Proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2017/127 as regards certain fishing opportunities

Council Regulation (EU) No 2017/127 fixes for 2017 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in Union waters and, for Union vessels, in certain non-Union waters. These fishing opportunities are usually amended several times during the period in which they are in effect.

The proposed amendments seek to modify Regulation 2017/127 as follows:

- Sandeel is a short-lived species and the scientific advice becomes available in the second half of February, while the fishery starts in April. In Council Regulation (EU) 2017/127 the total allowable catch (TAC) limits were set at zero. Therefore, they should be amended in line with the latest scientific advice from ICES.

- The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) adopted measures for yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and skipjack tuna in the IATTC Convention Area. Those measures should be implemented in the law of the Union.

- In accordance with the procedure provided for in the agreement and protocol on fisheries relations with Greenland, the Joint Committee has established the level of fishing opportunities for capelin in Greenland waters in 2017. It is therefore necessary to include these fishing opportunities in this Regulation.

- At its fifth annual meeting in 2017, the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) fixed fishing opportunities consisting of a total allowable catch (TAC) for jack mackerel. This TAC should be included in the Regulation.

- After the consultations with the Faroe Islands it was decided to increase the number of licences for vessels fishing for mackerel, for Union vessels fishing in Faroe waters and for Faroese vessels fishing in Union waters. Certain reporting codes should be modified in order to ensure proper reporting of catches.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2017)126: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2017:126:FIN

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