Council Regulation (EU) 2018/915 of 25 June 2018 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/120 as regards certain fishing opportunities

Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2018/120

Article 1

Regulation (EU) 2018/120 is amended as follows: (1) in Article 13(1), the following point is added: ‘(x) whale shark ( Rhincodon typus ) in all waters.’; (2) in Article 45(1), the following point is added: ‘(r) whale shark ( Rhincodon typus ) in Union waters.’; (3) Annexes IA, IJ and IV are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Entry into force

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union . It shall apply from 1 January 2018, except paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 1, which shall apply from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX 1.    Annex IA to Regulation (EU) 2018/120 is amended as follows: (a) the fishing opportunities table for megrims in 7 is replaced by the following table: ‘ Species: Megrims Lepidorhombus spp. Zone: 7 (LEZ/07.) Belgium 333  ( 1 )     Spain 3 693  ( 2 )     France 4 481  ( 2 )     Ireland 2 038  ( 1 )     United Kingdom 1 765  ( 1 )     Union 12 310     TAC 12 310   Analytical TAC Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies Article 12(1) of this Regulation applies (b) the fishing opportunities table for Northern prawn in 3a is replaced by the following: ‘ Species: Northern prawn Pandalus borealis Zone: 3a (PRA/03A.) Denmark 2 162     Sweden 1 165     Union 3 327     TAC 6 230   Precautionary TAC Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply in respect of transfers from 2019 to 2018’ (c) the fishing opportunities table for sprat and associated by-catches in Union waters of 2a and 4 is replaced by the following: ‘ Species: Sprat and associated by-catches Sprattus sprattus Zone: Union waters of 2a and 4 (SPR/2AC4-C) Belgium 1 911  ( 3 )  ( 4 )     Denmark 151 264  ( 3 )  ( 4 )     Germany 1 911  ( 3 )  ( 4 )     France 1 911  ( 3 )  ( 4 )     The Netherlands 1 911  ( 3 )  ( 4 )     Sweden 1 330  ( 3 )  ( 4 )  ( 5 )     United Kingdom 6 307  ( 3 )  ( 4 )     Union 166 545  ( 3 )     Norway 10 000  ( 3 )     Faroe Islands 1 000  ( 3 )  ( 6 )     TAC 177 545  ( 3 )   Analytical TAC (d) in the fishing opportunities table for herring in Union waters of 7g, 7h, 7j and 7k, the reference ‘Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies’ is deleted; (e) the fishing opportunities table for Norway pout and associated by-catches in 3a and Union waters of 2a and 4 is replaced by the following: ‘ Species: Norway pout and associated by-catches Trisopterus esmarkii Zone: 3a; Union waters of 2a and 4 (NOP/2A3A4.) Denmark 85 186  ( 7 )     Germany 16  ( 7 )  ( 8 )     The Netherlands 63  ( 7 )  ( 8 )     Union 85 265  ( 7 )  ( 9 )     Norway 15 000  ( 10 )     Faroe Islands 6 000  ( 11 )     TAC not relevant   Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply (f) the fishing opportunities table for Norway lobster in 8c is replaced by the following: ‘ Species: Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus Zone: 8c (NEP/08C.) Spain 2  ( 12 )     France 0     Union 2  ( 12 )     TAC 2  ( 12 )   Precautionary TAC 2.    In Annex IJ to Regulation (EU) 2018/120, the fishing opportunities table for jack mackerel in the SPRFMO Convention area is replaced by the following: ‘ Species: Jack mackerel Trachurus murphyi Zone: SPRFMO Convention Area (CJM/SPRFMO) Germany 8 849,28     The Netherlands 9 591,70     Lithuania 6 157,56     Poland 10 587,46     Union 35 186     TAC Not relevant   Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply’ 3.    In Annex IV, Section 4, the Table A is replaced by the following: ‘Number of fishing vessels  ( 13 )   Cyprus  ( 14 ) Greece  ( 15 ) Croatia Italy France Spain Malta  ( 16 ) Purse Seiners 1 1 16 15 20 6 1 Longliners 20  ( 17 ) 0 0 35 8 54 54 Baitboat 0 0 0 0 37 60 0 Handline 0 0 12 0 33  ( 18 ) 2 0 Trawler 0 0 0 0 57 0 0 Other artisanal  ( 19 ) 0 52 0 0 118 545 0 ( 1 )   5 % of this quota may be used in 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (LEZ/*8ABDE) for by-catches in directed fisheries for sole. ( 2 )   25 % of this quota may be fished in 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (LEZ/*8ABDE).’ ( 3 )   The quota may only be fished from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. ( 4 )   Up to 2 % of the quota may consist of by-catches of whiting (OTH/*2AC4C). By-catches of whiting counted against the quota pursuant to this provision and by-catches of species counted against the quota pursuant to Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall, together, not exceed 9 % of the quota. ( 5 )   Including sandeel. ( 6 )   May contain up to 4 % of by-catch of herring.’ ( 7 )   Up to 5 % of the quota may consist of by-catches of haddock and whiting (OT2/*2A3A4). By-catches of haddock and whiting counted against the quota pursuant to this provision and by-catches of species counted against the quota pursuant to Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall, together, not exceed 9 % of the quota. ( 8 )   Quota may be fished in Union waters of ICES zones 2a, 3a and 4 only. ( 9 )   Union quota may only be fished from 1 November 2017 to 31 October 2018. ( 10 )   A sorting grid shall be used. ( 11 )   A sorting grid shall be used. Includes a maximum of 15 % of unavoidable by-catches (NOP/*2A3A4), to be counted against this quota.’ ( 12 )   Exclusively for catches taken as part of a sentinel fishery to collect catch per unit effort (CPUE) data in functional unit 25 during five trips per month in August and September with vessels carrying observers on board.’. ( 13 )   The numbers in this table may be further increased, provided that the international obligations of the Union are complied with. ( 14 )   One medium size purse seiner may be replaced by no more than 10 longline vessels or one small purse seiner and no more than three longline vessels. ( 15 )   One medium size purse seiner may be replaced by no more than 10 longline vessels or one small size purse seine vessel and three other artisanal vessels. ( 16 )   One medium size purse seiner may be replaced by no more than 10 longline vessels. ( 17 )   Polyvalent vessels, using multi-gear equipment. ( 18 )   Line vessels operating in the Atlantic ( 19 )   Polyvalent vessels, using multi-gear equipment (longline, handline, trolling line).’