Date: 2023-12-21Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2800 of 18 December 2023 establishing a fisheries closure for alfonsinos in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 for vessels flying the flag of Portugal
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Executive Summary:
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2800 establishes a fisheries closure for alfonsinos in specified waters for vessels flying the flag of Portugal. This regulation is enacted because Portugal's allocated quota for this stock in 2023 has been exhausted. The closure took effect on December 6, 2023. The regulation prohibits fishing for alfonsinos by Portuguese vessels in the specified areas.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Quota Exhaustion:**
* Portugal's 2023 fishing quota for alfonsinos in United Kingdom, Union, and international waters of zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 14 is deemed exhausted.
* **Prohibitions:**
* Fishing for alfonsinos by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Portugal is prohibited from December 6, 2023, including searching for fish and setting or hauling fishing gear.
* Transshipping, retaining, processing, transferring, caging, fattening, and landing alfonsinos caught by these vessels are authorized only for catches taken *before* December 6, 2023.
* Unintended catches of alfonsinos must be brought and retained on board, recorded, landed, and counted against quotas.
* **Entry into Force:**
* The regulation came into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
Portugal:
* Impact: Portuguese vessels are prohibited from fishing for alfonsinos in the specified areas after December 6, 2023.
* Action Required: Cease all fishing activities for alfonsinos in the specified waters. Ensure any unintended catches are handled and reported according to the regulation.
European Commission:
* Impact: Responsible for enforcing the regulation and monitoring compliance.
* Action Required: Monitor fishing activities to ensure compliance with the closure.
Other Member States:
* Impact: Awareness of the regulation for monitoring purposes in shared waters.
* Action Required: Be aware of the regulation and its implications for fishing activities in the specified areas.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2800: A European Union regulation establishing a fisheries closure for alfonsinos in specified waters.
Portugal: A Member State of the European Union, subject to the fishing quota and prohibitions outlined in the regulation.
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.
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013: A Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy.
Alfonsinos: A species of fish (Beryx spp.) subject to the fisheries closure in the specified waters.
United Kingdom: Country in which alfonsinos fishing restrictions apply
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2800 21.12.2023
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2023/2800
of 18 December 2023
establishing a fisheries closure for alfonsinos in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 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 alfonsinos in United Kingdom,
Union and international waters of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 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 alfonsinos in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 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/2023/2800/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 21.12.2023
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, 18 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/2023/2800/ojEN
OJ L, 21.12.2023
ANNEX
No 20/TQ194
Member State Portugal
Stock ALF/3X14-
Species Alfonsinos (Beryx spp.)
Zone United Kingdom, Union and international waters of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
12 and 14
Closing date 6 December 2023
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2800/oj 3/3