Esta es la versión HTML de un fichero adjunto a una solicitud de acceso a la información 'Access to information regarding total allowable catches (TACs) of EU fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic discussed and adopted on 17 and 18 December 2018'.


 
  
 
 
 

Council of the 
 
 

 European Union 
   
 
Brussels, 20 December 2018 
(OR. en) 
    15725/18 
 
Interinstitutional File: 
 
 
2018/0380(NLE) 
LIMITE 
 
PECHE 553 

 
 
 
NOTE 
From: 
General Secretariat of the Council 
To: 
Delegations 
No. prev. doc.: 
15051/18 PECHE 513 + ADD 1-2 
No. Cion doc.: 
13731/18 PECHE 444 + ADD 1-2 - COM(2018) 732 final 
Subject: 
Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION fixing for 2019 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 
 
 
Delegations will find attached the consolidated text of the above-mentioned proposal following the 
political agreement reached at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17-18 December 2018. This 
text will be finalised by the lawyer-linguists for adoption by written procedure in January 2019. 
Any comments related to factual errors should be transmitted to the Council Secretariat to the 
following e-mail addresses: xxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx and 
xxxxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx by 7 January 2019. 
 
 
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COUNCIL REGULATION 
fixing for 2019 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 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 
43(3) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 
Whereas: 
(1) 
Article 43(3) of the Treaty provides that the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, is 
to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities. 
(2) 
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council1 requires that 
conservation measures be adopted taking into account available scientific, technical and 
economic advice, including, where relevant, reports drawn up by the Scientific, Technical 
and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) and other advisory bodies, as well as any 
advice received from Advisory Councils. 
                                                 
1 
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). 
 
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(3) 
It is incumbent upon the Council to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing 
opportunities, including certain conditions functionally linked thereto, as appropriate. In 
accordance with Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, fishing opportunities 
should be fixed in accordance with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) 
established in Article 2(2) of that Regulation. In accordance with Article 16(1) of that 
Regulation, fishing opportunities should be allocated to Member States in such a way as to 
ensure relative stability of fishing activities of each Member State for each fish stock or 
fishery. 
(4) 
The total allowable catch (TAC) should therefore be established, in line with Regulation 
(EU) No 1380/2013, on the basis of available scientific advice, taking into account 
biological and socio-economic aspects whilst ensuring fair treatment between fishing 
sectors, as well as in the light of the opinions expressed during the consultation of 
stakeholders, in particular at the meetings of the Advisory Councils. 
(5) 
In accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the full landing obligation 
is to apply at the latest from 1 January 2019. When a fishery falls under the landing 
obligation, all species in that fishery subject to catch limits should be landed. Article 16(2) 
of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 provides that, when the landing obligation in respect of a 
fish stock is introduced, fishing opportunities are to be fixed taking into account the change 
from fixing fishing opportunities that reflect landings to fixing fishing opportunities that 
reflect catches. On the basis of the joint recommendations submitted by the Member States 
and in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the Commission 
adopted a number of delegated Regulations laying down details for the implementation of 
the landing obligation in the form of specific discard plans applicable on a temporary basis 
for a maximum period of three years. 
 
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(6) 
The fishing opportunities for stocks of species falling under the landing obligation 
from 1 January 2019 should take into account the fact that discarding will in principle no 
longer be allowed. Therefore, the fishing opportunities should be based on the advice figure 
for total catches (instead of the advice figure for total landings), as provided by the 
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The amounts that, by way of 
exception, may continue to be discarded during the operation of the landing obligation 
should be deducted from that advice figure for total catches. 
(7) 
There are certain stocks for which ICES has issued scientific advice for no catches. If the 
TACs for those stocks are set at the level indicated in the scientific advice, the obligation to 
land all catches in mixed fisheries with by-catches from these stocks would lead to the 
phenomenon of “choke species”. In order to strike the right balance between continuing 
fisheries in view of the potentially severe socio-economic implications, and the need to 
achieve a good biological status for those stocks, taking into account the difficulty of fishing 
all stocks in a mixed fishery at maximum sustainable yield at the same time, it is appropriate 
to establish specific TACs for by-catches for those stocks. The level of these TACs should 
be such that mortality for these stocks is not increased and that provides incentives for 
improvements in selectivity and avoidance. In order to guarantee to the extent possible the 
use of fishing opportunities in mixed fisheries in accordance with Article 16(2) of 
Regulation 1380/2013, it is appropriate to establish a pool for quota exchanges for those 
Member States that have no quota to cover their unavoidable by-catches. 
 
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(8) 
In order to progressively reduce unwanted catches of the stocks concerned, Member States 
should as from 2019 implement multi-annual by-catch reduction plans in the relevant 
fisheries with a view to progressively reduce unwanted catches of the stocks concerned by 
taking national measures and, where appropriate, by cooperating at regional level in order to 
submit joint recommendations to the Commission in 2019. These by-catch reduction plans 
are to be evaluated by STECF and reviewed two years after their entry into application. In 
addition, all vessels benefitting from these specific TACs should implement full catch 
documentation as from 2019. 
(9) 
According to scientific advice, European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in the Celtic Sea, 
Channel, Irish Sea and southern North Sea (ICES divisions 4b, 4c and 7a, 7d–7h) remains in 
a perilous state. Spawning–stock biomass has been declining since 2005 and is now below 
Blim. Fishing mortality has increased over the time-series, peaking in 2013 before a rapid 
decline to below FMSY. Recruitment was estimated to be poor since 2008, with the 
exception of the 2013 and 2014 year-class estimates which show average recruitment. ICES 
advise that when the MSY approach is applied, total removals in 2019 should be no more 
than 1789 tonnes, which is an increase compared to the 2018 advice. Therefore, higher 
catches could be allowed for hooks and lines fishery for this species. It is also appropriate to 
continue the set of measures for unavoidable by-catches of European seabass with certain 
other gears, while providing a limited increase in the catch allowances. Measures for 
managing recreational fisheries for European seabass should be adapted, taking account of 
the significant impact of such fisheries on the stocks concerned. Within the limits of the 
scientific advice, the catch-and-release practice and bag limit should continue, but should be 
applied for a longer period. 
 
