Brussels, 15/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 8 July, the European Commission adopted a proposal aimed at amending a number of provisions of the regulation on total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2009. The Council is called upon to adopt the text without delay as the fishing year is already underway.
On the subject of bluefin tuna, the proposal determines: - the maximum number of pole-and-liners and trolling boats authorised to fish actively bluefin tuna in the Atlantic (Spain 63, France 44); - the maximum number of vessels fishing actively bluefin tuna in the Adriatic for farming purposes (68 Italian vessels); the maximum number of pole-and-line vessels, and the maximum number of coastal fishery pole-and-liners, longliners and handliners fishing actively for fresh bluefin tuna small-scale fishery in the Mediterranean (Spain 139, France 86, Italy 35, Cyprus 25 and Malta 89); - and the allocation among member states of the Community quota of bluefin tuna.
In order to collect more scientific date on krill, a species of fundamental importance to the Antarctic marine ecosystem, the proposal provides for implementation in Community law of recent multiple recommendations from the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Scientific Committee, to guarantee 100% observer coverage in krill fishery in the CCAMLR Convention area.
In Community law, the proposal also transposes the proposal made in February 2009 by representatives from the European Community, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation regarding the management in 2009 of redfish in the Irminger Sea and adjacent waters in the NEAFC (North-East Atlantic Fisheries Convention) Convention Area. The Commission also suggests that the conclusions of the EU/Greenland joint committee meeting in November 2008 regarding the EC share of redfish in Greenland waters of ICES zones V and XIV should be implemented into Community law (6,992 tonnes for the EU, of which 4,266 for Germany).
The proposal made by the heads of delegation of the contracting parties of the NEAFC (Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, European Community, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation) regarding the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the NEAFC regulatory area, should be implemented into Community law.
Furthermore, the Commission proposes adjustments to certain TACs for Greenland halibut, mackerel and horse mackerel in order to avoid misreporting. (L.C./transl.jl)