Council Regulation (EU) 2017/127Show full title

TITLE II FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS

CHAPTER I General provisions

Article 5 TACs and allocations

1. The TACs for Union fishing vessels in Union waters or certain non-Union waters and the allocation of such TACs among Member States, and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in Annex I.

2. Union fishing vessels shall be authorised to make catches, within the TACs set out in Annex I, in waters falling within the fisheries jurisdiction of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Norway, and the fishing zone around Jan Mayen, subject to the condition set out in Article 14 of, and Annex III to, this Regulation and in Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008(1) and its implementing provisions.

Article 6 TACs to be determined by Member States

1. The TACs for certain fish stocks shall be determined by the Member State concerned. Those stocks are identified in Annex I.

2. The TACs to be determined by a Member State shall:

(a) be consistent with the principles and rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, in particular the principle of sustainable exploitation of the stock; and

(b) result:

(i)

if analytical assessments are available, in the exploitation of the stock consistent with maximum sustainable yield from 2017 onwards, with as high a probability as possible;

(ii)

if analytical assessments are unavailable or incomplete, in the exploitation of the stock consistent with the precautionary approach to fisheries management.

3. By 15 March 2017, each Member State concerned shall submit the following information to the Commission:

(a) the TACs adopted;

(b) the data collected and assessed by the Member State concerned on which the TACs adopted are based;

(c) details on how the TACs adopted comply with paragraph 2.

Article 7 Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

1. Catches that are not subject to the landing obligation established in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall be retained on board or landed only if they:

(a) have been taken by vessels flying the flag of a Member State having a quota and that quota has not been exhausted; or

(b) consist of a share in a Union quota which has not been allocated by quota among Member States, and that Union quota has not been exhausted.

2. The stocks of non-target species within safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 are identified in Annex I to this Regulation for the purposes of the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quotas provided for in that Article.

Article 8 Fishing effort limits

For the periods referred to in Article 1(2)(b), the following fishing effort measures shall apply:

(a)

Annex IIA for the management of plaice and sole stocks in ICES subarea IV;

(b)

Annex IIB for the recovery of hake and Norway lobster in ICES divisions VIIIc and IXa, with the exception of the Gulf of Cádiz;

(c)

Annex IIC for the management of the sole stock in ICES division VIIe.

Article 9 Measures on Sea bass fisheries

1. It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels to fish for sea bass in ICES divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj and VIIk, as well as in the waters of ICES divisions VIIa and VIIg that are more than 12 nautical miles from the baseline under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels to retain on board, tranship, relocate or land sea bass caught in that area.

2. It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels as well as for any commercial fisheries from shore to fish for sea bass and to retain on board, relocate, tranship or land sea bass caught in the following areas:

(a) ICES divisions IVb, IVc, VIId, VIIe, VIIf and VIIh;

(b) waters within 12 nautical miles from baseline under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom in ICES divisions VIIa and VIIg.

By derogation from the first subparagraph, the following measures shall apply regarding sea bass in the areas referred to in that subparagraph:

(a) a Union fishing vessel deploying demersal trawls and seines(2) may retain on board unavoidable by-catches of sea bass that do not exceed 3 % of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board in any single day. The catches of sea bass retained on board by a Union fishing vessel on the basis of this derogation may not exceed 400 kilograms per month;

(b) in January 2017 and from 1 April to 31 December 2017, Union fishing vessels using hooks and lines(3), may fish for sea bass and retain on board, relocate, tranship or land sea bass caught in that area not exceeding 10 tonnes per vessel per year;

(c) Union fishing vessels using fixed gillnets(4) may retain on board unavoidable by-catches of sea bass not exceeding 250 kilograms per month.

The above derogations shall apply to Union fishing vessels that have recorded catches of sea bass over the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2016: in point (b) with recorded catches using hooks and lines, and in point (c) with recorded catches using fixed gillnets.

3. The catch limits set in paragraph 2 shall not be transferable between vessels. Member States shall report to the Commission catches of sea bass per type of gear not later than 20 days after the end of each month.

