Executive Summary:
Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/411 establishes a fisheries closure for cod in area 7a for vessels flying the flag of Belgium. This regulation is due to the exhaustion of the 2020 quota allocated to Belgium. Fishing for cod in area 7a by Belgian vessels is prohibited from December 24, 2020. The regulation entered into force 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 cod in area 7a for 2020 is deemed exhausted as of December 24, 2020.
Prohibitions:
* Fishing for cod in area 7a by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Belgium is prohibited from December 24, 2020. This includes searching for fish, shooting, setting, or hauling fishing gear.
* Transshipping, retaining on board, processing on board, transferring, caging, fattening, and landing of cod caught by these vessels is authorized only for catches taken prior to December 24, 2020.
* Unintended catches of cod by these vessels must be brought and retained on board, recorded, landed, and counted against quotas, according to Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Entry into Force:
* This Regulation entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
Belgian Vessels Fishing in Area 7a:
* Impact: Prohibition of fishing for cod in area 7a. Restrictions on transshipping, retaining, processing, transferring, caging, fattening, and landing cod caught after December 24, 2020.
* Action Required: Cease fishing activities for cod in area 7a. Ensure compliance with regulations regarding unintended catches, including retention, recording, landing, and quota deduction.
European Commission:
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring and enforcing the fisheries closure.
* Action Required: Ensure that the regulation is effectively implemented and that member states comply with the established prohibitions.
EU Member States:
* Impact: Obligation to ensure the regulation is directly applicable within their jurisdiction.
* Action Required: Implement the regulation.
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, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
Belgium: A country in Europe, specifically mentioned as having vessels that exhausted the cod quota in area 7a.
Council Regulation EC No 1224/2009: A Council Regulation establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.
Council Regulation EU 2020/123: A Council Regulation laying down quotas for 2020.
Regulation EU No 1380/2013: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy.
Area 7a: A geographical area related to fisheries, specifically where the cod quota for Belgium was exhausted.
Cod: A species of fish (Gadus morhua) subject to fishing quotas, specifically in area 7a.
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 81/27
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2021/411
of 4 March 2021
establishing a fisheries closure for cod 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 cod 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 cod 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, 30.01.2020, 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).L 81/28 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
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 Commission9.3.2021 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 81/29
ANNEX
No 39/TQ123
Member State Belgium
Stock COD/07A.
Species Cod (Gadus morhua)
Zone 7a
Closing date 24.12.2020