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 (10)  As regards the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) stock, the ICES has advised that all 
anthropogenic mortalities, including recreational and commercial fisheries, should be 
reduced to zero, or kept as close to zero as possible. Moreover, the General Fisheries 
Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) adopted Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/1 
establishing management measures for European eel in the Mediterranean Sea. It is 
appropriate to establish a level-playing field across the EU and hence to establish also for 
the Union waters of ICES area as well as brackish waters such as estuaries, coastal lagoons 
and transitional waters a consecutive 3-month closure period for all fisheries of European eel 
at all life stages. As the fishing closure period should be consistent with the conservation 
objectives set out in Regulation (EC) 1100/20072 and with the temporal migration patterns 
of European eel, for the Union waters of ICES area it is appropriate to set it in the period 
between 1 August 2019 and 29 February 2020. 
(11)  For some years, certain TACs for stocks of elasmobranchs (skates, sharks, rays) have been 
set at zero, with a linked provision establishing an obligation to immediately release 
accidental catches. The reason for that specific treatment was the poor conservation status of 
those stocks and the assumption that discarding, because high survival rates, would not raise 
fishing mortality rates and would be beneficial for the conservation of those species. As 
of 1 January 2019, however, catches of those species have to be landed, unless they are 
covered by any of the derogations from the landing obligation provided for in Article 15 of 
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. Article 15(4)(a) of that Regulation allows such derogations 
for species in respect of which fishing is prohibited and which are identified as such in a 
Union legal act adopted in the area of the CFP. Therefore, it is appropriate to prohibit the 
fishing of those species in the areas concerned. 
                                                 
2 
Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the 
recovery of the stock of European eel. 
 
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(12)  Pursuant to Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, for stocks subject to specific 
multiannual plans the TACs should be established in accordance with the rules laid down in 
those plans. 
(13)  The North Sea multiannual plan was established by Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council3 and entered into force in 2018. Fishing 
opportunities for stocks listed in Article 1 of that Plan should be established in accordance 
with targets (ranges of Fmsy) and safeguards in compliance with conditions provided for in 
that Plan. The ranges of Fmsy have been identified in the respective ICES advices. Fishing 
opportunities for by-catch stocks in the North Sea should be established in accordance with 
the precautionary approach, as set out in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/973. In order 
to limit variations in fishing opportunities between consecutive years, in accordance with 
Article 4 (5) (c) of that Regulation, it is appropriate to use the upper range of Fmsy for 
common sole in 2a and 4. 
                                                 
3 
Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 
establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries 
exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in 
the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008 
(OJ L 179, 16.07.2018, p.1). 
 
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(14)  The TACs for stocks of sole in the Western Channel and of bluefin tuna in the Eastern 
Atlantic and the Mediterranean should be established in accordance with the rules laid down 
Council Regulation (EC) No 509/20074 and Regulation (EU) 2016/16275 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council. The objective for the Southern hake stock as set out in 
Council Regulation (EC) No 2166/20056 is to rebuild the biomass of the stocks concerned to 
the level within safe biological limits, while staying in line with the scientific data. In 
accordance with scientific advice, in the absence of definitive data on a target spawning 
stock biomass and while taking into account changes in safe biological limits, it is 
appropriate, in order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the CFP, to fix the 
TAC on the basis of the maximum sustainable yield advice provided by ICES. 
(15)  As a result of a benchmark exercise  on the stock of herring to the west of Scotland, ICES 
has provided advice for the combined herring stocks in Divisions 6a, 7b and 7c (West of 
Scotland, West of Ireland). The advice covers two separate TACs (for 6aS, 7b and 7c on the 
one hand, and for 5b, 6b and 6aN on the other). According to ICES, a rebuilding plan has to 
be developed for those stocks. Since, according to scientific advice, the management plan 
for the northern stock7 cannot be applied to the combined stocks and it is not possible to set 
separate fishing opportunities for those two stocks, a TAC should be established to permit 
limited catches in a commercially operated scientific sampling programme. 
                                                 
4 
Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2007 of 7 May 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for 
the sustainable exploitation of the stock of sole in the Western Channel (OJ L 122, 
11.5.2007, p. 7). 
5 
Regulation (EU) 2016/1627 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
14 September 2016 on a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic 
and the Mediterranean, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 
(OJ L 252, 
16.9.2016, p. 1). 
6 
Council Regulation (EC) No 2166/2005 of 20 December 2005 establishing measures for the 
recovery of the Southern hake and Norway lobster stocks in the Cantabrian Sea and Western 
Iberian peninsula and amending Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery 
resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms 
(OJ L 345, 28.12.2005, p. 5). 
7 
Council Regulation (EC) No 1300/2008 of 18 December 2008 establishing a multi-annual 
plan for the stock of herring distributed to the west of Scotland and the fisheries exploiting 
that stock (OJ L 344, 20.12.2008, p. 6). 
 
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(16)  For stocks for which there is no sufficient or reliable data in order to provide size estimates, 
management measures and TAC levels should follow the precautionary approach to fisheries 
management as defined in Article 4(1)(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, while taking 
into account stock-specific factors, including, in particular, available information on stock 
trends and mixed fisheries considerations. 
(17)  Council Regulation (EC) No 847/968 introduced additional conditions for year-to-year 
management of TACs including, under Articles 3 and 4 of that Regulation, flexibility 
provisions for precautionary and analytical TACs. Under Article 2 of that Regulation, when 
fixing the TACs, the Council is to decide to which stocks Article 3 or 4 of that Regulation is 
not to apply, in particular on the basis of the biological status of the stocks. More recently, 
the year-to-year flexibility mechanism was introduced by Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) 
No 1380/2013 for all stocks that are subject to the landing obligation. Therefore, in order to 
avoid excessive flexibility that would undermine the principle of rational and responsible 
exploitation of marine biological resources, hinder the achievement of the objectives of the 
CFP and deteriorate the biological status of the stocks, it should be established that 
Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 apply to analytical TACs only where the 
year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 is not 
used. 
(18)  Where a TAC relating to a stock is allocated to one Member State only, it is appropriate to 
empower that Member State in accordance with Article 2(1) of the Treaty to determine the 
level of such TAC. Provisions should be made to ensure that, when fixing that TAC level, 
the Member State concerned acts in a manner fully consistent with the principles and rules 
of the CFP. 
                                                 
8 
Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for 
year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3). 
 
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(19)  It is necessary to establish the fishing effort ceilings for 2019 in accordance with Article 5 of 
Regulation (EC) No 509/2007, and Articles 5, 6, 7 and 9 of, and Annex I to, Regulation 
(EU) 2016/1627. 
(20)  In order to guarantee full use of fishing opportunities, it is appropriate to allow for the 
implementation of a flexible arrangement between certain TAC areas where the same 
biological stock is concerned. 
(21)  For certain species, such as certain species of sharks, even a limited fishing activity could 
result in a serious conservation risk. Fishing opportunities for such species should therefore 
be fully restricted through a general prohibition on fishing those species. 
(22)  At the 12th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory 
Species of Wild Animals, held in Manila from 23 to 28 October 2017, a number of species 
were added to the lists of protected species in Appendices I and II of the Convention. 
Therefore, it is appropriate to provide for the protection of those species with respect to 
Union fishing vessels fishing in all waters and non-Union fishing vessels fishing in Union 
waters. 
(23)  The use of fishing opportunities available to Union fishing vessels set out in this Regulation 
is subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/20099, and in particular to Articles 33 and 34 
of that Regulation, concerning the recording of catches and fishing effort and the 
notification of data on the exhaustion of fishing opportunities. It is therefore necessary to 
specify the codes to be used by Member States when sending data to the Commission 
relating to landings of stocks subject to this Regulation. 
                                                 
9 
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, amending 
Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, 
(EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) 
No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing 
Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 
22.12.2009, p. 1). 
 
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(24)  It is appropriate, following advice from the ICES, to maintain a specific system to manage 
sandeel and associated by-catches in Union waters of ICES divisions 2a and 3a and ICES 
subarea 4. Given that the ICES scientific advice is expected to become available only 
in February 2019, it is appropriate to set the TAC and quotas for that stock provisionally at 
zero until such advice is released. 
(25)  In accordance with the procedure provided for in the agreements or protocols on fisheries 
relations with Norway10 and the Faroe Islands11, the Union has held consultations on fishing 
rights with those partners. In accordance with the procedure provided for in the agreement 
and protocol on fisheries relations with Greenland12, the Joint Committee has established the 
level of fishing opportunities available for the Union in Greenland waters in 2019. It is 
therefore necessary to include those fishing opportunities in this Regulation. 
(26)  At its annual meeting in 2018, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) 
adopted conservation measures for the two redfish stocks in the Irminger Sea. Those 
measures should be implemented in Union law. 
                                                 
10 
Agreement on fisheries between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of 
Norway (OJ L 226, 29.8.1980, p. 48). 
11 
Agreement on fisheries between the European Economic Community, of the one part, and 
the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faeroe Islands, of the other 
part (OJ L 226, 29.8.1980, p. 12). 
12 
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community on the one hand, and 
the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other 
hand (OJ L 172, 30.6.2007, p. 4) and Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and 
financial contribution provided for in that Agreement (OJ L 293, 23.10.2012, p. 5). 
 
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(27)  At its annual meeting in 2017, the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) agreed that in 2018 and 2019, the Union may distribute the 
unallocated reserves for Bluefin Tuna for 2019 and 2020, considering in particular the needs 
of coastal developing CPCs in their artisanal fisheries. That distribution was agreed at the 
inter-sessional meeting of Panel 2 of ICCAT (Madrid, March 2018) based, for the EU 
allocation, on the information received from Member States, in particular Greece, Spain and 
Portugal. As a result of that the EU received specific catch possibilities of 87 tonnes for 
2019 and 100 tonnes for 2020 to be used by EU artisanal fleets in certain EU regions. That 
allocation of new fishing possibilities was endorsed by ICCAT at its annual meeting in 2018 
and it is therefore relevant to establish an allocation key for those additional fishing 
possibilities. 
(28)  In 2019, the TAC for Mediterranean swordfish is decreased in line with the ICCAT 
Recommendation 16 05. As it is already the case for the stock of Eastern and Mediterranean 
bluefin tuna, it is appropriate that catches in recreational fisheries of all other ICCAT stocks 
should be subject to the catch limits as adopted by the ICCAT. Furthermore, Union fishing 
vessels of at least 20 metres length fishing for bigeye tuna in the ICCAT Convention Area 
should be subject to the capacity limitations adopted by ICCAT in the ICCAT 
Recommendation 15 01. All those measures should be implemented in the law of the Union.  
(29)  At its 37th annual meeting in 2018, the Parties to the Commission for the Conservation of 
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) adopted catch limits for both target and 
by-catch species for the period from 1 December 2018 to 30 November 2019. The uptake of 
the quotas during 2018 should be considered when setting fishing opportunities for 2019. 
(30)  At its annual meeting in 2017, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) adopted new 
catch limits for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) that do not affect the Union catch limits 
in IOTC. It also reduced possibilities for using fish-aggregating devices (FADs) and supply 
vessels. Those provisions were not revised at its annual meeting in 2018 and should thus 
continue being implemented in the law of the Union. 
 
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(31)  The annual meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation 
(SPRFMO) will be held on 23-27 January 2019. It is appropriate that the current measures in 
the SPRFMO Convention Area are provisionally maintained until such annual meeting is 
held. 
(32)  At its annual meeting in 2017, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) 
adopted a conservation measure for yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and skipjack tuna 
for 2018-2020. It was not revised at its annual meeting in 2018 and should thus continue 
being implemented in the law of the Union. 
(33)  At its annual meeting in 2018, the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin 
Tuna (CCSBT) confirmed the TAC for the Southern bluefin tuna for the period 2018-2020 
adopted at the annual meeting in 2016. The currently applicable measures on allocation of 
fishing opportunities adopted by CCSBT should be implemented in the law of the Union. 
(34)  At its annual meeting in 2018, the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) 
adopted TACs for the main species under its purview. The applicable measures on allocation 
of fishing opportunities adopted by SEAFO should be implemented in the law of the Union. 
 (35)  At its 15th annual meeting, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission 
(WCPFC) adopted conservation and management measures. Those measures should be 
implemented in the law of the Union through an amendment to these fishing opportunities in 
2019. 
 (36)  At its 40th annual meeting in 2018, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) 
adopted a number of fishing opportunities for 2019 for certain stocks in Subareas 1-4 of the 
NAFO Convention Area. Those measures should be implemented in the law of the Union. 
 
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 (37)  At its 42nd annual meeting in 2018, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean 
(GFCM) adopted catch and effort limits for certain small pelagic stocks for the years 2019, 
2020, 2021 in the geographical subareas 17 and 18 (Adriatic Sea) of the GFCM Agreement 
Area. Those measures should be implemented in the law of the Union. The maximum catch 
limits established in Annex IL are fixed exclusively for one year and without prejudice to 
any other measures adopted in the future and any possible allocation scheme between 
Member States. 
(37a)  At its 42nd annual meeting in 2018, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean 
(GFCM) adopted Recommendation GFCM/42/2018/1 establishing management measures 
for European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in the Mediterranean Sea. These measures are 
already implemented at EU level through Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007. The 
Recommendation also includes an annual closure period of three consecutive months which 
needs to be transposed into EU law and defined by each Member State in accordance with 
the conservation objectives of Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007, its management plan(s) for 
eel and the temporal migration patterns of eel in the Member State. The closure shall apply 
to all marine waters of the Mediterranean and to brackish waters such as estuaries, coastal 
lagoons and transitional waters, in accordance with the Recommendation. 
 (38)  Taking into account the particularities of the Slovenian fleet and their marginal impact on 
the stocks of small pelagic species, it is appropriate to preserve the existing fishing patterns 
and to ensure access of the Slovenian fleet to a minimum quantity of small pelagic species. 
(39)  The 5th Meeting of the Parties of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) 
in 2018 adopted conservation and management measures for the stocks under the scope of 
the Agreement. Those measures should be implemented in the law of the Union. 
 
