Conservation of fishery resources: recovery plan for Greenland halibut in the framework of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)

PURPOSE: to implement in Community law a recovery plan for Greenland halibut adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2115/2005 of 20 December 2005 establishing a recovery plan for Greenland halibut in the framework of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation.

CONTENT: the purpose of Council Regulation (EC) No 2115/2005 of 20 December 2005 is to implement in Community law a recovery plan for Greenland halibut adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO). This recovery plan is subject to review at regular intervals by NAFO.

During its 2007 annual meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal, NAFO adopted a number of modifications to this rebuilding plan. The following modifications were adopted:

• enhanced measures on catch reporting;
• additional control measures to enhance at-sea inspections for vessels entering and leaving the NAFO Area.

These modifications were adopted with the support of the Community following consultations with Member States, concerned industry and non-governmental organisations. These measures have been implemented in Community Law on a temporary basis through Council Regulations (EC) No 40/2008 and Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 fixing for 2008 and 2009 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required. These modifications are binding and should therefore be implemented in Community law on a more long term basis. The purpose of this proposal is to introduce the necessary amendments to Council Regulation (EC) No 2115/2005.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: this proposal has no implications for the Community budget.