Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98 of 19 December 1997 fixing, for certain stocks of highly migratory fish, the total allowable catches for 1998, their distribution in quotas to Member States and certain conditions under which they may be fished
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 27. 03. 1998 COM(1998) 194 final Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) amending Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98 of 19 December 1997 fixing, for certain stocks of highly migratory fish, the total allowable catches for 1998, their distribution in quotas to Member States and certain conditions under which they may be fished. (presented by the Commission) EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM On 19 December 1997 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 65/98 laying down catch limitations for certain stocks of highly migratory fish: bluefin tuna and swordfish, in accordance with recommendations adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), to which the Community is a Contracting Party since November 1997. The different stocks of bluefin tuna and Atlantic swordfish are considered to be overexploited; therefore the effectiye implementation of the ICCAT recommendations concerning catch limitations for these species is essential to ensure their sustainable exploitation. As concerns swordfish, Regulation 65/98 only considers the TAC for the North Atlantic, since the TAC for the South Atlantic was adopted by ICCAT on 21 November 1997, therefore too late for the December 1997 Council. The TAC for South Atlantic swordfish is applicable as of 1998 and must therefore be implemented as soon as possible in order to ensure that Community fishermen have a timely and complete view of the catch limitation applicable in 1998. This question requires the amendment of Regulation 65/98 as soon as possible. This proposal incorporates the TAC for South Atlantic swordfish to bring Council Regulation 65/98 in line with the latest ICCAT recommendations on catch limitations for highly migratory fish. The Commission proposes that the Council adopt this regulation. oi Proposal of Council Regulation (EC) No. amending Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98 of 19 December 1997 fixing, for certain stocks of highly migratory fish, the total allowable catches for 1998, their distribution in quotas to Member States and certain conditions under which they may be fished. THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture( • ) and, in particular, Article 8(4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the Council adopted, on 19 December 1997, Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98(2) laying down catch limitations for blucfin tuna and for North Atlantic swordfish; to implement recommendations adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICC AT); Whereas ICCAT, at its last annual meeting held in Madrid from 14-21 November 1997, adopted a recommendation concerning catch limitations applicable to swordfish in the Southern Atlantic. Whereas in order to ensure the rational exploitation of the Southern Atlantic swordfish stock it is necessary to implement this recommendation; Whereas it is therefore necessary to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98 accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The table in the annex to this Regulation shall be inserted in the Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 65/98. 1 O. J. L 389, 31. 12. 1992, p. I. Regulation as amended by Hie 1994 Act of Accession. 2 O. J. L 12, 19. 01. 98, p. 145. 2 Article 2 This regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day after the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. It shall apply with effect from 1 January 1998. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all member States. Done at For the Council The President Q ANNEX Species: Swordfish Xiphias gladius Zone: Atlantic ocean, south of latitude 5* N Belgie / Belgique Danmark Deutschland Ellada Espafla France Ireland Italia Luxembourg Nederland Osterreich Portugal Suom'i/Finland Sverige United Kingdom EC TAC 5. 848 385 6. 233 14. 620 sr ISSN 0254-1475 COM(98) 194 final DOCUMENTS EN 03 11 07 10 Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-204-HN-C ISBN 92-78-32621-6 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg