Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources: fishing control

The European Parliament adopted the report by Rosa MIGUELEZ RAMOS (PES, ES) on the Council regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 laying down certain control measures applicable to fishing activities in the area covered by the Convention on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 3943/90, (EC) No 66/98 and (EC) No 1721/1999. It endorsed the following amendments:

- notifications of intent to participate in a krill fishery: all Contracting Parties intending to fish for krill in the Convention area shall notify the CCAMLR Secretariat of their intent not less than four months in advance of the regular annual meeting of the CCAMLR immediately prior to the season in which they intend to fish;

- access to new fish: the flag Member State shall notify the Commission not later than four months in advance of the ordinary annual meeting of the CCAMLR of the intention of a Community fishing vessel to develop a new fishery in the Convention area. This notification shall be accompanied by as much of the following information as the Member State is able to provide: (a) the nature of the proposed fishery, including target species, methods of fishing, the proposed fishery region and any minimum level of catches required to develop a viable fishery; (b) biological information from comprehensive research/survey cruises, such as distribution, abundance, population data and information on stock identity; (c) details of dependent and associated species and the likelihood of such species being affected in any way at all by the proposed fishery; (d) information from other fisheries in the region or similar fisheries elsewhere that may assist in the evaluation of potential yield; (e) if the proposed fish will be taken using bottom trawl gear, information on the known and anticipated impacts of this gear on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including benthos and benthic communities;

- tagging: in regions where both Dissostichus spp species occur, the tagging rate shall, to the extent possible, be in proportion to the species and size of Dissostichus spp present in the catches. All tags shall be clearly imprinted with a unique serial number and a return address so that the origin of tags can be retraced in the case of recapture of the tagged individual; unique serial number and a return address so that the origin of tags can be retraced in the case of recapture of the tagged individual; from 1 September 2007 all tags for use in explanatory fishery shall be sourced from the CCAMLR Secretariat. All recaptured tagged individuals shall be biologically sampled (length, weight, sex, gonad stage), an electronic time-stamped photograph taken of the fish, the otoliths recovered and the tag removed. Dissostichus spp individuals that are tagged and released shall not be counted against the catch limits;

- reporting of vessel sightings: if the master of a licensed fishing vessel sights a fishing vessel within the Convention area, the master shall, where possible, document as much information as possible on the vessel sighted, including: (a) the name and description of the vessel; (b) the vessel call sign; (c) the registration number and the Lloyds/IMO number of the vessel; (d) the flag State of the vessel; (e) photographs of the vessel to support the report; (f) any other relevant information regarding the observed activities of the sighted vessel. The master shall forward a report containing the information to his flag State as soon as possible. The flag State shall submit that report to the CCAMLR Secretariat if the sighted vessel is engaged in illegal, undeclared or unregulated (IUU) fishing activities according to CCAMLR standards.

Vessels appearing in the IUU list are denied access to ports except for the purpose of enforcement action or for reasons of force majeure or for rendering assistance to vessels or persons on those vessels in danger or distress. Vessels allowed entry to port are to be inspected.

1) Where port access is granted to such vessels:

- documentation and other information, including Dissostichus spp Catch Documents where relevant, are examined, with a view to verifying the area in which the catch was taken; and where the origin

cannot be adequately verified, the catch is detained or any landing or transhipment of the catch is refused, and

2) where possible, if catch is found to be taken in contravention of CCAMLR conservation measures, catch is confiscated.

- all support to such vessels, including nonemergency refuelling, resupplying and repairs shall be prohibited;

- concerning the scheme to promote compliance by nationals with CCAMLR conservation measures: without prejudice to the primacy of the responsibility of the flag State, Member States shall take appropriate measures, subject to and in accordance with their applicable legislation: (a) to verify if any natural or legal persons subject to their jurisdiction are engaged in the IUU activities as described in article 28 of Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 of 22 March 2004; (b) to enable them to take appropriate action in response to any verified activities; (c) to enable them to cooperate for the purpose of implementing the measures and actions. To this end, relevant agencies of Member States shall cooperate to implement CCAMLR conservation measures and shall seek cooperation by industries within their jurisdiction. To assist with the implementation of this conservation measure, Member States shall submit to the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Contracting Parties and non-Contracting Parties cooperating with CCAMLR, for the purpose of implementing the Catch Documentation Scheme for Dissostichus spp., a report on the actions and measures taken, in a timely fashion, with a copy to the Commission.