Observer scheme applicable to Community fishing vessels operating in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)

OBJECTIVE: to establish additional control measures applicable to fishing vessels operating in the NAFO Regulatory Area, relating specifically to the NAFO pilot observer scheme, following the conclusion of an EC-Canada fisheries agreement, signed on 20 April 1995. SUBSTANCE: Within the framework of the EC-Canada fisheries agreement, the Community approved the introduction of various new control measures applicable to Community vessels operating in the NAFO Regulatory Area. These measures included a proposal aimed at amending the pilot observer scheme in order to extend the duties and powers of observers operating in this area. This proposal therefore aimed to transpose these new measures into Community legislation with a view to defining the responsibilities of the Member States and the Commission with respect to the implementation of the observer scheme together with the duties and powers assigned to observers. It repealed and replaced Regulation (EEC) No 3928/92, which governed the previous pilot observer scheme. The current observer scheme covered a three-year period (1995-97) and provided for the following measures: . Community vessels operating in the NAFO Regulatory Area could only engage in fishing activities if an observer was on board, duly appointed by the Member States and under the responsibility of the Community (the detailed rules governing the assignment of the observers, their duties and obligations were described in the annex); . if an observer noted an anomaly (fishing practices at variance with conservation measures), the competent authorities of the Member States should take the appropriate measures; . the Commission would finance the observer scheme by paying observers a per diem allowance and travel expenses (for 1995, the Commission set aside appropriations totalling ECU 1 493 800). �