Catch documentation scheme for Dissostichus spp.: improving the control of landings, imports, exports, re-exports and transhipments

PURPOSE: to amend Regulation 1035/2001/EC establishing a catch documentation scheme for Dissostichus spp.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation 1368/2006/EC amending Regulation 1035/2001 establishing a catch documentation scheme for Dissostichus spp.

CONTENT:  the “Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources”, or the CCAMLR, has made a number of changes which seek to improve upon the control of landings, the import, export, re-export and transhipments of Dissostichus spp. The Community, which is a contracting party to the CCAMLR has decided to adopt CCAMLR amendments into its legislation. Regulation 1035/2001/EC, which currently regulates the documentation scheme of Dissostichus spp. has been amended accordingly. (For a summary of Regulation 1035/2001/EC please refer to CNS/2000/0171).

Regulation 1035/2001/EC has been amended in the following way:

-          A number of terms have been defined and inserted into the Regulation. These terms are: import; landing; transhipment; export; re-export and Port State.

-          Vessels wishing to harvest Dissostichus spp. will only be allowed to land catches in States which are Contracting Parties to the CCAMLR or those States which apply the catch documentation scheme.

-          All licences and permits authorising the catch of Dissostichus spp. will bear the names of the  CCAMLR Contracting Parties, and all those States who have notified the CCAMLR Secretariat that they apply the catch documentation scheme.

-          Vessels landing or transhipping Dissostichus spp. must complete a catch document.

-          Documents must be signed, stamped and validated by a responsible official of the Port State of landing. This process may also be carried out by an official in a free trade zone who is acting under the direction of either the customs or fisheries authorities of the Port State and who is competent to validate the catch documents of Dissostichus spp.

-          On the 15 of March, June, September and December of each year, the Member States are obliged to send a list of the catch documents regarding landings, imports, exports, re-exports or transhipments on Dissostichus spp. to the Commission.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 6 October 2006.