Conservation of resources: specific access requirements to fishing for deep-sea stocks

PURPOSE : to provide for the issuing of a special fishing permit for deep-sea fishing and to make provision for limiting the fishing effort for deep-sea stocks. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 2347/2002/EC establishing specific access requirements and associated conditions applicable to fishing for deep-sea stocks. CONTENT : scientific advice has indicated that certain stocks of fish found in the deep sea are vulnerable to exploitation, and that fishing opportunities for these stocks must be limited. Accordingly, this Regulation provides the following: - Member States must ensure that fishing activities which lead to catches of more than 10 tonnes each calendar year of deep-sea species by vessels flying their flag and registered in their territory are subject to a deep-sea fishing permit. It is prohibited to catch any aggregate quantity of the deep-sea species in excess of 100 kg in each sea trip, unless the vessel in question holds a deep-sea fishing permit. - Member States must calculate the aggregate power and the aggregate volume of its vessels which, in any one of the years 1998, 1999 or 2000, have landed more than 10 tonnes of any mixture of the deep-sea species. Each Member State can only issue deep-sea fishing permits to its vessels if: (a) the aggregate power of those vessels does not exceed the aggregate power mentioned above, and/or (b) the aggregate volume of those vessels does not exceed the aggregate volume determined as above. - there is an obligation on the master to record certain fishing gear characteristics and fishing operations; - in the event of technical failure or non-functioning of the satellite tracking device fitted on board a fishing vessel, the master of the vessel must report its geographical situation to the flag and coastal Member States every two hours. After the sea trip has concluded, the vessel must not leave the port until the satellite tracking device is functioning to the satisfaction of the competent authorities. - as from 1 March 2003 it is prohibited to land any quantity of any mixture of deep-sea species in excess of 100 kg at any place other than the ports which have been designated for landing deep-sea species. Each Member State must designate ports into which any landing of deep-sea species in excess of 100 kg will take place and will determine the associated inspection and surveillance procedures; - scientific observers must be assigned to the fishing vessels in accordance with a sampling plan issued in accordance with the provisions made in the Regulation; - information sent to the Commission about catches of deep-sea species and fishing effort deployed must be expressed as kilowatt-fishing days, broken down by quarter of the year, by type of gear, by species, and other information provided for. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 04/01/03. DATE OF APPLICATION : 01/01/03.