4. From 1 January to 30 June 2017 in recreational fisheries in ICES divisions IVb, IVc, VIIa and from VIId to VIIh, only catch-and-release fishing for sea bass, including from shore, shall be allowed. During this period, it shall be prohibited to retain on board, relocate, tranship or land sea bass caught in that area.

5. In recreational fisheries, including from shore, not more than one specimen of sea bass may be retained per fisherman per day during the following periods and in the following areas:

(a) from 1 July to 31 December 2017 in ICES divisions IVb, IVc, VIIa and from VIId to VIIh;

(b) from 1 January to 31 December 2017 in ICES divisions VIIj and VIIk.

6. From 1 January to 31 December 2017 in recreational fisheries in ICES divisions VIIIa and VIIIb, a maximum of five fish per fisherman may be retained each day.

Article 10 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 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(b) deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(c) reallocations made pursuant to Article 10(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008;

(d) additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(e) quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

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

(g) quota transfers and exchanges pursuant to Article 15 of this Regulation.

2. Stocks which are subject to precautionary or analytical TACs are identified in Annex I to this Regulation for the purposes of the year-to-year management of TACs and quotas provided for in Regulation (EC) No 847/96.

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

4. Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses the year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

Article 11 Closed fishing seasons

1. It shall be prohibited to fish or retain on board any of the following species in the Porcupine Bank during the period from 1 May to 31 May 2017: cod, megrims, anglerfish, haddock, whiting, hake, Norway lobster, plaice, pollack, saithe, skates and rays, common sole, tusk, blue ling, ling and picked dogfish.

For the purposes of this paragraph, the Porcupine Bank shall comprise the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:

Point	Latitude	Longitude
1	52° 27′ N	12° 19′ W
2	52° 40′ N	12° 30′ W
3	52° 47′ N	12° 39,600′ W
4	52° 47′ N	12° 56′ W
5	52° 13.5′ N	13° 53,830′ W
6	51° 22′ N	14° 24′ W
7	51° 22′ N	14° 03′ W
8	52° 10′ N	13° 25′ W
9	52° 32′ N	13° 07,500′ W
10	52° 43′ N	12° 55′ W
11	52° 43′ N	12° 43′ W
12	52° 38,800′ N	12° 37′ W
13	52° 27′ N	12° 23′ W
14	52° 27′ N	12° 19′ W

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, transit through the Porcupine Bank while carrying on board the species referred to in that paragraph, shall be permitted in accordance with Article 50(3), (4) and (5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

2. Commercial fishing for sandeel with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gears with a mesh size of less than 16 millimetres shall be prohibited in ICES divisions IIa, IIIa and ICES subarea IV from 1 January to 31 March 2017 and from 1 August to 31 December 2017.

The prohibition set out in the first subparagraph shall also apply to third-country vessels authorised to fish for sandeel and associated by-catches in Union waters of ICES subarea IV.

Article 12 Prohibitions

1. It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or to land the following species:

(a) starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions IIa, IIIa and VIId and ICES subarea IV;

(b) white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in all waters;

(c) leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) in Union waters of ICES division IIa and subarea IV and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas I and XIV;

(d) Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in Union waters of ICES division IIa and subarea IV and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas I and XIV;

(e) basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) in all waters;

(f) kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) in Union waters of ICES division IIa and subarea IV and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas I and XIV;

(g) birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea) in Union waters of ICES division IIa and subarea IV and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas I and XIV;

(h) common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in Union waters of ICES division IIa and ICES subareas III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X;

(i) great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) in Union waters of ICES division IIa and subarea IV and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas I and XIV;

(j) smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus) in Union waters of ICES division IIa and subarea IV and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas I, V, VI, VII, VIII, XII and XIV;

(k) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of ICES division IIa and subarea IV and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas I, V, VI, VII, VIII, XII and XIV;

(l) porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in all waters;

(m) reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in all waters;

(n) giant manta ray (Manta birostris) in all waters;

(o) the following species of Mobula rays in all waters:

(i)

devil fish (Mobula mobular);

(ii)

lesser Guinean devil ray (Mobula rochebrunei);

