Establishment of a pilot project on satellite tracking in the NAFO regulatory area

OBJECTIVE: to establish a new ceiling for catches of Greenland halibut applicable to Community vessels operation in NAFO water, following the conclusion of an EC-Canada fisheries agreement, signed on 20 April 1995. SUBSTANCE: The Community and Canada signed a fisheries agreement with a view to ending the conflict over catches of Greenland halibut in the NAFO Regulatory Area. At the conclusion of this agreement, the fishing effort for Community vessels for Greenland halibut in this area (NAFO zones 3LMNO) would increase to 5 013 tonnes from 16 April 1995. Furthermore, the Community should notify the NAFO Secretariat of its plans for fishing Greenland halibut in 1995 and install a satellite-tracking device on some of the vessels concerned. As a result, this amended proposal modified, for the second time, Regulation (EC) No 3366/94 in order to take account of the new ceilings for catches established following the signature of the agreement. It also called upon the Member States to inform the Commission of their plans for fishing Greenland halibut and to equip at least 35% of their vessels operating in that fishing area with satellite-tracking devices. �