Executive Summary:
Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/410 establishes a fisheries closure for whiting in area 7a for vessels flying the flag of Belgium, as the allocated quota for 2020 has been exhausted. Fishing for this stock is prohibited from December 24, 2020. The regulation outlines specific prohibitions and allowances related to catches of this stock. The regulation enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Quota Exhaustion:** The fishing quota allocated to Belgium for whiting in area 7a for 2020 is deemed exhausted as of December 24, 2020.
* **Fishing Prohibitions (Effective December 24, 2020):**
* Fishing for whiting in area 7a by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Belgium is prohibited.
* Prohibition includes searching for fish, shooting, setting, or hauling fishing gear for the purpose of fishing that stock.
* **Exceptions to Prohibitions:**
* Transshipping, retaining on board, processing on board, transferring, caging, fattening, and landing of whiting caught by Belgian vessels before December 24, 2020, remain authorized.
* Unintended catches of whiting must be brought and retained on board, recorded, landed, and counted against quotas.
* **Entry into Force:** This Regulation enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
**Belgian Fishing Vessels:**
* Impact: Prohibition of fishing for whiting in area 7a. Restriction on certain activities related to whiting catches after December 24, 2020.
* Action Required: Cease fishing for whiting in area 7a. Ensure compliance with regulations regarding catches taken before the closing date and unintended catches.
**European Commission:**
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring and enforcing the fisheries closure.
* Action Required: Ensure that the regulation is implemented and adhered to by the relevant parties.
**Member States:**
* Impact: Obligated to ensure the regulation is directly applicable.
* Action Required: Implement and enforce the regulation within their jurisdiction.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: The supranational political and economic union of European countries.
European Commission: The executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
Belgium: A Member State of the European Union, specifically mentioned in relation to fishing quotas.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union.
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) 2020/123: A European Union regulation fixing fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks for 2020.
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013: A European Union regulation on the Common Fisheries Policy.
Area 7a: A geographical area defined for fisheries management, specifically related to whiting stock.
L 81/24 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 9.3.2021
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2021/410
of 4 March 2021
establishing a fisheries closure for whiting in area 7a for 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 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) 2020/123(2) lays down quotas for 2020.
(2) According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock of whiting in area 7a by vessels
flying the flag of or registered in Belgium have exhausted the quota allocated for 2020.
(3) It is therefore necessary to prohibit certain fishing activities for that stock.
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Quota exhaustion
The fishing quota allocated to Belgium for the stock of whiting in area 7a for 2020 referred to in the Annex shall be deemed
to be exhausted from the date set out in that Annex.
Article 2
Prohibitions
1. Fishing for the stock referred to in Article 1 by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Belgium shall be prohibited
from the date set out in the Annex. In particular it shall be prohibited to search for fish, shoot, set or haul a fishing gear for
the purpose of fishing that stock.
2. Transshipping, retaining on board, processing on board, transferring, caging, fattening and landing of fish and fishery
products from that stock caught by those vessels shall remain authorised for catches taken prior to that date.
3. Unintended catches of species from that stock by those vessels shall be brought and retained on board the fishing
vessels, recorded, landed and counted against quotas in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of
the European Parliament and of the Council(3).
(1) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1.
(2) Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123 of 27 January 2020 fixing for 2020 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 (OJ L 25, 30.1.2020, p. 1).
(3) Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy,
amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002
and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22).9.3.2021 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 81/25
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.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 4 March 2021.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS
Member of the CommissionL 81/26 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 9.3.2021
ANNEX
No 38/TQ123
Member State Belgium
Stock WHG/07A.
Species Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)
Zone 7a
Closing date 24.12.2020