(iii)

spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica);

(iv)

smoothtail mobula (Mobula thurstoni);

(v)

longhorned mobula (Mobula eregoodootenkee);

(vi)

Munk's devil ray (Mobula munkiana);

(vii)

Chilean devil ray (Mobula tarapacana);

(viii)

shortfin devil ray (Mobula kuhlii);

(ix)

lesser devil ray (Mobula hypostoma);

(p) the following species of sawfish (Pristidae) in all waters:

(i)

narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata);

(ii)

dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata);

(iii)

smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata);

(iv)

largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis);

(v)

green sawfish (Pristis zijsron);

(q) thornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division IIIa;

(r) Norwegian skate (Dipturus nidarosiensis) in Union waters of ICES divisions VIa, VIb, VIIa, VIIb, VIIc, VIIe, VIIf, VIIg, VIIh and VIIk;

(s) undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas VI and X;

(t) white skate (Rostroraja alba) in Union waters of ICES subareas VI, VII, VIII, IX and X;

(u) guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae) in Union waters of ICES subareas I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and XII;

(v) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in Union waters, with the exception of avoidance programmes as set out in Annex IA;

(w) angel shark (Squatina squatina) in Union waters.

2. When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

Article 13 Data transmission

When, pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Member States submit to the Commission data relating to landings of quantities of stocks caught, they shall use the stock codes set out in Annex I to this Regulation.

CHAPTER II Fishing authorisations in third-country waters

Article 14 Fishing authorisations

1. The maximum number of fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels fishing in waters of a third country is set out in Annex III.

2. Where one Member State transfers quota to another Member State (‘swap’) in the fishing areas set out in Annex III to this Regulation on the basis of Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the transfer shall include an appropriate transfer of fishing authorisations and shall be notified to the Commission. However, the total number of fishing authorisations for each fishing area, as set out in Annex III to this Regulation, shall not be exceeded.

CHAPTER III Fishing opportunities in waters of regional fisheries management organisations

Article 15 Quota transfers and exchanges

1. Where, under the rules of a regional fisheries management organisation (‘RFMO’), quota transfers or exchanges between the Contracting Parties to the RFMO are permitted, a Member State (‘the Member State concerned’) may discuss with a Contracting Party to the RFMO and, as appropriate, establish a possible outline of an intended quota transfer or exchange.

2. Upon notification to the Commission by the Member State concerned, the Commission may endorse the outline of the intended quota transfer or exchange that the Member State has discussed with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. Thereupon, the Commission shall express, without undue delay, the consent to be bound by such quota transfer or exchange with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. The Commission shall notify the secretariat of the RFMO of the agreed quota transfer or exchange in accordance with the rules of that organisation.

3. The Commission shall inform the Member States of the agreed quota transfer or exchange.

4. The fishing opportunities received from or transferred to the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO under the quota transfer or exchange shall be deemed to be quotas allocated to, or deducted from, the allocation of the Member State concerned, as of the moment that the quota transfer or exchange takes effect in accordance with the terms of the agreement reached with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO or in accordance with the rules of the relevant RFMO, as appropriate. Such allocation shall not change the existing distribution key for the purpose of allocating fishing opportunities among Member States in accordance with the principle of relative stability of fishing activities.

5. This Article shall apply until 31 January 2018 for quota transfers from a RFMO Contracting Party to the Union and their subsequent allocation to Member States.

Section 1 ICCAT Convention Area

Article 16 Fishing, farming and fattening capacity limitations

1. The number of Union bait boats and trolling boats authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Eastern Atlantic shall be limited as set out in point 1 of Annex IV.

2. The number of Union coastal artisanal fishing vessels authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 2 of Annex IV.

3. The number of Union fishing vessels fishing for bluefin tuna in the Adriatic Sea for farming purposes authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm shall be limited as set out in point 3 of Annex IV.

4. The number and total capacity in gross tonnage of fishing vessels authorised to fish for, retain on board, tranship, transport, or land bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 4 of Annex IV.