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(40)  Certain international measures which create or restrict fishing opportunities for the Union 
are adopted by the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) at the 
end of the year and become applicable before the entry into force of this Regulation. It is 
therefore necessary for the provisions that implement such measures in the law of the Union 
to apply retroactively. In particular, since the fishing season in CCAMLR Convention Area 
runs from 1 December to 30 November, and thus certain fishing opportunities or 
prohibitions in the CCAMLR Convention Area are laid down for a period of time starting 
from 1 December 2018, it is appropriate that the relevant provisions of this Regulation apply 
from that date. Such retroactive application does not prejudice the principle of legitimate 
expectations as CCAMLR members are forbidden to fish in the CCAMLR Convention Area 
without authorisation. 
(41)  As regards the fishing opportunities for snow crab around the area of Svalbard, the Treaty of 
Paris of 1920 grants equal and non-discriminatory access to resources for all parties to that 
Treaty, including with respect to fishing. The view of the Union concerning that access, as 
regards fishing for snow crab on the continental shelf around Svalbard, has been set out in 
two notes verbales to Norway dated 25 October 2016 and 24 February 2017. In order to 
ensure that the exploitation of snow crab within the area of Svalbard is made consistent with 
such non-discriminatory management rules as may be set out by Norway, which enjoys 
sovereignty and jurisdiction in the area within the limits of the said Treaty, it is appropriate 
to fix the number of vessels that are authorised to conduct such fishery. The allocation of 
such fishing opportunities among Member States is limited to 2019. It is recalled that in the 
Union primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with applicable law lies with the flag 
Member States. 
 
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(42)  In accordance with the declaration by the Union addressed to the Bolivarian Republic 
of Venezuela on the granting of fishing opportunities in Union waters to fishing vessels 
flying the flag of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the exclusive economic zone off the 
coast of French Guiana13, it is necessary to fix the fishing opportunities for snapper available 
to Venezuela in Union waters. 
(43)  Given that certain provisions are to be applied on a continuous basis, and in order to avoid 
legal uncertainty during the period between the end of 2019 and the date of entry into force 
of the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for 2020, the provisions concerning 
prohibitions and closed seasons set out in this Regulation should continue to apply at the 
beginning of 2020, until the entry into force of the Regulation fixing the fishing 
opportunities for 2020. 
(44)  In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, 
implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission as regards authorising 
individual Member States to manage fishing effort allocations in accordance with a 
kilowatt-day system. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) 
No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council14. 
(45)  In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, 
implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission as regards granting of 
additional days at sea for permanent cessation of fishing activities and for enhanced 
scientific observer coverage as well as establishing formats of spreadsheets for the collection 
and transmission of information concerning transfer of days at sea between fishing vessels 
flying the flag of a Member State. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with 
Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 
                                                 
13 
OJ L 6, 10.1.2012, p. 9. 
14 
Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms 
for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers 
(OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13). 
 
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(46)  In order to avoid the interruption of fishing activities and to ensure the livelihood of the 
fishermen of the Union, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2019, except for the 
provisions concerning fishing effort limits, which should apply from 1 February 2019, and 
certain provisions concerning particular regions, which should have a specific date of 
application. For reasons of urgency, this Regulation should enter into force immediately 
after its publication. 
(47)  Fishing opportunities should be used in full compliance with Union law, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
 
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TITLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Article 1 
Subject matter 
1. 
This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities available in Union waters and to Union 
fishing vessels in certain non-Union waters, for certain fish stocks and groups of fish 
stocks. 
2. 
The fishing opportunities referred to in paragraph 1 include: 
•  (a) catch limits for the year 2019 and, where specified in this Regulation, for the 
year 2020; 
•  (b) fishing effort limits for the period from 1 February 2019 to 31 January 2020, 
except where other periods are established for effort limits in Articles 27, 28 and 41, 
as well as regarding provisions on fish-aggregating devices (FADs); 
•  (c) fishing opportunities for the period from 1 December 2018 to 30 November 2019 
for certain stocks in the CCAMLR Convention Area; 
•  (d) fishing opportunities for certain stocks in the IATTC Convention Area set out in 
Article 29 for the periods in 2019 and 2020 specified in that Article. 
 
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Article 2 
Scope 
1. 
This Regulation shall apply to the following vessels: 
•  (a) Union fishing vessels; 
•  (b) third-country vessels in Union waters. 
2. 
This Regulation shall also apply to recreational fisheries where they are expressly referred 
to in the relevant provisions. 
Article 3 
Definitions 
For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 
No 1380/2013 apply. In addition, the following definitions apply: 
– 
(a) ‘third-country vessel’ means a fishing vessel flying the flag of, and registered in, a third 
country; 
– 
(b) ‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine 
biological resources such as recreation, tourism or sport;  
– 
(c) ‘international waters’ means waters falling outside the sovereignty or jurisdiction of 
any State; 
– 
(d) ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means:  
•  (i) in fisheries subject to the exemption of the landing obligation referred to in Article 
15 (4) – (7) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the quantity of fish that can be landed 
from each stock each year;  
 
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•  (ii) in all other fisheries, the quantity of fish that can be caught from each stock each 
year; 
– 
(e) ‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a 
third country; 
– 
(f) ‘analytical assessments’ means quantitative evaluations of trends in a given stock, based 
on data about the stock’s biology and exploitation, which scientific review has indicated to 
be of sufficient quality to provide scientific advice on options for future catches; 
 
– 
(g) ‘mesh size’ means the mesh size of fishing nets as determined in accordance with 
Commission Regulation (EC) No 517/200815; 
– 
(h) ‘Union fishing fleet register’ means the register set up by the Commission in 
accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; 
– 
(i) ‘fishing logbook’ means the logbook referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) 
No 1224/2009. 
                                                 
15 
Commission Regulation (EC) No 517/2008 of 10 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for 
the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 as regards the determination of 
the mesh size and assessing the thickness of twine of fishing nets (OJ L 151, 11.6.2008, 
p. 5). 
 
