11.5.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 122/7 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 509/2007 of 7 May 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the sustainable exploitation of the stock of sole in the Western Channel 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)  Recent scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has indicated that the sole stock in ICES Division VIle has been subjected to levels of fishing mortality which have eroded the quan- tities of mature fish in the sea to the point at which the stocks may not be able to replenish themselves by repro- duction and that the stocks are therefore threatened with collapse. (2)  Measures need to be taken to establish a multi-annual plan for fisheries management of the sole stock in the Western Channel. (3)  The objective of the plan is to ensure exploitation of the Western Channel sole stock that provides sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. (4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (?) requires, inter alia, that to achieve this objective, the Community shall apply the precautionary approach in taking measures to protect and conserve the stock, to provide for its sustainable exploitation and to minimise the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems. It shall aim at a progressive implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, and shall contribute to efficient fishing activities within an economically viable and competitive fisheries industry, providing a fair standard and taking the interests of consumers into account. (5) In order to achieve this objective the Western Channel sole stock must be brought within safe biological limits () O] C 33 E, 9.2.2006, p. 495. 0J L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59. by reducing fishing mortality rates and must be managed in such a way that the full reproductive capacity of the stock is maintained and a high long-term yield is provided for. (6)  The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries has advised that a fishing mortality rate of 0,27 is consistent with taking a high long-term yield and achieving a low risk of depleting the productive potential of the stock. (7)  Such control of the fishing mortality rates can be achieved by establishing an appropriate method for the establishment of the level of Total Allowable Catches (TACs), and a system whereby fishing efforts on these stocks are restricted to levels at which the TACs are unlikely to be exceeded. (8)  Control measures in addition to those laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (}), need to be included in order to ensure compliance with the measures laid down in this Regulation. (9)  During the first stage in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, the multi-annual plan shall be deemed to be a recovery plan and subsequently a management plan within the meaning of Articles 5 and 6 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: CHAPTER 1 SUBJECT-MATTER AND OBJECTIVES Article 1 Subject-matter 1. This Regulation establishes a multi-annual plan for the sustainable exploitation of the stock of sole which inhabits the Western Channel (hereinafter referred to as Western Channel sole). () OJ L 261, 20.10.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 1967/2006 (O] L 409, 30.12.2006, p. 11).