Fish stock conservation: multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean

PURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: at its Annual Meeting in 2010, ICCAT adopted a Recommendation amending the recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. In order to rebuild the stock, the ICCAT recovery plan was modified to provide for a further reduction of the TAC, to strengthen measures to reduce the fishing capacity and to reinforce the control measures, particularly as regards the transfer and the caging operations.

The Community has been a Party to ICCAT since 1997 and the Recommendations become binding on Contracting Parties which do not object to them. As a Contracting Party to this organisation, the European Union has a responsibility to apply Recommendations adopted to which it has raised no objections.

The purpose of this proposal is to transpose into Union law the ICCAT recommend modifying the recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.

The European Parliament and the Council are hereby requested to adopt this proposal as soon as possible.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: this proposal has no implications for the Union budget.