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Article 4 
Fishing zones 
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following zone definitions apply: 
– 
(a) ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) zones are the geographical 
areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/200916; 
– 
(b) ‘Skagerrak’ means the geographical area bounded on the west by a line drawn from 
the Hanstholm lighthouse to the Lindesnes lighthouse and on the south by a line drawn 
from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest 
point on the Swedish coast; 
– 
(c) ‘Kattegat’ means the geographical area bounded on the north by a line drawn from 
the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest point 
on the Swedish coast and on the south by a line drawn from Hasenøre to Gnibens Spids, 
from Korshage to Spodsbjerg and from Gilbjerg Hoved to Kullen; 
– 
(d) ‘Functional Unit 16 of ICES subarea 7’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb 
lines sequentially joining the following positions: 
– 
53° 30' N 15° 00' W, 
1.  53° 30' N 11° 00' W, 
2.  51° 30' N 11° 00' W, 
3.  51° 30' N 13° 00' W, 
4.  51° 00' N 13° 00' W, 
                                                 
16 
Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in 
the north-east Atlantic (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 70). 
 
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5.  51° 00' N 15° 00' W, 
6.  53° 30' N 15° 00' W; 
– 
(e) ‘Functional Unit 26 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by 
rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions: 
7.  43° 00' N 8° 00' W, 
8.  43° 00' N 10° 00' W, 
9.  42° 00' N 10° 00' W, 
10. 42° 00' N 8° 00' W; 
– 
(f) ‘Functional Unit 27 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by 
rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions: 
11. 42° 00' N 8° 00' W, 
12. 42° 00' N 10° 00' W, 
13. 38° 30' N 10° 00' W, 
14. 38° 30' N 9° 00' W, 
15. 40° 00' N 9° 00' W, 
16. 40° 00' N 8° 00' W; 
– 
(g) ‘Functional Unit 30 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area under the 
jurisdiction of Spain in the Gulf of Cádiz and in the adjacent waters of 9a; 
 
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– 
(h) ‘Gulf of Cádiz’ means the geographical area of ICES division 9a east of 
longitude 7º 23' 48″ W; 
– 
(i) ‘CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) 
Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in point (a) of Article 2 of Council 
Regulation (EC) No 601/200417; 
– 
(j) CECAF (Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries) areas are the geographical 
areas specified in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament 
and of the Council18; 
– 
(k) ‘GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) geographical subareas’ 
are the areas defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council19. 
– 
(l) ‘IATTC (Inter‒American Tropical Tuna Commission) Convention Area’ is the 
geographical area defined in the Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter-American 
Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention between the United States 
of America and the Republic of Costa Rica20; 
                                                 
17 
Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 of 22 March 2004 laying down certain control 
measures applicable to fishing activities in the area covered by the Convention on the 
conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and repealing Regulations (EEC) 
No 3943/90, (EC) No 66/98 and (EC) No 1721/1999 (OJ L 97, 1.4.2004, p. 16). 
18 
Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in 
certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 1). 
19 
Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
13 December 2011 on certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries 
Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area and amending Council Regulation (EC) 
No 1967/2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery 
resources in the Mediterranean Sea (OJ L 347, 30.12.2011, p. 44). 
20 
Concluded by Council Decision 2006/539/EC of 22 May 2006 on the conclusion, on 
behalf of the European Community of the Convention for the Strengthening of the 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention 
between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica 
(OJ L 224, 
16.8.2006, p. 22). 
 
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– 
(m) ‘ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) 
Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the International Convention for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas21; 
– 
(n) ‘IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) Area of Competence’ is the geographical area 
defined in the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission22; 
– 
(o) NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) areas are the geographical areas 
specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 217/2009 of the European Parliament and of 
the Council23; 
– 
(p) ‘SEAFO (South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) Convention Area’ is the 
geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of 
Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean24; 
– 
(q) ‘SIOFA Agreement Area’ is the geographic area defined in the Southern Indian Ocean 
Fisheries Agreement25; 
                                                 
21 
The Union acceded by Council Decision 86/238/EEC of 9 June 1986 on the accession of 
the Community to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic 
Tunas, as amended by the Protocol annexed to the Final Act of the Conference of 
Plenipotentiaries of the States Parties to the Convention signed in Paris on 10 July 
1984 
(OJ L 162, 18.6.1986, p. 33). 
22 
The Union acceded by Council Decision 95/399/EC of 18 September 1995 on the 
accession of the Community to the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian 
Ocean Tuna Commission 
(OJ L 236, 5.10.1995, p. 24). 
23 
Regulation (EC) No 217/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of 11 March 2009 on the submission of catch and activity statistics by Member States 
fishing in the north-west Atlantic (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 42). 
24 
Concluded by Council Decision 2002/738/EC of 22 July 2002 on the conclusion by the 
European Community of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of 
Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean 
(OJ L 234, 31.8.2002, p. 39). 
25 
The Union acceded by Council Decision 2008/780/EC of 29 September 2008 on the 
conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries 
Agreement (OJ L 268, 9.10.2008, p. 27). 
 
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– 
(r) ‘SPRFMO (South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation) Convention 
Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and 
Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean26; 
– 
(s) ‘WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission) Convention Area’ is the 
geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of 
Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean27; 
– 
(t) ‘high seas of the Bering Sea’ is the geographical area of the high seas of the Bering Sea 
beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea 
of the coastal States of the Bering Sea is measured; 
– 
(u) ‘overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC’ is the geographical area defined by the 
following limits: 
17. longitude 150º W, 
18. longitude 130º W, 
19. latitude 4º S, 
20. latitude 50º S. 
                                                 
26 
The Union acceded by Council Decision 2012/130/EU of 3 October 2011 on the approval, 
on behalf of the European Union, of the Convention on the Conservation and 
Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean 
(OJ L 67, 
6.3.2012, p. 1). 
27 
The Union acceded by Council Decision 2005/75/EC of 26 April 2004 on the accession of 
the Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly 
Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean 
(OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, 
p. 1). 
 
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TITLE II 
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES  
FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS 
Chapter I 
General provisions 
Article 5 
TACs and allocations 
1. 
The TACs for Union fishing vessels in Union waters or certain non-Union waters and the 
allocation of such TACs among Member States, and the conditions functionally linked 
thereto, where appropriate, are set out in Annex I. 
2. 
Union fishing vessels shall be authorised to make catches, within the TACs set out in 
Annex I to this Regulation, in waters falling within the fisheries jurisdiction of the Faroe 
Islands, Greenland and Norway, and the fishing zone around Jan Mayen, subject to the 
condition set out in Article 15 of, and Annex III to, this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) 
2017/240328 and its implementing provisions. 
Article 6 
TACs to be determined by Member States 
1. 
The TACs for certain fish stocks shall be determined by the Member State concerned. 
Those stocks are identified in Annex I. 
                                                 
28 
Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 
2017 on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets, and repealing Council 
Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 (OJ L 347, 28.12.2017, p. 81). 
 
