Date: 2023-12-08Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2763 of 4 December 2023 establishing a fisheries closure for cod in Svalbard waters; international waters of 1 and 2b for vessels flying the flag of Spain
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
**Summary:**
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2763, dated December 4, 2023, establishes a fisheries closure for cod (Gadus morhua) in Svalbard waters and international waters of ICES areas 1 and 2b for vessels flying the flag of Spain. This regulation is enacted due to the exhaustion of the 2023 quota allocated to Spain for this cod stock, as reported to the Commission.
Specifically, the regulation prohibits fishing activities for this cod stock by Spanish-flagged vessels, including retaining on board, relocating, transhipping, or landing any cod caught after November 11, 2023. The regulation entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The legal basis for this regulation is Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, specifically Article 36(2), and Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194, which sets the fishing quotas for 2023.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2763: A regulation establishing a fisheries closure for cod in Svalbard waters and international waters of 1 and 2b.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: A foundational treaty of the European Union.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009: A regulation establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.
Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194: A regulation laying down quotas for 2023.
Spain: A Member State of the European Union whose vessels are subject to the fishing closure.
Svalbard waters: A fishing zone in the Arctic Ocean, near Norway, where a cod fishing closure is established.
Virginijus Sinkevičius: Member of the European Commission.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2763 8.12.2023
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2023/2763
of 4 December 2023
establishing a fisheries closure for cod in Svalbard waters; international waters of 1 and 2b 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 cod in Svalbard waters;
international waters of 1 and 2b 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 cod in Svalbard waters; international waters of 1 and 2b
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/2023/2763/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 8.12.2023
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 4 December 2023.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS
Member of the Commission
2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2763/ojEN
OJ L, 8.12.2023
ANNEX
No 17/TQ194
Member State Spain
Stock COD/1/2B.
Species Cod (Gadus Morhua)
Zone Svalbard waters; international waters of 1 and 2b
Closing date 11 November 2023
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2763/oj 3/3