Council Regulation (EC) No 782/98 of 7 April 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean
L 113/6 ‹ EN ‹ Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 4. 98 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 782/98 of 7 April 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and, in particular, Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas, according to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture (4), the general objectives of the common fisheries policy is to protect and conserve living marine aquatic resources; Whereas the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) at its 10th extraordinary session held in San Sebastian, Spain, from 22 to 29 November 1996, adopted two recommendations concerning the fishing activity for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean; whereas ICCAT has also recommended certain specific rules on minimum landing sizes of bluefin tuna; whereas all these recommendations are drawn up on scientific advice; in the framework of Whereas in the Community’s particular, taking into account the future accession of the Community to ICCAT, it is appropriate to implement those recommedations, in order to avoid an excessive fishing pressure on bluefin tuna; international obligations and, Whereas Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 (5) should consequently be amended, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 is hereby amended as follows: Article 1 1. the following Article shall be inserted: ‘Article 3a It shall be forbidden to fish for bluefin tuna with purse seine during the period 1. from 1 to 31 August. It shall be forbidden to use airplanes or helicopters in support of 2. operations for bluefin tuna during the period 1 to 30 June. ’ fishing (1) OJ C 337, 7. 11. 1997, p. 36. (2) OJ C 104, 6. 4. 1998. (3) OJ C 73, 9. 3. 1998. (4) OJ L 389, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1. (5) OJ L 171, 6. 7. 1994, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1075/96 (OJ L 142, 15. 6. 1996, p. 1). 15. 4. 98 ‹ EN ‹ Official Journal of the European Communities L 113/7 2. in Annex IV: — the following text shall replace the corresponding entry: ‘Species Minimum size Thunnus thynnus 70 cm or 6,4 kg (**) (**) However, it shall be authorised to land up to 15 % in number of individuals weighing between 1,8 kg and 6,4 kg caught accidentally. ’ — former footnote (**) shall be renumbered as (***). Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Luxembourg, 7 April 1998. For the Council The President D. BLUNKETT