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2. 
The TACs to be determined by a Member State shall: 
•  (a) e consistent with the principles and rules of the CFP, in particular the principle of 
sustainable exploitation of the stock; and 
•  (b) result: 
•  (i) if analytical assessments are available, in the exploitation of the stock 
consistent with maximum sustainable yield from 2019 onwards, with as high a 
probability as possible; or 
•  (ii) if analytical assessments are unavailable or incomplete, in the exploitation 
of the stock consistent with the precautionary approach to fisheries 
management. 
– 
3.  By 15 March 2019, each Member State concerned shall submit the following 
information to the Commission: 
•  (a) the TACs adopted; 
•  (b) the data collected and assessed by the Member State concerned on which the 
TACs adopted are based; 
•  (c) details on how the TACs adopted comply with paragraph 2. 
Article 7 
Conditions for landing catches and by-catches 
1. 
Catches that are not subject to the landing obligation established in Article 15 of 
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall be retained on board or landed only if they: 
•  (a) have been taken by vessels flying the flag of a Member State having a quota and 
that quota has not been exhausted; or 
 
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•  (b) consist of a share in a Union quota which has not been allocated by quota among 
Member States, and that Union quota has not been exhausted. 
2. 
The stocks of non-target species within safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of 
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 are identified in Annex I to this Regulation for the 
purposes of the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quotas 
provided for in that Article. 
Article 8  
Quota exchanges mechanism for TACs for unavoidable by-catches related to the introduction of the 
landing obligation 
1. 
In order to take into account the introduction of the landing obligation and to make quotas 
available to Member States without a quota for certain by-catches, the quota exchange 
mechanism as defined in this Article shall apply to the TACs identified in Annex IA.  
2. 
6% of each quota from the TACs for cod in the Celtic Sea, cod in the West of Scotland, 
whiting in the Irish Sea and plaice in 7h, 7j and 7k, and 3% of each quota from the TAC 
for West of Scotland whiting, allocated to each Member State, shall be made available for 
a pool for quota exchanges, which shall open as of 1 January 2019. Member States without 
quota shall have exclusive access to the quota pool until 31 March 2019. 
3. 
The quantities drawn from the pool may not be exchanged or transferred to the following 
year. Any unused quantities shall be returned to those Member States that have initially 
contributed to the pool for quota exchanges after 31 March 2019. 
4. 
The quotas provided in return shall be preferably taken from a list of TACs identified by 
each Member State contributing to the pool as listed in the Appendix to Annex IA. 
 
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5. 
Those quotas shall be of equivalent commercial value by using a market exchange rate or 
other mutually acceptable exchange rates. In absence of alternatives, the equivalent 
economic value in accordance to the average EU prices of the previous year, as provided 
by EUMOFA, shall be used. 
6. 
In cases where the above mechanism does not allow Member States to cover their 
unavoidable by-catches to a similar extent, Member States shall endeavour to agree on 
quota exchanges pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, ensuring that 
quotas exchanged are of equivalent commercial value. 
Article 9 
Fishing effort limits 
For the periods referred to in Article 1(2)(b), the following fishing effort measures shall apply: 
– 
(a) Annex IIA for the recovery of hake and Norway lobster in ICES divisions 8c and 9a, 
with the exception of the Gulf of Cádiz; 
– 
(b) Annex IIB for the management of the sole stock in ICES division 7e. 
Article 10 
Measures on European seabass fisheries 
1. 
It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels, as well as for any commercial fisheries from 
shore, to fish for European seabass in ICES divisions 4b and 4c, and in ICES subarea 7. It 
shall be prohibited to retain on board, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in 
that area. 
 
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2. 
By derogation from paragraph 1, in January 2019 and from 1 April to 31 December 2019, 
Union fishing vessels in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 7d, 7e, 7f and 7h and in waters within 12 
nautical miles from baselines under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom in ICES 
divisions 7a and 7g may fish for European seabass, and retain on board, tranship, relocate or 
land European seabass caught in that area with the following gears and within the following 
limits: 
(a)  using demersal trawls29, for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 400 kilogrammes per 
two months and 1% of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board 
caught by that vessel in any single day; 
(b)  using seines30, for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 210 kilogrammes per month 
and 1% of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by that 
vessel in any single day; 
(c)  using hooks and lines31, not exceeding 5,5 tonnes per vessel per year; 
(d)  using fixed gillnets32, for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 1,4 tonnes per vessel 
per year. 
The derogations set out in the first subparagraph shall apply to Union fishing vessels that have 
recorded catches of European seabass over the period from 1 July 2015 
to 30 September 2016: in point (c) with recorded catches using hooks and lines, and in point 
(d) with recorded catches using fixed gillnets. In the case of a replacement of a Union fishing 
vessel, Member States may allow the derogation to apply to another fishing vessel provided 
that the number of Union fishing vessels subject to the derogation and their overall fishing 
capacity do not increase. 
                                                 
29 
All types of demersal trawls (OTB, OTT, PTB, TBB, TBN, TBS and TB). 
30 
All types of seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SV, SB and SX). 
31 
All long lines or pole and line or rod and line fisheries (LHP, LHM, LLD, LL, LTL, LX and 
LLS). 
32 
All fixed gillnets and traps (GTR, GNS, FYK, FPN and FIX). 
 
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3. 
The catch limits set in paragraph 2 shall not be transferable between vessels and, where a 
monthly limit applies, from one month to another. For Union fishing vessels using more than 
one gear in a single calendar month, the lowest catch limit set in paragraph 2 for either gear 
shall apply. 
Member States shall report to the Commission all catches of European seabass per type of 
gear not later than 15 days after the end of each month. 
4. 
In recreational fisheries, including from shore, in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 6a, 7a to 7k: 
(a)  from 1 January to 31 March and from 1 November and to 31 December 2019, only 
catch-and-release fishing allowing high rates of survivability for European seabass shall 
be allowed. During that period, it shall be prohibited to retain on board, relocate, 
tranship or land European seabass caught in that area; 
(b)  from 1 April to 31 October 2019, not more than one specimen of European seabass may 
be retained per fisherman per day. 
5. 
In recreational fisheries in ICES divisions 8a and 8b, a maximum of three specimens of 
European seabass may be retained per fisherman per day. 
Article 11 
Measures on European eel fisheries in Union waters of ICES area 
Any targeted, incidental and recreational fishery of European eel shall be prohibited in Union 
waters of ICES area and brackish waters such as estuaries, coastal lagoons and transitional waters 
for a consecutive three-month period to be determined by each Member State between 1 August 
2019 and 29 February 2020. Member States shall communicate the determined period to the 
Commission not later than 1 June 2019. 
 
