Date: 2018-07-03Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/940 of 27 June 2018 establishing a prohibition of fishing for Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean by vessels flying the flag of Greece
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
**Policy Summary: Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/940**
This regulation, issued by the European Commission on June 27, 2018, establishes a prohibition of fishing for Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45°W, and the Mediterranean Sea by vessels flying the flag of Greece.
The legal basis for this regulation is Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, specifically Article 36(2), which pertains to the Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. The regulation addresses the exhaustion of the 2018 quota allocated to Greece for this specific Bluefin tuna stock (BFT/AE45WM), as defined by Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120.
Article 1 states that the fishing quota allocated to Greece for the specified stock in 2018 is deemed exhausted as of May 11, 2018. Article 2 prohibits all fishing activities for this stock by Greek-flagged vessels from that date. This includes retaining on board, relocating, transhipping, or landing any Bluefin tuna caught after May 11, 2018.
The regulation entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Director-General of the Directorate-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.
European Commission: An institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
Greece: A Member State of the European Union, subject to the fishing prohibition.
Bluefin tuna: A species of tuna (Thunnus thynnus) subject to fishing regulations.
Atlantic Ocean: A body of water where fishing for Bluefin tuna is regulated, specifically east of 45°W.
Mediterranean: A body of water where fishing for Bluefin tuna is regulated.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009: A European Union regulation establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.
Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120: A European Union regulation laying down quotas for 2018.
3.7.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 166/5
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2018/940
of 27 June 2018
establishing a prohibition of fishing for Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and
Mediterranean by vessels flying the flag of Greece
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).L 166/6 EN Official Journal of the European Union 3.7.2018
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 27 June 2018.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
João AGUIAR MACHADO
Director-General
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
ANNEX
No 11/TQ120
Member State Greece
Stock BFT/AE45WM
Species Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
Zone Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean
Closing date 11.5.2018