HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 146/42
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
6.6.2012
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 476/2012
of 5 June 2012
prohibiting fishing activities for purse seiners flying the flag of Spain or France or registered in
Spain or France, 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 Spain or France have been
exhausted on 29 May 2012.
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of
20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system
(6) On the 26, 27, and 29 May, France informed the
for ensuring compliance with the rules on the common fisheries
Commission of the fact that it had imposed a stop on
policy, ( 1 ) and in particular Article 36, paragraph 2 thereof,
the fishing activities of its 9 purse seine vessels active in
the 2012 bluefin tuna fishery with effect from 26 May
for 3 vessels, from 27 May for 2 vessels, and with effect
from 29 May for the remaining 4 vessels following the
Whereas:
last transfer authorized that day for those 4 vessels,
resulting in the prohibition of all the activities as of
30 May 2012.
(1) Council
Regulation
(EC)
No
44/2012
of
17
January
2012 fixing for 2012 the fishing opportunities
available in EU waters and, to EU vessels, in certain
non EU waters for certain fish stocks and groups of
(7) On
1
June
2012
Spain
informed
the
Commission
of
the
fish stocks which are subject to international negotiations
fact that it had imposed a stop on the fishing activities of
or agreements fixes the amount of bluefin tuna which
its 6 purse seine vessels active in the 2012 bluefin tuna
may be fished in 2012 in the Atlantic Ocean, east of
fishery, with effect from 29 May for 2 of the said vessels
longitude 45° W, and the Mediterranean Sea by European
and with effect from of 30 May for the remaining 4
Union fishing vessels.
vessels, resulting in the prohibition of all the activities

as of 30 May 2012
(2) Council
Regulation
(EC)
No
302/2009
of
6
April
2009
concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna
(8) Without
prejudice
to
the
actions
by
France
and
Spain
in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (
mentioned above, it is necessary that the Commission

2 ), amending
Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 and repealing Regulation
confirms the prohibition of fishing for bluefin tuna in
(EC) No 1559/2007, requires Member States to inform
the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W and the
the Commission of the individual quota allocated to their
Mediterranean Sea, as from 30 May 2012 by purse
vessels over 24 metres.
seiners flying the flag of or registered in Spain or France.
(3) The
Common
Fisheries
Policy
is
designed
to
ensure
the HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
long-term viability of the fisheries sector through
sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources
based on the precautionary approach.
Article 1
Fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude
45° W, and the Mediterranean by purse seiners flying the flag of
(4)
In accordance with Article 36, paragraph (2) of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, where the Commission
or registered in France or Spain shall be prohibited as from 30
finds that, on the basis of information provided by
May at the latest.
Member States and of other information in its possession
fishing opportunities available to the European Union, a
Member State or group of Member States are deemed to
It shall also be prohibited to retain on board, place in cages for
have been exhausted for one or more gears or fleets, the
fattening or farming, tranship, transfer or land such stock
Commission shall inform the Member States concerned
caught by those vessels as from that date.
thereof and shall prohibit fishing activities for the
respective area, gear, stock, group of stocks or fleet
involved in those specific fishing activities.
Article 2
( 1 ) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that
( 2 ) OJ L 96, 15.4.2009, p. 1.
of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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EN
6.6.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
146/43
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 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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