Council Regulation (EU) 2018/1628 of 30 October 2018 fixing for 2019 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/120 as regards certain fishing opportunities in other waters

Subject matter

Article 1

This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2019 and amends certain fishing opportunities in other waters fixed by Regulation (EU) 2018/120.

Scope

Article 2

1.   This Regulation shall apply to Union fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea. 2.   This Regulation shall also apply to recreational fisheries where they are expressly referred to in the relevant provisions.

Definitions

Article 3

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 apply. In addition, the following definitions apply: (1) ‘subdivision’ means an ICES subdivision of the Baltic Sea as defined in Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005  ( 6 ) ; (2) ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means the quantity of each stock that can be caught over the period of a year; (3) ‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country; (4) ‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources such as for recreation, tourism or sport.

TACs and allocations

Article 4

The TACs, the quotas and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in the Annex.

Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities

Article 5

The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States, as set out in this Regulation, shall be without prejudice to: (a) exchanges made pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (b) deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009; (c) additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (d) quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or transferred under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (e) deductions made pursuant to Articles 105 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

Conditions for landing of catches and by-catches

Article 6

The stocks of non-target species within the safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 which qualify for the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quota, are identified in the Annex to this Regulation.

Measures on recreational fisheries for cod in subdivisions 22-24

Article 7

1.   In recreational fisheries, no more than seven specimens of cod may be retained per fisherman per day in subdivisions 22-24. 2.   Paragraph 1 is without prejudice to more stringent national measures.

Measures on sea trout fishing in subdivisions 22-32

Article 8

1.   Fishing for sea trout beyond four nautical miles measured from the baselines in subdivisions 22-32 is prohibited for fishing vessels from 1 January to 31 December 2019. When fishing for salmon in those waters by-catches of sea trout may not exceed 3 % of the total catch of salmon and sea trout at any moment on board or landed after each fishing trip. 2.   Paragraph 1 is without prejudice to more stringent national measures.

Flexibility

Article 9

1.   Except where specified otherwise in the Annex to this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to precautionary TACs and Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to an analytical TAC. 2.   Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses the year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

Data transmission

Article 10

When, pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Member States send data relating to quantities of stocks caught or landed to the Commission, they shall use the stock codes set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2018/120

Article 11

Annex IA to Regulation (EU) 2018/120 is amended as follows: (1) the fishing opportunities table for anchovy in ICES subareas 9 and 10 and Union waters of CECAF division 34.1.1 is replaced by the following: ‘ Species: Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus Zone: 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (ANE/9/3411) Spain 10 802  ( 7 )     Portugal 11 784  ( 7 )     Union 22 586  ( 7 )     TAC 22 586  ( 7 )   Precautionary TAC (2) the fishing opportunities table for Norway pout and associated by-catches in ICES division 3a and Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 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.) Year 2018 2019     Denmark 85 186  ( 8 )  ( 10 ) 49 953  ( 8 )  ( 13 )     Germany 16  ( 8 )  ( 9 )  ( 10 ) 10  ( 8 )  ( 9 )  ( 13 )     The Netherlands 63  ( 8 )  ( 9 )  ( 10 ) 37  ( 8 )  ( 9 )  ( 13 )     Union 85 265  ( 8 )  ( 10 ) 50 000  ( 8 )  ( 13 )     Norway 15 000  ( 11 ) 0     Faroe Islands 6 000  ( 12 ) 0     TAC not relevant 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

Entry into force

Article 12

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 2019, with the exception of point 2 of Article 11 which shall apply from 1 November 2018 until 31 October 2019 and with the exception of point 1 of Article 11 which shall apply from 1 January 2018.

