Date: 2018-06-13Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/864 of 8 June 2018 establishing a prohibition of fishing for blue marlin in the Atlantic Ocean by vessels flying the flag of Portugal
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
**Policy Summary: Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/864**
This regulation, enacted by the European Commission on June 8, 2018, prohibits fishing for blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) in the Atlantic Ocean by vessels flying the flag of Portugal. The regulation is based on Article 36(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, which establishes a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, and Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120, which lays down quotas for 2018.
The Commission determined that Portugal's allocated quota for blue marlin in the Atlantic Ocean (fishing area 10TQ120) for 2018 had been exhausted. As a result, Article 2 of the regulation prohibits Portuguese-flagged vessels from engaging in fishing activities for blue marlin in the specified zone. This includes retaining on board, relocating, transhipping, or landing blue marlin caught after May 14, 2018, the date the quota was deemed exhausted.
The regulation entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, João Aguiar Machado, signed the regulation on behalf of the Commission President.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/864: A regulation issued by the European Commission establishing a prohibition of fishing for blue marlin in the Atlantic Ocean by vessels flying the flag of Portugal.
Portugal: A Member State of the European Union whose vessels are prohibited from fishing blue marlin in the Atlantic Ocean according to this regulation.
Atlantic Ocean: The ocean area where fishing for blue marlin by Portuguese vessels is prohibited by this regulation.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009: Council Regulation establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.
Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120: Council Regulation laying down quotas for 2018.
Blue marlin: The species of fish (Makaira nigricans) whose fishing is being prohibited for Portuguese vessels in the Atlantic Ocean.
Brussels: The city where the Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/864 was done.
L 148/4 EN Official Journal of the European Union 13.6.2018
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2018/864
of 8 June 2018
establishing a prohibition of fishing for blue marlin in the Atlantic Ocean by vessels flying the flag
of Portugal
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 Union 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) 2018/120 (2) lays down quotas for 2018.
(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 2018.
(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 2018 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) 2018/120 of 23 January 2018 fixing for 2018 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)
2017/127 (OJ L 27, 31.1.2018, p. 1).13.6.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 148/5
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 8 June 2018.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
João AGUIAR MACHADO
Director-General
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and FisheriesL 148/6 EN Official Journal of the European Union 13.6.2018
ANNEX
No 10/TQ120
Member State Portugal
Stock BUM/ATLANT
Species Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans)
Zone Atlantic Ocean
Closing date 14.5.2018