5. The number of traps engaged in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery shall be limited as set out in point 5 of Annex IV.

6. The bluefin tuna farming capacity, the fattening capacity and the maximum input of wild caught bluefin tuna allocated to the farms in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 6 of Annex IV.

7. The maximum number of Union fishing vessels of at least 20 metres length that fish for bigeye tuna in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be limited as set out in point 7 of Annex IV.

Article 17 Recreational fisheries

Where appropriate, Member States shall allocate a specific share for recreational fisheries from their quotas allocated in Annex ID.

Article 18 Sharks

1. Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of bigeye thresher sharks (Alopias superciliosus) in any fishery shall be prohibited.

2. It shall be prohibited to undertake a directed fishery for species of thresher sharks of the Alopias genus.

3. Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of hammerhead sharks of the Sphyrnidae family (except for the Sphyrna tiburo) in association with fisheries in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be prohibited.

4. Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) taken in any fishery shall be prohibited.

5. Retaining on board silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) taken in any fishery shall be prohibited.

Section 2 CCAMLR Convention Area

Article 19 Prohibitions and catch limitations

1. Direct fishing of the species set out in Part A of Annex V, shall be prohibited in the zones and during the periods set out therein.

2. For exploratory fisheries, the TACs and by-catch limits set out in Part B of Annex V, shall apply in the subareas set out therein.

Article 20 Exploratory fisheries

1. Member States may participate in longline exploratory fisheries for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a outside areas of national jurisdiction in 2017. If a Member State intends to participate in such fisheries, it shall notify the CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with Articles 7 and 7a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 and in any case no later than 1 June 2017.

2. With regard to FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a, TACs and by-catch limits per subarea and division, and their distribution among Small Scale Research Units (SSRUs) within each of them, shall be as set out in Part B of Annex V. Fishing in any SSRU shall cease when the reported catch reaches the specified TAC, and the SSRU shall be closed to fishing for the remainder of the season.

3. Fishing shall take place over as large a geographical and bathymetric range as possible to obtain the information necessary to determine fishery potential and to avoid over-concentration of catch and fishing effort. However, fishing in FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a shall be prohibited in depths less than 550 metres.

Article 21 Krill fishery during the 2017/2018 fishing season

1. If a Member State intends to fish for krill (Euphausia superba) in the CCAMLR Convention Area during the 2017/2018 fishing season, it shall notify the Commission, no later than 1 May 2017, using the format laid down in Part C of Annex V to this Regulation of its intention to fish for krill. On the basis of the information provided by Member States, the Commission shall submit the notifications to the CCAMLR Secretariat no later than 30 May 2017.

2. The notification referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall include the information provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 for each vessel to be authorised by the Member State to participate in the krill fishery.

3. A Member State intending to fish for krill in the CCAMLR Convention Area shall notify its intention to do so only in respect of authorised vessels either flying its flag at the time of the notification or flying the flag of another CCAMLR member that are expected, at the time the fishery takes place, to be flying the flag of that Member State.

4. Member States shall be entitled to authorise participation in a krill fishery by vessels other than those notified to CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, if an authorised vessel is prevented from participation due to legitimate operational reasons or force majeure. In such circumstances the Member States concerned shall immediately inform the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission, providing:

(a) full details of the intended replacement vessel(s), including information provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004;

(b) a comprehensive account of the reasons justifying the replacement and any relevant supporting evidence or references.

5. Member States shall not authorise a vessel on any CCAMLR illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) Vessel List to participate in krill fisheries.

Section 3 IOTC Area of Competence

Article 22 Limitation of fishing capacity of vessels fishing in the IOTC Area of Competence

1. The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for tropical tunas in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 1 of Annex VI.

2. The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 2 of Annex VI.

3. Member States may re-allocate vessels assigned to one of the two fisheries referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 to the other fishery, provided that they can demonstrate to the Commission that this change does not lead to an increase of fishing effort on the fish stocks involved.