 
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Article 12 
Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities 
1. 
The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States as set out in this Regulation 
shall be without prejudice to: 
•  (a) exchanges made pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; 
•  (b) deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) 
No 1224/2009; 
•  (c) reallocations made pursuant to Article 10(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008; 
•  (d) additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and 
Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; 
•  (e) quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 
and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; 
•  (f) deductions made pursuant to Articles 105, 106 and 107 of Regulation (EC) 
No 1224/2009; 
•  (g) quota transfers and exchanges pursuant to Article 17 of this Regulation. 
2. 
Stocks which are subject to precautionary or analytical TACs are identified in Annex I to 
this Regulation for the purposes of the year-to-year management of TACs and quotas 
provided for in Regulation (EC) No 847/96. 
3. 
Except where otherwise specified in Annex I to this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation 
(EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to a precautionary TAC and Article 3(2) and 
(3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to an analytical TAC. 
 
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4. 
Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses 
the year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. 
Article 13 
Closed fishing seasons 
1. 
It shall be prohibited to fish or retain on board any of the following species in the 
Porcupine Bank during the period from 1 May to 31 May 2019: cod, megrims, anglerfish, 
haddock, whiting, hake, Norway lobster, plaice, pollack, saithe, skates and rays, common 
sole, tusk, blue ling, ling and picked dogfish. 
– 
For the purposes of this paragraph, the Porcupine Bank shall comprise the 
geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following 
positions: 
Point 
Latitude 
Longitude 

52° 27' N 
12° 19' W 

52° 40' N 
12° 30' W 

52° 47' N 
12° 39,600' W 

52° 47' N 
12° 56' W 

52° 13,5' N 
13° 53,830' W 

51° 22' N 
14° 24' W 

51° 22' N 
14° 03' W 

52° 10' N 
13° 25' W 

52° 32' N 
13° 07,500' W 
10 
52° 43' N 
12° 55' W 
11 
52° 43' N 
12° 43' W 
 
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Point 
Latitude 
Longitude 
12 
52° 38,800' N 
12° 37' W 
13 
52° 27' N 
12° 23' W 
14 
52° 27' N 
12° 19' W 
– 
By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, transit through the 
Porcupine Bank while carrying on board the species referred to in that 
subparagraph, shall be permitted in accordance with Article 50(3), (4) and (5) 
of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
2. 
Commercial fishing for sandeel with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gears with a 
mesh size of less than 16 mm shall be prohibited in ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 
ICES subarea 4 from 1 January to 31 March 2019 and from 1 August to 31 December 2019. 
– 
The prohibition set out in the first subparagraph shall also apply to 
third-country vessels authorised to fish for sandeel and associated by-catches in 
Union waters of ICES subarea 4. 
Article 14 
Prohibitions 
1. 
It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or 
to land the following species: 
•  (a) starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 7d 
and ICES subarea 4; 
•  (b) white shark (Carcharodon carcharías) in all waters; 
 
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•  (c) leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) in Union waters of 
ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of 
ICES subareas 1 and 14; 
•  (d) Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in Union waters of ICES 
division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 
and 14; 
•   (e) basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) in all waters; 
•  (f) kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 
and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; 
•  (g) birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and 
subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; 
•  (h) common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. 
intermedia) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 
and 10; 
•  (i) great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and 
subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; 
•  (j) smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus) in Union waters of ICES division 2a 
and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 
12 and 14; 
•  (k) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of 
ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of 
ICES subareas 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14; 
 
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•  (l) porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in all waters; 
•  (m) the following species of Mobula rays in all waters: 
•  (i)  
devil fish (Mobula mobular), 
•  (ii) 
lesser Guinean devil ray (Mobula rochebrunei), 
•  (iii) 
spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica), 
•  (iv) 
smoothtail mobula (Mobula thurstoni), 
•  (v) 
longhorned mobula (Mobula eregoodootenkee), 
•  (vi) 
Munk’s devil ray (Mobula munkiana), 
•  (vii) 
Chilean devil ray (Mobula tarapacana), 
•  (viii) 
shortfin devil ray (Mobula kuhlii), 
•  (ix) 
lesser devil ray (Mobula hypostoma), 
•  (x)  
reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi), 
•  (xi)  
giant manta ray (Mobula birostris); 
•  (n) the following species of sawfish (Pristidae) in all waters: 
•  (i)  
pointed sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata), 
•  (ii) 
dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata), 
•  (iii) 
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), 
•  (iv) 
largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis), 
•  (v) 
green sawfish (Pristis zijsron); 
 
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•  (o) thornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a; 
•  (p) Norwegian skate (Dipturus nidarosiensis) in Union waters of ICES divisions 6a, 
6b, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h and 7k; 
•  (q) undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6 and 10; 
•  (r) whale shark (Rhincodon typus)  in all waters; 
•  (s) Common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) in the Mediterranean; 
•  (t) white skate (Rostroraja alba) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10; 
•  (u) guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae) in Union waters of ICES subareas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 
9, 10 and 12; 
•  (v) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in Union waters of ICES subareas 2, 3, 4, 5, 
6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, with the exception of avoidance programmes as set out in Annex 
IA; 
•  (x) angel shark (Squatina squatina) in Union waters. 
2. 
When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. 
Specimens shall be promptly released. 
Article 15 
Data transmission 
When, pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Member States submit to 
the Commission data relating to landings of quantities of stocks caught, they shall use the stock 
codes set out in Annex I to this Regulation. 
 
 
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Chapter II 
Fishing authorisations in third-country waters 
Article 16 
Fishing authorisations 
1. 
The maximum number of fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels fishing in waters 
of a third country is set out in Annex III. 
2. 
Where one Member State transfers quota to another Member State (‘swap’) in the fishing 
areas set out in Annex III to this Regulation on the basis of Article 16(8) of Regulation 
(EU) No 1380/2013, the transfer shall include an appropriate transfer of fishing 
authorisations and shall be notified to the Commission. However, the total number of 
fishing authorisations for each fishing area, as set out in Annex III to this Regulation, shall 
not be exceeded. 
 
