22.11.2013 [ EN_| Official Journal of the European Union L 31315 COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 1182/2013 of 19 November 2013 amending Regulations (EC) No 754/2009, (EU) No 1262/2012, (EU) No 39/2013 and (EU) No 40/2013 as regards certain fishing opportunities THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: ) Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 (') requires that Union measures governing access to waters and resources and the sustainable pursuit of fishing activities be established taking into account available scientific, technical and economic advice and in particular reports drawn up by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), as well as advice received from Regional Advisory Councils. By Council Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 (?), the Council excluded certain groups of vessels from the fishing effort regime laid down in Chapter III of Council Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 (*). The allowable fishing effort for vessels subject to that regime is currently fixed by Annex [IA to Council Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 (%) and Annex IIA to Council Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 (). Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (O] L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59). Council Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 of 27 July 2009 excluding certain groups of vessels from the fishing effort regime laid down in Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 (O] L 214, 19.8.2009, p. 16). Council Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 of 18 December 2008 establishing a long-term plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those stocks and repealing Regulation (EC) No 423/2004 (O] L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 20). Council Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 of 21 January 2013 fixing for 2013 the fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are not subject to inter- national negotiations or agreements (O] L 23, 25.1.2013, p. 1). Council Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 of 21 January 2013 fixing for 2013 the fishing opportunities available in EU waters and, to EU vessels, in certain non-EU waters for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are subject to international negotiations or agreements (O] L 23, 25.1.2013, p. 54). (3) In June 2013, the International Council for the Explo- ration of the Sea (ICES) published its advice for Northern hake in 2014. In that advice, ICES indicates that the stock’s biomass is at a record high in 2013 and, furthermore, that fishing mortality has decreased sharply in recent years. ICES advised that in 2014, the TAC may be raised by 49 % to 81 846 tonnes. Ireland and Spain requested, in light of this advice, that the TAC in force for this stock be raised in-year from 55 105 tonnes to 69 440 tonnes, to meet the level of landings that ICES estimates as corresponding with the current levels of fishing mortality, which are in turn consistent with maximum sustainable yield. The request is deemed acceptable based on the commitment by the Member States concerned to ensure, through rigorous control of the fishery, that fishing effort and therefore fishing mortality rates remain constant. A group of vessels flying the flag of Spain and fishing in the West of Scotland is currently excluded from the application of the fishing effort regime laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008. On the basis of information provided by Spain in 2013, the STECF was not in a position to assess whether the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 remained fulfilled in the 2012 management period. It is therefore appropriate to reinclude this group of Spanish vessels in that fishing effort regime. Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 and Annex IIA to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly. A group of vessels flying the flag of France and fishing in the North Sea is currently excluded from the application of the fishing effort regime laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008. On the basis of information provided by France in 2013, the STECF assessed that catches for those vessels exceeded the established threshold. It is therefore appropriate to reinclude that group of French vessels in that fishing effort regime. Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 and Annex IIA to Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly. A group of vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom and targeting queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis) around the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea is currently excluded from the application of the effort regime laid down Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008. However, due to a mathematical error, the effort ceilings in Annex IIA to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 do not reflect this exclusion. Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 should therefore be corrected accordingly.