HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 153/12
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
14.6.2012
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 503/2012
of 13 June 2012
prohibiting fishing activities for purse seiners flying the flag of or registered in Greece or Italy,
fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and in the Mediterranean Sea
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
(5) The
information
in
the
Commission’s
possession
indicates that the fishing opportunities for bluefin tuna
in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and the
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Mediterranean Sea allocated to purse seiners flying the
Union,
flag of or registered in Greece or Italy have been
exhausted on 7 June 2012.
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of
(6)
On 8 June, Greece informed the Commission of the fact
20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system
that it had imposed a stop on the fishing activities of its
for ensuring compliance with the rules on the common fisheries
purse seine vessel active in the 2012 bluefin tuna fishery
policy ( 1 ), and in particular Article 36, paragraph 2 thereof,
as of 8 June 2012 at 8.00.
Whereas:
(7) On
3,
5
and
8
June
2012
Italy
informed
the
Commission
of the fact that it had imposed a stop on the fishing
activities of its 12 purse seine vessels active in the
(1) Council
Regulation
(EU)
No
44/2012
of
17
January
2012 bluefin tuna fishery, with effect from 3 June for
2012 fixing for 2012 the fishing opportunities
four vessels, with effect of 5 June for four vessels and
available in EU waters and, to EU vessels, in certain
with effect of 8 June for the remaining four vessels,
non-EU waters for certain fish stocks and groups of
resulting in the prohibition of all the activities as of
fish stocks which are subject to international negotiations
8 June 2012 at 11.30.
or agreements ( 2 ) fixes the amount of bluefin tuna which
may be fished in 2012 in the Atlantic Ocean, east of
longitude 45° W, and the Mediterranean Sea by European
(8) Without
prejudice
to
the
actions
by
Greece
and
Italy
Union fishing vessels.
mentioned above, it is necessary that the Commission
confirms the prohibition of fishing for bluefin tuna in
the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W and the
(2) Council
Regulation
(EC)
No
302/2009
of
6
April
2009
Mediterranean Sea, as from 8 June 2012 by purse
concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna
seiners flying the flag of or registered in Greece or Italy,
in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, amending
Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 and repealing Regulation
(EC) No 1559/2007 ( 3 ), requires Member States to
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
inform the Commission of the individual quota
allocated to their vessels over 24 metres.
Article 1
Fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude
(3) The
Common
Fisheries
Policy
is
designed
to
ensure
the 45° W, and the Mediterranean by purse seiners flying the flag of
long-term viability of the fisheries sector through
or registered in Greece shall be prohibited as from 8 June 2012
sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources
at 8.00.
based on the precautionary approach.
It shall also be prohibited to retain on board, place in cages for
(4)
In accordance with Article 36, paragraph 2 of Regulation
fattening or farming, tranship, transfer or land such stock
(EC) No 1224/2009, where the Commission finds that,
caught by those vessels as from that date.
on the basis of information provided by Member States
and of other information in its possession fishing oppor
tunities available to the European Union, a Member State
Article 2
or group of Member States are deemed to have been
exhausted for one or more gears or fleets, the
Fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude
Commission shall inform the Member States concerned
45° W, and the Mediterranean by purse seiners flying the flag of
thereof and shall prohibit fishing activities for the
or registered in Italy shall be prohibited as from 8 June 2012 at
respective area, gear, stock, group of stocks or fleet
11.30 at the latest.
involved in those specific fishing activities.
It shall also be prohibited to retain on board, place in cages for
( 1 ) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1.
( 2 ) OJ L 25, 27.1.2012, p. 55.
fattening or farming, tranship, transfer or land such stock
( 3 ) OJ L 96, 15.4.2009, p. 1.
caught by those vessels as from that date.

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EN
14.6.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
153/13
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 June 2012.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Maria DAMANAKI
Member of the Commission

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Document Outline

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