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX TACs applicable to Union fishing vessels in areas where TACs exist by species and by area The following tables set out the TACs and quotas (in tonnes live weight, except where otherwise specified) by stock, and conditions functionally linked thereto. The references to fishing zones are references to ICES zones, unless otherwise specified. The fish stocks are referred to using the alphabetical order of the Latin names of the species. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following comparative table of Latin names and common names is provided: Scientific name Alpha-3 code Common name Clupea harengus HER Herring Gadus morhua COD Cod Pleuronectes platessa PLE Plaice Salmo salar SAL Atlantic salmon Sprattus sprattus SPR Sprat Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: Subdivisions 30-31 (HER/30/31.) Finland 72 724     Sweden 15 979     Union 88 703     TAC 88 703   Analytical TAC Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: Subdivisions 22-24 (HER/3BC+24) Denmark 1 262     Germany 4 966     Finland 1     Poland 1 171     Sweden 1 601     Union 9 001     TAC 9 001   Analytical TAC Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: Union waters of subdivisions 25-27, 28.2, 29 and 32 (HER/3D-R30) Denmark 3 748     Germany 994     Estonia 19 139     Finland 37 360     Latvia 4 723     Lithuania 4 973     Poland 42 444     Sweden 56 979     Union 170 360     TAC Not relevant   Analytical TAC Article 6 of this Regulation shall apply. Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: Subdivision 28.1 (HER/03D.RG) Estonia 14 336     Latvia 16 708     Union 31 044     TAC 31 044   Analytical TAC Article 6 of this Regulation shall apply. Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: Union waters of subdivisions 25-32 (COD/3DX32.) Denmark 5 539  ( 1 )     Germany 2 203  ( 1 )     Estonia 540  ( 1 )     Finland 424  ( 1 )     Latvia 2 060  ( 1 )     Lithuania 1 357  ( 1 )     Poland 6 377  ( 1 )     Sweden 5 612  ( 1 )     Union 24 112  ( 1 )     TAC Not relevant   Precautionary TAC Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: Subdivisions 22-24 (COD/3BC+24) Denmark 4 152     Germany 2 031     Estonia 92     Finland 82     Latvia 344     Lithuania 223     Poland 1 111     Sweden 1 480     Union 9 515     TAC 9 515   Analytical TAC Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Species: Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Zone: Union waters of subdivisions 22-32 (PLE/3BCD-C) Denmark 7 251     Germany 806     Poland 1 518     Sweden 547     Union 10 122     TAC 10 122   Analytical TAC Article 6 of this Regulation shall apply. Species: Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Zone: Union waters of subdivisions 22-31 (SAL/3BCD-F) Denmark 18 885  ( 2 )     Germany 2 101  ( 2 )     Estonia 1 919  ( 2 )  ( 3 )     Finland 23 548  ( 2 )     Latvia 12 012  ( 2 )     Lithuania 1 412  ( 2 )     Poland 5 729  ( 2 )     Sweden 25 526  ( 2 )     Union 91 132  ( 2 )     TAC Not relevant   Analytical TAC Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Species: Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Zone: Union waters of subdivision 32 (SAL/3D32.) Estonia 995  ( 4 )     Finland 8 708  ( 4 )     Union 9 703  ( 4 )     TAC Not relevant   Precautionary TAC Species: Sprat Sprattus sprattus Zone: Union waters of subdivisions 22-32 (SPR/3BCD-C) Denmark 26 710     Germany 16 921     Estonia 31 016     Finland 13 982     Latvia 37 460     Lithuania 13 551     Poland 79 497     Sweden 51 635     Union 270 772     TAC Not relevant   Analytical TAC Article 6 of this Regulation shall apply. ( 1 )   In subdivisions 25 and 26, it shall be prohibited to fish this quota from 1 July to 31 July for: a) fishing vessels of 12 meters length overall and more fishing with trawls, Danish seines or similar gear of a mesh size equal to or larger than 90 mm; and b) fishing vessels of 12 meters length overall and more, fishing with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets of a mesh size equal to or larger than 90 mm, or with bottom set lines, longlines except drifting lines, handlines and jigging equipment. ( 2 )   Expressed by number of individual fish. ( 3 )   Special condition: up to 20 % and no more than 400 specimens of this quota may be fished in Union waters of subdivision 32 (SAL/*3D32) ( 4 )   Expressed by number of individual fish.