Subject matter and scope
1. This Regulation establishes a Union bluefin tuna catch documentation programme, in order to implement the bluefin tuna catch documentation scheme adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and the mandatory use of the electronic BCD (eBCD) system, with a view to identifying the origin of all bluefin tuna caught, in order to support the implementation of ICCAT conservation and management measures.
2. This Regulation does not apply to domestic trade, export, import and re-export of fish parts other than the meat, such as heads, eyes, roes, guts and tails.
Definitions
For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:
(1)
‘BCD’ means the bluefin tuna catch document, the format of which is provided for in Annex 2 to ICCAT Recommendation 18-13 and set out in Annex II to this Regulation;
(2)
‘bluefin tuna’ means fish of the species Thunnus thynnus falling within the relevant codes of the Combined Nomenclature of Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 ( 13 ) ;
(3)
‘the Convention’ means the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas;
(4)
‘Convention area’ means the geographical area, as set out in Article I of the Convention, covered by the ICCAT measures;
(5)
‘domestic trade’ means:
(a)
trade, in one Member State or between two or more Member States, in bluefin tuna caught in the Convention area by a Union catching vessel or trap, and which is landed in the territory of the Union; and
(b)
trade, in one Member State or between two or more Member States, in farmed bluefin tuna caught in the Convention area by a Union catching vessel or trap, and which is caged in a farm established in the territory of the Union;
(6)
‘import’ means the introduction into the territory of the Union, including for caging, fattening, farming or transhipment purposes, of bluefin tuna caught in the Convention area by a third country catching vessel or trap;
(7)
‘export’ means any movement to a third country of bluefin tuna caught in the Convention area by a Union catching vessel or trap, including any movement from the territory of the Union, from third countries or from fishing grounds;
(8)
‘re-export’ means any movement from the territory of the Union of bluefin tuna which had been previously imported into the territory of the Union;
(9)
‘trap Member State’ means the Member State where the trap is established;
(10)
‘farm Member State’ means the Member State where the farm is established;
(11)
‘CPCs’ means Contracting Parties to the Convention and cooperating non-contracting parties, entities or fishing entities.
