Time and area closure in relation with the protection of juveniles
Article 14
1. Targeting for, or supporting activities to target tropical tunas in association with objects that could affect fish aggregation, including FADs, shall be prohibited: (a) from 1 January to 28 February each year; and (b) in the area delineated as follows: — Northern limit — Parallel 5° North latitude, — Southern limit — Parallel 4° South latitude, — Western limit — Meridian 20° West longitude, — Eastern limit — the African coast. 2. The prohibition referred to in paragraph 1 shall include: (a) launching any floating objects, with or without buoys; (b) fishing around, under, or in association with artificial objects, including vessels; (c) fishing around, under, or in association with natural objects; (d) towing floating objects from inside to outside the area. 3. Each Member State whose vessels fish in the geographical area of the time and area closure shall: (a) take appropriate action to ensure that all vessels flying its flag, including support vessels, when engaged in fishing activities during the time and area closure referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, have an observer on board. The observer programme shall comply with Annex IV to this Regulation, without prejudice to Article 73 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009; (b) submit the information collected by the observers referred to in point (a) every year by 30 June to the Commission who shall notify ICCAT by 31 July; (c) take appropriate action against fishing vessels flying its flag that do not comply with the time and area closure referred to in paragraph 1; (d) submit a report on the compliance with the time and area closure to the Commission as part of its annual report referred to in Article 71.