Date: 2016-09-15Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1652 of 9 September 2016 establishing a prohibition of fishing for whiting in area VIII by vessels flying the flag of Belgium
**Policy Summary: Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1652**
This regulation, issued by the European Commission on September 9, 2016, establishes a prohibition on fishing for whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in area VIII by vessels flying the flag of Belgium. The regulation, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on September 15, 2016, addresses the exhaustion of the 2016 fishing quota allocated to Belgium for this stock, as stipulated in Council Regulation (EU) 2016/72.
Article 1 states that the fishing quota allocated to Belgium for whiting in area VIII for 2016 is deemed exhausted as of August 20, 2016.
Article 2 prohibits fishing activities for whiting in area VIII by vessels flying the flag of Belgium from August 20, 2016. This includes prohibitions on retaining on board, relocating, transhipping, or landing whiting caught by these vessels after this date.
Article 3 specifies that the regulation entered into force on September 16, 2016, the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
The Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joo Aguiar Machado, signed the regulation on behalf of the President of the Commission.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1652: A regulation establishing a prohibition of fishing for whiting in area VIII by vessels flying the flag of Belgium.
Belgium: Member State whose vessels are prohibited from fishing for whiting in area VIII.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009: Council Regulation establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.
Council Regulation (EU) 2016/72: Council Regulation laying down quotas for 2016.
Whiting: Fish species (Merlangius merlangus) subject to the fishing prohibition.
Area VIII: Fishing zone where the prohibition of fishing for whiting by Belgian vessels applies.
Joo AGUIAR MACHADO: Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, representing the Commission.
15.9.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 247/9
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2016/1652
of 9 September 2016
establishing a prohibition of fishing for whiting in area VIII by vessels flying the flag of Belgium
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control
system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy (1), and in particular Article 36(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Council Regulation (EU) 2016/72 (2) lays down quotas for 2016.
(2) According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock referred to in the Annex to this
Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the Member State referred to therein have exhausted the
quota allocated for 2016.
(3) It is therefore necessary to prohibit fishing activities for that stock,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Quota exhaustion
The fishing quota allocated to the Member State referred to in the Annex to this Regulation for the stock referred to
therein for 2016 shall be deemed to be exhausted from the date set out in that Annex.
Article 2
Prohibitions
Fishing activities for the stock referred to in the Annex to this Regulation by vessels flying the flag of or registered in the
Member State referred to therein shall be prohibited from the date set out in that Annex. In particular it shall be
prohibited to retain on board, relocate, tranship or land fish from that stock caught by those vessels after that date.
Article 3
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
(1) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1.
(2) Council Regulation (EU) 2016/72 of 22 January 2016 fixing for 2016 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish
stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2015/104
(OJ L 22, 28.1.2016, p. 1).L 247/10 EN Official Journal of the European Union 15.9.2016
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 9 September 2016.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
João AGUIAR MACHADO
Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
ANNEX
No 23/TQ72
Member State Belgium
Stock WHG/08.
Species Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)
Zone VIII
Closing date 20.8.2016