Brussels, 05/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 30 August, the European Commission adopted a decision to enable German fishermen to have an extra days' fishing rights under Point 6(c) of Annex IVa to Regulation 27/2005 specifying the fishing opportunities and TACs for 2005 (see EUROPE 8854 on the outcome of the December 2004 Fisheries Council). The decision has been published in Official Journal L226 of 1 September 2005.
The plan to rebuild cod stocks foresees a limited number of authorised fishing days in several areas (Kattegat, Skagerrak and North Sea, West Scotland, Eastern English Channel and Irish Sea). Point 6(c) enables the Commission to allocate an additional day on which a vessel may be absent from port while carrying on board fishing gear of mesh size greater than 120 mm, on condition that the Member State in question makes a request and had developed a system of automatic suspensions of fishing licences in respect of infringements. Germany has submitted a request, and provided information about its automatic suspension of fishing licences in respect of infringement and has therefore been allocated on additional day.