Implementation into Union law of measures adopted by several Regional Fisheries Management Organisations

PURPOSE: to implement into Union law certain measures adopted by the following Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs): the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

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

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: ICCAT is the RFMO responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like fishery resources in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. SPRFMO is the RFMO responsible for the management of fishery resources in the South Pacific Ocean and adjoining seas excluding tuna and tuna-like species. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is the RFMO responsible for managing tuna and tuna-like fishery resources in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is the RFMO responsible for managing tuna and tuna-like fishery resources in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). The IOTC is the RFMO responsible for managing tuna and tuna-like fishery resources in the Indian Ocean.

CONTENT: this proposal transposes into Union law the measures adopted by ICCAT, NAFO, SPRFRO, IATTC, WCFPC and IOTC in accordance with the advice of the respective standing committees of these organisations on scientific and control matters.

For ICCAT

The proposal:

- introduces new provisions in Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 for the conservation of whale shark and mobulid rays, as well as a geographic limitation for the applicability of sea turtle conservation measures for vessels operating north of 55°N or south of 35°S latitude in the eastern South Atlantic and south of 40°S latitude in the western South Atlantic;

Defines the role of EFCA in relation to sighting of vessels and further communication to the ICCAT Secretariat;

- amends Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 in relation to its Chapter V, control measures, by amending provisions on the exchange of quotas between Joint Fishing Operations, on prior notification of landings, monitoring of bluefin tuna transfers operations by video camera, on caging operations and control activities in the farms after caging.

For NAFO

The proposal introduces new provisions in Regulation (EU) 2019/833 related to reopened fishery for cod in Divisions 2J3KL including closure, bycatch and retention on board, surveillance, and relevant additional procedure for serious infringements. In addition, the proposal aligns the wording of Regulation (EU) 2019/833 with NAFO measures and provisions for derogations from Observer programmes.

For SPRFMO

This proposal:

- amends Regulation (EU) 2018/975 to include new conservation and management measures as well as an amendment to previously adopted measures. Amended SPRFMO measures include bottom fishing, transhipment, gillnets, observer programmes and data, and vessel monitoring systems;

- includes new measures agreed by SPRFMO, in particular a protocol for high seas boarding and inspections, including procedures for alleged infringements, a measure on marine pollution, and a measure on the marking and identification of fishing vessels.

For IATTC

The proposal amends Regulation (EU) 2021/56 to include updates to fish aggregating devices (FAD) buoy’s activations, reduction of FADs entanglement and use of biodegradable materials, report of catches on Pacific bluefin tuna, changes in vessels monitoring system, introduction of electronic monitoring system, including collection of fisheries data, protection of silky sharks, safe release of sharks, data collection of shark species, and updates to compliance reports.

For WCPFC

The proposal amends Regulation (EU) 2022/2056 to introduce provisions related to the protection of sharks and use of branch lines and wire leaders by Union longline vessels with a prohibition of shark retention and duty to release, as well as surrender or discard of unintentionally caught of Oceanic whitetip and silky shark specimen and language adjustments for bunkering provisions.

For IOTC

This proposal:

- amends Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 to include new conservation and management measures as well as amendments to previously adopted measures ;

- includes new articles related to the management of anchored fish aggregating devices, voluntary fishery closure and standards for electronic monitoring and revised measures strengthening the management of drifting fish aggregating devices, mitigation measure for non-target species and observer scheme.