4. Member States shall ensure that, where there is a proposed transfer of capacity to their fleet, vessels to be transferred are on the IOTC Record of Vessels or on the record of vessels of other tuna regional fisheries organisations. Furthermore, no vessels featuring on the list of vessels engaged in IUU fishing activities of any RFMO may be transferred.

5. Member States may only increase their fishing capacity beyond the ceilings referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 within the limits set out in the development plans submitted to the IOTC.

Article 23 Drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) and supply vessels

1. A purse seine vessel shall not deploy more than 425 active drifting FADs at any one time.

2. The number of Union supply vessels shall not exceed half of the Union purse-seine vessels. For the purposes of this paragraph, the number of Union supply vessels and Union purse-seine vessels shall be established on the basis of the IOTC register of active vessels.

Article 24 Sharks

1. Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of thresher sharks of all the species of the Alopiidae family in any fishery shall be prohibited.

2. Retaining on board, transshipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in any fishery shall be prohibited, except for vessels under 24 metres overall length engaged solely in fishing operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Member State whose flag they fly, and provided that their catch is destined solely for local consumption.

3. When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

Section 4 SPRFMO Convention Area

Article 25 Pelagic fisheries

1. Only Member States having actively exercised pelagic fisheries activities in the SPRFMO Convention Area in 2007, 2008 or 2009 may fish for pelagic stocks in that area in accordance with the TACs set out in Annex IJ.

2. Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall limit the total level of gross tonnage of vessels flying their flag and fishing for pelagic stocks in 2017 to the total Union level of 78 600 gross tonnage in that area.

3. The fishing opportunities set out in Annex IJ may only be used under the condition that Member States send to the Commission the list of vessels actively fishing or engaged in transhipment in the SPRFMO Convention Area, records from vessel monitoring systems, monthly catch reports and, where available, port calls at the latest by the fifth day of the following month, in order to communicate this information to the SPRFMO Secretariat.

Article 26 Bottom fisheries

1. Member States shall limit their bottom fishing catch or effort in 2017 in the SPRFMO Convention Area to those parts of the Convention Area where bottom fishing has occurred from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 and to a level that does not exceed the annual average levels of catches or effort parameters in that period. They may fish beyond the track record only if SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish beyond the track record.

2. Member States without a track record in bottom fishing catch or effort in the SPRFMO Convention Area over the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 shall not fish, unless SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish without the track record.

Section 5 IATTC Convention Area

Article 27 Purse-seine fisheries

1. Fishing by purse-seine vessels for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) shall be prohibited:

(a) from 29 July to 28 September 2017 or from 18 November 2017 to 18 January 2018 in the area defined by the following limits:

• (a) the Pacific coastlines of the Americas,

• longitude 150° W,

• latitude 40° N,

• latitude 40° S;

(b) from 29 September to 29 October 2017 in the area defined by the following limits:

• (b) longitude 96° W,

• longitude 110° W,

• latitude 4° N,

• latitude 3° S.

2. The Member States concerned shall notify the Commission of the selected period of closure referred to in paragraph 1 before 1 April 2017. All the purse-seine vessels of the Member States concerned shall stop purse-seine fishing in the areas defined in paragraph 1 during the selected period.

3. Purse-seine vessels fishing for tuna in the IATTC Convention Area shall retain on board and then land or tranship all yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna caught.

4. Paragraph 3 shall not apply in the following cases:

(a) where the fish is considered unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or

(b) during the final set of a trip when there may be insufficient well space remaining to accommodate all the tuna caught in that set.

Article 28 Prohibition of fishing for oceanic whitetip sharks

1. It shall be prohibited to fish for oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in the IATTC Convention Area, and to retain on board, to tranship, to store, to offer to sell, to sell or to land any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks caught in that area.

2. When accidentally caught, the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released by vessel operators.

3. Vessel operators shall:

(a) record the number of releases with indication of status (dead or alive);

(b) report the information specified in point (a) to the Member State of which they are nationals. Member States shall transmit the information collected during the previous year to the Commission by 31 January.

