9.8.2012 Official Journal of the European Union L 212/1 II (Non-legislative acts) REGULATIONS COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 721/2012 of 6 August 2012 prohibiting fishing activities for longliners flying the flag of or registered in Greece or Malta, fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and in the Mediterranean Sea THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources based on the precautionary approach. Union, (4)  In accordance with Article 36, paragraph 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, where the Commission finds that, on the basis of information provided by Member States Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of and. ‘_)f othe-r information in its possession fishing oppor- 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system tunities available to the European Union, a Member State for ensuring compliance with the rules on the common fisheries or group of Member States are deemed to have been ol ) 1 i A 25, s 2 o thereof and shall prohibit fishing activities for the respective area, gear, stock, group of stocks or fleet Whereas: involved in those specific fishing activities. (M Council f.R.e gulatfion (EU) Noh 44| 130}11.2 of 17 anuary (5)  The information in the Commission’s possession 2012 fixing for 2012 the lishing opportunitics indicates that the fishing opportunities for bluefin tuna available in EU waters and, to EU vessels, in certain in the Alantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and the non-EU waters for certain ﬁsh stock§ and groups of Mediterranean Sea allocated to longliners flying the flag fish stocks which are subject to international negotiations ¢ istered in G Malta have b hausted or agreements (?) fixes the amount of bluefin tuna which b or Tegistered mn reece or Vialta have been exhausted. may be fished in 2012 in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and the Mediterranean Sea by European Union fishing vessels. (6)  On 3 May 2012 Greece informed the Commission of the fact that it had imposed a stop on the fishing activities of its longline vessels active in the 2012 bluefin tuna () Council Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 of 6 April 2009 fishery, with effect from that day at 00.00. concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, amending Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 and repealing Regulation ) . (ECg) No 1559/2007 (3/) requires I\E[)embegr Stgates to (7)  On 2 July 2012 Malta informed the Commission of the inform  the Commission of the individual quota fact that it had imposed a stop on the fishing activities of allocated to their vessels over 24 m and, for catching ;Fshlongln‘l(;l erfsselsf actlvle 1r11 theOOZSéZ bluefin  tuna vessels less than 24 m, at least of the quota allocated ishery, with effect from 1 July at 00.00. to producer organisations or groups of vessels fishing with similar gear. (8)  Without prejudice to the action by Greece and Malta The common fisheries policy is designed to ensure the long-term viability of the fisheries sector through 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1. 0J L 0] L 25, 27.1.2012, p. 55. 0J L 96, 15.4.2009, p. 1. mentioned above, it is necessary that the Commission confirms the prohibition of fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45°W and the Mediterranean Sea as from 3 May 2012 at 00.00 for longliners flying the flag of or registered in Greece and as from 1 July 2012 at 00.00 for longliners flying the flag of or registered in Malta,