurisdiction of any State.

2.For the purposes of this Regulation, the following zone definitions shall apply:

(a)ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) zones are the geographical areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(5);

(b)CECAF (Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries) zones are the geographical areas specified in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(6).

Article 3U.K.TACs and allocations

The TACs for deep-sea species caught by EU vessels in EU waters or in certain non-EU waters, the allocation of such TACs among Member States and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 4U.K.Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities

1.The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States as set out in this Regulation shall be without prejudice to:

(a)exchanges made pursuant to Article 20(5) of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002;

(b)deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009(7) or pursuant to Article 10(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008(8);

(c)additional landings allowed pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;

(d)quantities withheld pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96;

(e)deductions made pursuant to Articles 105, 106 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

2.Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to precautionary TAC whereas Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to analytical TAC, except where otherwise specified in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 5U.K.Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

Fish from stocks for which TACs are established shall be retained on board or landed only if the catches have been taken by vessels flying the flag of a Member State having a quota and that quota is not exhausted.

Article 6U.K.Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2013.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEXU.K.

The references to fishing zones are references to ICES zones, unless otherwise specified.

PART 1 U.K. Definition of species and species groups

1.In the list set out in Part 2 of this Annex, fish stocks are referred to following the alphabetical order of the Latin names of the species. However, deep-sea sharks are placed at the beginning of that list. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following comparative table of common names and Latin names is provided:U.K.

Common nameAlpha-3 codeScientific name
Black scabbardfishBSF Aphanopus carbo
AlfonsinosALF Beryx spp.
Roundnose grenadierRNG Coryphaenoides rupestris
Orange roughyORY Hoplostethus atlanticus
Red seabreamSBR Pagellus bogaraveo
Greater ForkbeardGFB Phycis blennoides

[F12. For the purposes of this Regulation, deep-sea sharks means the following list of species: U.K.

Common name Alpha-3 code Scientific name
Deep-water catsharks API Apristurus spp.
Frilled shark HXC Chlamydoselachus anguineus
Gulper sharks CWO Centrophorus spp.
Portuguese dogfish CYO Centroscymnus coelolepis
Longnose velvet dogfish CYP Centroscymnus crepidater
Black dogfish CFB Centroscyllium fabricii
Birdbeak dogfish DCA Deania calcea
Kitefin shark SCK Dalatias licha
Greater lanternshark ETR Etmopterus princeps
Velvet belly ETX Etmopterus spinax
Mouse catshark GAM Galeus murinus
Bluntnose six-gilled shark SBL Hexanchus griseus
Sailfin roughshark (Sharpback shark) OXN Oxynotus paradoxus
Knifetooth dogfish SYR Scymnodon ringens
Greenland shark GSK Somniosus microcephalus]

PART 2 U.K. Annual fishing opportunities applicable for EU vessels in areas where TACs exist by species and by area (in tonnes live weight)

SpeciesDeep-sea sharksZoneEU and international waters of V, VI, VII, VIII and IX (DWS/56789-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Germany00
Estonia00
Ireland00
Spain00
France00
Lithuania00
Poland00
Portugal00
United Kingdom00
Union00
TAC00
SpeciesDeep-sea sharksZoneEU and international waters of X (DWS/10-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Portugal00
Union00
TAC00
SpeciesDeep-sea sharks, Deania hystricosa and Deania profundorumZoneInternational waters of XII (DWS/12INT-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland00
Spain00
France00
United Kingdom00
Union00
TAC00
SpeciesBlack scabbardfishAphanopus carboZoneEU and international waters of I, II, III and IV (BSF/1234-)
Year20132014

Precautionary TAC

Germany33
France33
United Kingdom33
Union99
TAC99
a

Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

SpeciesBlack scabbardfishAphanopus carboZoneEU and international waters of V, VI, VII and XII (BSF/56712-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Germany3546
Estonia1722
Ireland87113
Spain174226
France2 4403 172
Latvia113147
Lithuania11
Poland11
United Kingdom174226
Othersa912
Union3 0513 966
TAC3 0513 966
SpeciesBlack scabbardfishAphanopus carboZoneEU and international waters of VIII, IX and X (BSF/8910-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Spain1212
France2929
Portugal3 6593 659
Union3 7003 700
TAC3 7003 700
SpeciesBlack scabbardfishAphanopus carboZoneEU and international waters of CECAF 34.1.2. (BSF/C3412-)
Year20132014

