This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 02018R0973-20190814
Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008
Consolidated text: Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008
Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008
02018R0973 — EN — 14.08.2019 — 002.001
This text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. The Union's institutions do not assume any liability for its contents. The authentic versions of the relevant acts, including their preambles, are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union and available in EUR-Lex. Those official texts are directly accessible through the links embedded in this document
REGULATION (EU) 2018/973 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 4 July 2018 (OJ L 179 16.7.2018, p. 1) |
Amended by:
|
|
Official Journal |
||
No |
page |
date |
||
REGULATION (EU) 2019/472 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 19 March 2019 |
L 83 |
1 |
25.3.2019 |
|
REGULATION (EU) 2019/1241 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 June 2019 |
L 198 |
105 |
25.7.2019 |
REGULATION (EU) 2018/973 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 4 July 2018
establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008
CHAPTER I
SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS
Article 1
Subject-matter and scope
This Regulation establishes a multiannual plan (‘the plan’) for the following demersal stocks in Union waters of the North Sea (ICES divisions 2a, 3a and subarea 4), including the fisheries exploiting those stocks, and, where those stocks extend beyond the North Sea, in its adjacent waters:
Cod (Gadus morhua) in subarea 4 (North Sea) and divisions 7d (Eastern Channel) and 3a.20 (Skagerrak);
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in subarea 4 (North Sea) and divisions 6a (West of Scotland) and 3a.20 (Skagerrak);
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in subarea 4 (North Sea) and division 3a.20 (Skagerrak);
Saithe (Pollachius virens) in subareas 4 (North Sea) and 6 (Rockall and West of Scotland) and division 3a (Skagerrak and Kattegat);
Sole (Solea solea) in subarea 4 (North Sea);
Sole (Solea solea) in division 3a (Skagerrak and Kattegat) and subdivisions 22–24 (Western Baltic Sea);
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in subarea 4 (North Sea) and division 7d (Eastern English Channel);
Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in division 3a (Skagerrak and Kattegat) and subareas 4 (North Sea) and 6 (Rockall and West of Scotland);
Northern Prawn (Pandalus borealis) in divisions 4a East (Northern North Sea, Norwegian Deep) and 3a.20 (Skagerrak);
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in division 3a (Functional Units 3-4);
Norway lobster in subarea 4 (North Sea) by Functional Unit:
Where scientific advice indicates a change in the geographical distribution of the stocks listed in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the Commission may adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 amending this Regulation by adjusting the areas listed in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in order to reflect that change. Such adjustments shall not extend the stock areas beyond Union waters of subareas 2 to 7.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply in addition to those laid down in Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 ( 1 ), Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 ( 2 ) and Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013:
‘Range of FMSY’ means a range of values provided for in the best available scientific advice, in particular by the International Council on the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), where all levels of fishing mortality within that range result in maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in the long term with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions without significantly affecting the reproduction process for the stock in question. It is derived to deliver no more than a 5 % reduction in long-term yield compared to the MSY. It is capped so that the probability of the stock falling below the limit spawning stock biomass reference point (Blim) is no more than 5 %;
‘MSY Flower’ means the lowest value within the range of FMSY;
‘MSY Fupper’ means the highest value within the range of FMSY;
‘FMSY point value’ is the value of the estimated fishing mortality that with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions gives the long-term MSY;
‘Lower range of FMSY’ means a range that contains values from MSY Flower up to FMSY point value;
‘Upper range of FMSY’ means a range that contains values from FMSY point value up to MSY Fupper;
‘Blim’ means the spawning stock biomass reference point provided for in the best available scientific advice, in particular by ICES, below which there may be reduced reproductive capacity;
‘MSY Btrigger’ means the spawning stock biomass and, in the case of Norway lobster stocks, the abundance reference point provided for in the best available scientific advice, in particular by ICES, below which specific and appropriate management action is to be taken to ensure that exploitation rates in combination with natural variations rebuild stocks above levels capable of producing MSY in the long term.
CHAPTER II
OBJECTIVES
Article 3
Objectives
In particular, the plan shall aim to:
ensure that the conditions described in descriptor 3 contained in Annex I to Directive 2008/56/EC are fulfilled; and
contribute to the fulfilment of other relevant descriptors contained in Annex I to Directive 2008/56/EC in proportion to the role played by fisheries in their fulfilment.
CHAPTER III
TARGETS
Article 4
Targets
Notwithstanding paragraphs 3 and 4, fishing opportunities for a stock may be fixed in accordance with the upper range of FMSY available at that time for that stock, provided that the stock referred to in Article 1(1) is above MSY Btrigger:
if, on the basis of scientific advice or evidence, it is necessary for the achievement of the objectives laid down in Article 3 in the case of mixed fisheries;
if, on the basis of scientific advice or evidence, it is necessary to avoid serious harm to a stock caused by intra- or inter-species stock dynamics; or
in order to limit variations in fishing opportunities between consecutive years to not more than 20 %.
