Brussels, 30/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 30 November the EU Council of Ministers adopted (without debate) a regulation updating the green halibut recovery plan of 2005. During the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) meeting held in Lisbon in September 2007, a number of modifications to this recovery plan were adopted. These amendments relate to enhanced measures for catch reporting and additional control measures designed to enhance at-sea inspections for vessels entering and leaving the NAFO regulatory area.
The changes concern the following aspects in particular: - requirements relating to entry to the NAFO regulatory area for vessels with catches of 50 tonnes or more on board, and obligations regarding the communication of data to the NAFO secretariat and conditions governing fishing in the area; - the regular communication to the NAFO secretariat every five or three days of catches taken in NAFO Subarea 2 and Divisions 3KLMNO.
These amendments should be transposed into Community law. The European Commission's proposal dates from 20 March 2009 and on 24 November last the European Parliament approved a new green halibut recovery plan (EUROPE 10026). (L.C./transl.fl)