Article 29 Prohibition of fishing for Mobulid rays

It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels in the IATTC Convention Area to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship, to land, to store, to offer to sell or to sell any part or whole carcass of Mobulid rays (family Mobulidae, which includes the genera Manta and Mobula). As soon as Union fishing vessels notice that Mobulid rays have been caught, Union fishing vessels shall promptly release them alive and unharmed wherever possible.

Section 6 SEAFO Convention Area

Article 30 Prohibition of fishing for deep water sharks

Directed fishing for the following deep water sharks in the SEAFO Convention Area shall be prohibited:

• ghost catshark (Apristurus manis),

• blurred smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus bigelowi),

• shorttail lanternshark (Etmopterus brachyurus),

• great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps),

• smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus),

• skates (Rajidae),

• velvet dogfish (Scymnodon squamulosus),

• deep-sea sharks of the Selachimorpha super-order,

• picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias).

Section 7 WCPFC Convention Area

Article 31 Conditions for bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna and south Pacific albacore fisheries

1. Member States shall ensure that the number of fishing days allocated to purse-seine vessels fishing for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located in the high seas between 20° N and 20° S does not exceed 403 days.

2. Union fishing vessels shall not target south Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the WCPFC Convention Area south of 20° S.

3. Member States shall ensure that catches of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) by longliners do not exceed 2 000 tonnes in 2017.

4. Member States shall ensure that the by-catch of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) by purse seiners do not exceed 2 857 tonnes in 2017.

Article 32 Closed area for FAD fishing

1. In the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located between 20° N and 20° S, fishing activities of purse-seine vessels making use of FADs shall be prohibited between 00:00 hours of 1 July 2017 and 24:00 hours of 31 October 2017. During that period, a purse-seine vessel may only engage in fishing operations within that part of the WCPFC Convention Area if it carries on board an observer to monitor that at no time does the vessel:

(a) deploy or service a FAD or associated electronic device;

(b) fish on schools in association with FADs.

2. All purse-seine vessels fishing in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area referred to in paragraph 1 shall retain on board and land or tranship all bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna caught.

3. Paragraph 2 shall not apply in the following cases:

(a) in the final set of a trip, if the vessel has insufficient well space left to accommodate all fish;

(b) where the fish is unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or

(c) when a serious malfunction of freezer equipment occurs.

Article 33 Limitations to the number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in areas south of 20° S of the WCPFC Convention Area shall be as set out in Annex VII.

Article 34 Silky sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks

1. Retaining on board, transhipping, storing or landing any part or whole carcass of the following species in the WCPFC Convention Area shall be prohibited:

(a) silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis),

(b) oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus).

2. When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

Article 35 Overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC

1. Vessels listed exclusively in the WCPFC register shall apply the measures set out in this Section when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC as defined in Article 4(s).

2. Vessels listed in both the WCPFC register and the IATTC register and vessels listed exclusively in the IATTC register shall apply the measures set out in Article 27(1)(a), (2), (3) and (4) and Article 28 when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC as defined in Article 4(s).

Section 8 GFCM Agreement Area

Article 36 Small pelagic stocks in geographical subareas 17 and 18

1. Catches of small pelagic stocks by Union fishing vessels in the geographical subareas 17 and 18 shall not exceed the levels exerted in 2014, reported in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011, as set out in Annex IL to this Regulation.

2. Union fishing vessels targeting small pelagics in geographical subareas 17 and 18 shall not exceed 180 fishing days per year. Within this total of 180 fishing days, a maximum of 144 fishing days targeting sardine and a maximum of 144 fishing days targeting anchovy shall apply.

Section 9 Bering Sea

Article 37 Prohibition on fishing in the high seas of the Bering Sea

Fishing for pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the high seas of the Bering Sea shall be prohibited.

(1)

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).

(2)

All types of demersal trawls including Danish/Scottish seines, including OTB, OTT, PTB, TBB, SSC, SDN, SPR, SV, SB, SX, TBN, TBS, TB.

(3)

All long lines or pole and line or rod and line fisheries, including LHP, LHM, LLD, LL, LTL, LX and LLS.

(4)

All fixed gillnets and traps, including GTR, GNS, FYK, FPN and FIX.