19.5.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L1371 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 973/2001 of 14 May 2001 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Whereas: 1) The Community has by Decision 98/392/EC (}) approved the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which contains principles and rules relating to the conservation and management of the living resources of the sea. In the framework of its wider international obligations, the Community participates in efforts arising in international waters to conserve fish stocks. Pursuant to Decision 86/237/EEC (%), the Community has been a Contracting Party to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter called ‘the ICCAT Convention’, since 14 November 1997. The ICCAT Convention provides a framework for regional cooperation on the conservation and manage- ment of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas by setting up an International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter called the ICCAT’, and adopting recommen- dations on conservation and management in the Convention area which become binding on the Contracting Parties. The ICCAT has recommended a number of technical measures for certain stocks of highly migratory species in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, specifying inter alia authorised sizes and weights of fish, and restrictions () O] C 337 E, 28.11.2000, p. 78. (¥ Opinion delivered on 28 February 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () O] L 179, 23.6.1998, p. 1. () O] L 162, 18.6.1986, p. 33. on fishing within certain areas and time-periods, with certain gears, and on capacity. These recommendations are binding on the Community and should therefore be implemented. Certain technical measures adopted by the ICCAT were incorporated into Council Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 of 27 June 1994 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediter- ranean (°) and Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juve- niles of marine organisms (%). In the interests of clarity, these measures should be brought together in this Regu- lation and the relevant Articles of the above Regulations should be repealed. To take into account traditional fishing practice in certain areas, specific provisions on the capture and retention on board of certain tuna species should be adopted. The Community has by Decision 95/399/EC () approved the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. This agreement provides a useful framework for closer international cooperation and rational use of tunas and related species in the Indian Ocean by setting up the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, hereinafter called the TOTC, and adopting recommendations on conservation and management in the IOTC area which become binding on the Contracting Parties. The IOTC has adopted a recommendation laying down technical measures for certain stocks of highly migratory species in the Indian Ocean. This recommendation is binding on the Community and should therefore be implemented. () O] L 171, 6.7.1994, p. 1. (®) O] L 125, 27.4.1998, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 812/2000 (O] L 100, 20.4.2000, p. 3). () O] L 236, 5.10.1995, p. 24.