Date: 2023-10-16Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2168 of 9 October 2023 establishing a fisheries closure for undulate ray in Union waters of 9 for vessels flying the flag of Portugal
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Executive Summary:
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2168 establishes a fisheries closure for undulate ray in Union waters of ICES division 9 for vessels flying the flag of Portugal. This regulation comes into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The fishing quota allocated to Portugal for this stock in 2023 is deemed exhausted as of September 23, 2023, as outlined in the Annex.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Quota Exhaustion:**
* The fishing quota allocated to Portugal for undulate ray in Union waters of 9 for 2023 is deemed exhausted from September 23, 2023.
* **Prohibitions:**
* Fishing for undulate ray in Union waters of 9 by vessels flying the flag of Portugal is prohibited from September 23, 2023. This includes searching for fish, shooting, setting, or hauling fishing gear for the purpose of fishing that stock.
* Transshipping, retaining on board, processing on board, transferring, caging, fattening, and landing of undulate ray caught by these vessels are authorized for catches taken prior to September 23, 2023.
* Unintended catches of undulate ray 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 enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
* **Portuguese Fishing Vessels:**
* Impact: Prohibited from fishing for undulate ray in Union waters of 9 after September 23, 2023.
* Action Required: Cease all fishing activities targeting undulate ray in the specified area from September 23, 2023. Ensure any unintended catches are handled according to Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
* **European Commission:**
* Impact: Responsible for enforcing the fisheries closure and ensuring compliance with the regulation.
* Action Required: Monitor fishing activities and landings to ensure adherence to the prohibitions and regulations outlined in the document.
* **Member States:**
* Impact: Directly applicable in all Member States.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with the regulation.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Portugal: A Member State of the European Union, specifically mentioned in relation to fishing quotas.
Undulate ray: A species of ray (Raja undulata) subject to fishing quotas and closures according to the regulation.
Union waters of 9: A specific geographical area defined as 'Zone Union waters of 9' where the fishing restrictions apply to the Undulate ray.
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) 2023/194: A European Union regulation that lays down quotas for 2023.
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013: A European Union regulation on the Common Fisheries Policy.
Virginijus Sinkevičius: Member of the European Commission.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2168 16.10.2023
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2023/2168
of 9 October 2023
establishing a fisheries closure for undulate ray in Union waters of 9 for 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 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 undulate ray in Union waters of 9
by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Portugal 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 to Portugal for the stock of undulate ray in Union waters of 9 for 2023 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 Portugal 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) 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).
(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).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2168/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 16.10.2023
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, 9 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/2023/2168/ojEN
OJ L, 16.10.2023
ANNEX
No 11/TQ194
Member State Portugal
Stock RJU/9-C.
Species Undulate ray (Raja undulata)
Zone Union waters of 9
Closing date 23 September 2023
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2168/oj 3/3