Precautionary TAC

Portugal3 6743 490
Union3 6743 490
TAC3 6743 490
SpeciesAlfonsinosBeryx spp.ZoneEU and international waters of III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (ALF/3X14-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Ireland109
Spain7067
France1918
Portugal203193
United Kingdom109
Union312296
TAC312296
SpeciesRoundnose grenadierCoryphaenoides rupestrisZoneEU and international waters of I, II and IV (RNG/124-)
Year20132014

Precautionary TAC

Denmark11
Germany11
France1010
United Kingdom11
Union1313
TAC1313
a

No directed fishery for roundnose grenadier shall be conducted in ICES zone IIIa pending consultations between the European Union and Norway.

SpeciesRoundnose grenadierCoryphaenoides rupestrisZoneEU and international waters of III (RNG/03-)a
Year20132014

Precautionary TAC

Denmark643515
Germany43
Sweden3326
Union680544
TAC680544
a

A maximum of 10 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (RNG/*8X14-).

b

Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

SpeciesRoundnose grenadierCoryphaenoides rupestrisZoneEU and international waters of Vb, VI, VII (RNG/5B67-)
Year2013a2014a

Analytical TAC

Germany88
Estonia6363
Ireland279279
Spain7070
France3 5393 539
Lithuania8181
Poland4141
United Kingdom208208
Othersb88
Union4 2974 297
TAC4 2974 297
a

A maximum of 10 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of Vb, VI, VII (RNG/*5B67-).

SpeciesRoundnose grenadierCoryphaenoides rupestrisZoneEU and international waters of VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (RNG/8X14-)
Year2013a2014a

Analytical TAC

Germany2321
Ireland54
Spain2 5732 317
France119107
Latvia4137
Lithuania54
Poland805724
United Kingdom109
Union3 5813 223
TAC3 5813 223
SpeciesOrange roughyHoplostethus atlanticusZoneEU and international waters of VI (ORY/06-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland00
Spain00
France00
United Kingdom00
Union00
TAC00
SpeciesOrange roughyHoplostethus atlanticusZoneEU and international waters of VII (ORY/07-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland00
Spain00
France00
United Kingdom00
Others00
Union00
TAC00
SpeciesOrange roughyHoplostethus atlanticusZoneEU and international waters of I, II, III, IV, V, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIV (ORY/1CX14)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

Ireland00
Spain00
France00
Portugal00
United Kingdom00
Union00
TAC00
a

Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

SpeciesRed seabreamPagellus bogaraveoZoneEU and international waters of VI, VII and VIII (SBR/678-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Ireland65
Spain156143
France87
United Kingdom2018
Othersa65
Union196178
TAC196178
a

A maximum of 8 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of VI, VII and VIII (SBR/*678-).

SpeciesRed seabreamPagellus bogaraveoZoneEU and international waters of IX (SBR/09-)
Year2013a2014a

Analytical TAC

Spain614614
Portugal166166
Union780780
TAC780780
SpeciesRed seabreamPagellus bogaraveoZoneEU and international waters of X (SBR/10-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Spain98
Portugal1 004904
United Kingdom98
Union1 022920
TAC1 022920
SpeciesGreater ForkbeardPhycis blennoidesZoneEU and international waters of I, II, III and IV (GFB/1234-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

Germany99
France99
United Kingdom1313
Union3131
TAC3131
a

A maximum of 8 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of VIII and IX (GFB/*89-).

SpeciesGreater ForkbeardPhycis blennoidesZoneEU and international waters of V, VI and VII (GFB/567-)
Year2013a2014a

Analytical TAC

Germany1010
Ireland260260
Spain588588
France356356
United Kingdom814814
Union2 0282 028
TAC2 0282 028
a

A maximum of 8 % of each quota may be fished in EU and international waters of V, VI, VII (GFB/*567-).

SpeciesGreater ForkbeardPhycis blennoidesZoneEU and international waters of VIII and IX (GFB/89-)
Year2013a2014a

Analytical TAC

Spain242242
France1515
Portugal1010
Union267267
TAC267267
SpeciesGreater ForkbeardPhycis blennoidesZoneEU and international waters of X and XII (GFB/1012-)
Year20132014

Analytical TAC

France99
Portugal3636
United Kingdom99
Union5454
TAC5454
(2)

Agreement on the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks (OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 16).

(5)

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).

(6)

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).

(7)

Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1).

(8)

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 (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 33).