Date: 2023-10-16Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2167 of 10 October 2023 establishing a fisheries closure for Blue marlin in the Atlantic ocean for vessels flying the flag of Spain
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
**Policy Summary: EU Regulation 2023/2167 - Fisheries Closure for Blue Marlin (Spain)**
This regulation, enacted by the European Commission on October 10, 2023, establishes a fisheries closure for Blue marlin ( *Makaira nigricans*) in the Atlantic Ocean for vessels flying the flag of or registered in Spain. The legal basis for this regulation is Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, which establishes a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, specifically Article 36(2).
The regulation addresses the exhaustion of the 2023 quota allocated to Spain for Blue marlin in the Atlantic Ocean, as outlined in Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194. Effective August 26, 2023, fishing activities targeting Blue marlin by Spanish-flagged vessels are prohibited. This prohibition includes retaining on board, relocating, transhipping, or landing Blue marlin caught by these vessels after the specified date.
The regulation entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (October 16, 2023). The responsible Commissioner is Virginijus Sinkevičius, Member of the Commission. The stock code for Blue Marlin is 'BUM-ATLANT'.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2167: A European Union regulation establishing a fisheries closure for Blue marlin in the Atlantic Ocean.
Blue marlin: A species of marlin, a type of large billfish, that is subject to fishing quotas in the Atlantic Ocean.
Atlantic Ocean: The ocean area where the fisheries closure for Blue marlin applies.
Spain: A member state of the European Union whose vessels are subject to the fishing closure due to quota exhaustion.
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) 2023/194: A Council Regulation laying down quotas for 2023.
Virginijus Sinkevičius: Member of the European Commission.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2167 16.10.2023
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2023/2167
of 10 October 2023
establishing a fisheries closure for Blue marlin in the Atlantic ocean for vessels flying the flag of
Spain
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 2009establishing 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) 2023/194(2)lays down quotas for 2023.
(2) According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock of Blue marlin in the Atlantic ocean
by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Spain have exhausted the quota allocated for 2023.
(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 for 2023 to Spain for the stock of Blue marlin in the Atlantic ocean referred to in the Annex
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 Article 1 by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Spain shall be prohibited
from the date set out in the 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) 2023/194 of 30 January 2023 fixing for 2023 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in
Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, as well as fixing for 2023 and 2024 such fishing
opportunities for certain deep-sea fish stocks (OJ L 28, 31.1.2023, p. 1).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2167/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 16.10.2023
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 10 October 2023.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS
Member of the Commission
2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2167/ojEN
OJ L, 16.10.2023
ANNEX
No 12/TQ194
MEMBER STATE Spain
STOCK BUM/ATLANT
SPECIES Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans)
ZONE Atlantic Ocean
CLOSING DATE 26 August 2023
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2167/oj 3/3