Article 5
Management of by-catch stocks
CHAPTER IV
SAFEGUARDS
Article 6
Conservation reference points
The following conservation reference points to safeguard the full reproductive capacity of the stocks referred to in Article 1(1) shall be requested from ICES based on the plan:
MSY Btrigger for stocks referred to in Article 1(1);
Blim for stocks referred to in Article 1(1).
Article 7
Safeguards
Remedial measures referred to in this Article may include:
emergency measures in accordance with Articles 12 and 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
measures pursuant to Articles 8 and 9 of this Regulation.
Article 8
Specific conservation measures
When scientific advice indicates that remedial action is required for the conservation of any of the demersal stocks referred to in Article 1(4) of this Regulation, or when the spawning stock biomass and, in the case of Norway lobster stocks, the abundance of any of the stocks covered by Article 1(1) for a given year are below MSY Btrigger, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. Such delegated acts may supplement this Regulation by laying down rules regarding:
characteristics of fishing gear, in particular mesh size, hook size, construction of the gear, twine thickness, size of the gear or use of selectivity devices to ensure or improve selectivity;
use of the fishing gear, in particular immersion time, depth of gear deployment, to ensure or improve selectivity;
prohibition or limitation to fish in specific areas to protect spawning and juvenile fish, fish below the minimum conservation reference size or non-target fish species;
prohibition or limitation on fishing or the use of certain types of fishing gear during specific time periods, to protect spawning fish, fish below the minimum conservation reference size or non-target fish species;
minimum conservation reference sizes, to ensure the protection of juveniles of marine organisms;
other characteristics linked to selectivity.
CHAPTER V
TECHNICAL MEASURES
Article 9
Technical measures
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 of this Regulation and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 in order to supplement this Regulation regarding the following technical measures, insofar as they are not covered by Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 3 ):
specifications of characteristics of fishing gears and rules governing their use, to ensure or to improve selectivity, to reduce unwanted catches or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem;
specifications of modifications or additional devices to the fishing gears, to ensure or to improve selectivity, to reduce unwanted catches or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem;
limitations or prohibitions on the use of certain fishing gears and on fishing activities, in certain areas or periods to protect spawning fish, fish below the minimum conservation reference size or non-target fish species, or to minimise the negative impact on the ecosystem; and
the fixing of minimum conservation reference sizes for any of the stocks to which this Regulation applies, to ensure the protection of juveniles of marine organisms.
This paragraph shall apply until the date on which Annex XII to Regulation (EC) No 850/98 ceases to apply.
CHAPTER VI
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
Article 10
Fishing opportunities
CHAPTER VII
PROVISIONS LINKED TO THE LANDING OBLIGATION
Article 11
Provisions linked to the landing obligation in Union waters of the North Sea
CHAPTER VIII
ACCESS TO WATERS AND RESOURCES
Article 12
Fishing authorisations and capacity ceilings
For cod in the Eastern Channel (ICES division 7d), without prejudice to the capacity ceilings set out in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the total capacity expressed in kW of the vessels having fishing authorisations issued in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be greater than the maximum capacity of the vessels that have been active in 2006 or 2007 using one of the following gears in the ICES zone concerned:
bottom trawls and seines (OTB, OTT, PTB, SDN, SSC, SPR) of mesh:
equal to or larger than 100 mm;
equal to or larger than 70 mm and less than 100 mm;
equal to or larger than 16 mm and less than 32 mm;
beam trawls (TBB) of mesh:
equal to or larger than 120 mm;
equal to or larger than 80 mm and less than 120 mm;
gill nets, entangling nets (GN);
trammel nets (GT);
longlines (LL).
CHAPTER IX
MANAGEMENT OF STOCKS OF COMMON INTEREST
Article 13
Principles and objectives of management of stocks of common interest to the Union and third countries
CHAPTER X
REGIONALISATION
Article 14
Regional cooperation
CHAPTER XI
FOLLOW UP
Article 15
Evaluation of the plan
By 6 August 2023 and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the results and impact of the plan on the stocks to which this Regulation applies and on the fisheries exploiting those stocks, in particular as regards the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3.
CHAPTER XII
PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS
Article 16
Exercise of the delegation
CHAPTER XIII
SUPPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN MARITIME AND FISHERIES FUND
Article 17
Support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
Temporary cessation measures adopted in order to achieve the objectives of the plan shall be deemed as a temporary cessation of fishing activities for the purposes of points (a) and (c) of Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014.
CHAPTER XIV
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 18
Repeals
Article 19
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Joint Statement by the European Parliament and the Council on prohibited species
The Regulation to be adopted on the basis of the Commission proposal on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures (2016/0074(COD)) should contain provisions, inter alia, on the species for which fishing is prohibited. For that reason the two institutions have agreed not to include a list concerning the North Sea in this Regulation (2016/0238(COD)).
Joint Statement by the European Parliament and the Council on control
The European Parliament and the Council will include the following control provisions in the upcoming review of the Control Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009) where relevant to the North Sea: prior notifications, logbook requirements, designated ports, and other control provisions.
( 1 ) Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (OJ L 125, 27.4.1998, p. 1).
( 2 ) Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1).
( 3 ) Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005 (OJ L 198, 25.7.2019, p. 105).