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Chapter III 
Fishing opportunities in waters of regional fisheries 
management organisations 
[Sections 2-3, 5, 7-10 in this Chapter will be updated after the Annual Meetings of RFMOs] 
SECTION 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Article 17 
Quota transfers and exchanges 
1. 
Where, under the rules of a regional fisheries management organisation (‘RFMO’), quota 
transfers or exchanges between the Contracting Parties to the RFMO are permitted, a 
Member State (‘the Member State concerned’) may discuss with a Contracting Party to 
the RFMO and, as appropriate, establish a possible outline of an intended quota transfer 
or exchange. 
2. 
Upon notification to the Commission by the Member State concerned, the Commission 
may endorse the outline of the intended quota transfer or exchange that the Member State 
has discussed with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. Thereupon, the 
Commission shall express, without undue delay, the consent to be bound by such quota 
transfer or exchange with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. The Commission 
shall notify the secretariat of the RFMO of the agreed quota transfer or exchange in 
accordance with the rules of that organisation. 
3. 
The Commission shall inform the Member States of the agreed quota transfer or exchange. 
 
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4. 
The fishing opportunities received from or transferred to the relevant Contracting Party to 
the RFMO under the quota transfer or exchange shall be deemed to be quotas allocated to, 
or deducted from, the allocation of the Member State concerned, as of the moment that the 
quota transfer or exchange takes effect in accordance with the terms of the agreement 
reached with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO or in accordance with the rules 
of the relevant RFMO, as appropriate. Such allocation shall not change the existing 
distribution key for the purpose of allocating fishing opportunities among Member States 
in accordance with the principle of relative stability of fishing activities. 
5. 
This Article shall apply until 31 January 2020 for quota transfers from 
a RFMO Contracting Party to the Union and their subsequent allocation to Member States. 
SECTION 2 
ICCAT CONVENTION AREA 
Article 18 
Fishing, farming and fattening capacity limitations 
1. 
The number of Union bait boats and trolling boats authorised to fish actively for bluefin 
tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Eastern Atlantic shall be limited as set 
out in point 1 of Annex IV. 
2. 
The number of Union coastal artisanal fishing vessels authorised to fish actively for bluefin 
tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Mediterranean shall be limited as set out 
in point 2 of Annex IV. 
3. 
The number of Union fishing vessels fishing for bluefin tuna in the Adriatic Sea for 
farming purposes authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm 
and 30 kg/115 cm shall be limited as set out in point 3 of Annex IV. 
 
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4. 
The number and total capacity in gross tonnage of fishing vessels authorised to fish for, 
retain on board, tranship, transport, or land bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and 
Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 4 of Annex IV. 
5. 
The number of traps engaged in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna 
fishery shall be limited as set out in point 5 of Annex IV. 
6. 
The bluefin tuna farming capacity, the fattening capacity and the maximum input of wild 
caught bluefin tuna allocated to the farms in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall 
be limited as set out in point 6 of Annex IV. 
7. 
The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for northern albacore as 
a target species in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 shall be 
limited as set out in point 7 of Annex IV to this Regulation. 
8. 
The maximum number of Union fishing vessels of at least 20 metres length that fish for 
bigeye tuna in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be limited as set out in point 8 of Annex 
IV. 
Article 19 
Recreational fisheries 
Where appropriate, Member States shall allocate a specific share for recreational fisheries from 
their allocated quotas as set out in Annex ID. 
Article 20 
Sharks 
1. 
Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of bigeye thresher 
sharks (Alopias superciliosus) in any fishery shall be prohibited. 
 
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2. 
It shall be prohibited to undertake a directed fishery for species of thresher sharks of 
the Alopias genus. 
3. 
Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of hammerhead 
sharks of the Sphyrnidae family (except for the Sphyrna tiburo) in association with 
fisheries in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be prohibited. 
4. 
Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip 
sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) taken in any fishery shall be prohibited. 
5. 
Retaining on board silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) taken in any fishery shall 
be prohibited. 
 
SECTION 3 
CCAMLR CONVENTION AREA 
Article 21 
Prohibitions and catch limitations 
1. 
Direct fishing of the species set out in Part A of Annex V, shall be prohibited in the zones 
and during the periods set out therein. 
2. 
For exploratory fisheries, the TACs and by-catch limits set out in Part B of Annex V, shall 
apply in the subareas set out therein. 
 
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Article 22 
Exploratory fisheries 
1. 
Member States may participate in longline exploratory fisheries for toothfish (Dissostichus 
spp.) in FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a 
outside areas of national jurisdiction in 2019. If a Member State intends to participate in 
such fisheries, it shall notify the CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with Articles 7 
and 7a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 and in any case no later than 1 June 2019. 
2. 
With regard to FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a, 
TACs and by-catch limits per subarea and division, and their distribution among Small 
Scale Research Units (SSRUs) within each of them, shall be as set out in Part B of 
Annex V. Fishing in any SSRU shall cease when the reported catch reaches the specified 
TAC, and the SSRU shall be closed to fishing for the remainder of the season. 
3. 
Fishing shall take place over as large a geographical and bathymetric range as possible to 
obtain the information necessary to determine fishery potential and to avoid 
over-concentration of catch and fishing effort. However, fishing in FAO subareas 88.1 
and 88.2 as well as in divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a shall be prohibited in depths less 
than 550 metres. 
Article 23 
Krill fishery during the 2019/2020 fishing season 
1. 
If a Member State intends to fish for krill (Euphausia superba) in the CCAMLR 
Convention Area during the 2019/2020 fishing season, it shall notify the Commission, no 
later than 1 May 2019, of its intention to fish for krill, using the format laid down in Part C 
of Annex V to this Regulation. On the basis of the information provided by 
Member States, the Commission shall submit the notifications to the CCAMLR Secretariat 
no later than 30 May 2019. 
 
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2. 
The notification referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall include the information 
provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 for each vessel to be authorised 
by the Member State to participate in the krill fishery. 
3. 
A Member State intending to fish for krill in the CCAMLR Convention Area shall notify 
its intention to do so only in respect of authorised vessels either flying its flag at the time of 
the notification or flying the flag of another CCAMLR member that are expected, at the 
time the fishery takes place, to be flying the flag of that Member State. 
4. 
Member States shall be entitled to authorise participation in a krill fishery by vessels other 
than those notified to CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of 
this Article, if an authorised vessel is prevented from participation due to legitimate 
operational reasons or force majeure. In such circumstances the Member States concerned 
shall immediately inform the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission, providing: 
•  (a) full details of the intended replacement vessel(s), including information provided 
for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004; 
•  (b) a comprehensive account of the reasons justifying the replacement and any 
relevant supporting evidence or references. 
5. 
Member States shall not authorise a vessel on any CCAMLR illegal, unreported and 
unregulated (IUU) Vessel List to participate in krill fisheries. 
 
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SECTION 4 
IOTC AREA OF COMPETENCE 
Article 24 
Limitation of fishing capacity of vessels fishing in the IOTC Area of Competence 
1. 
The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for tropical tunas in the IOTC Area 
of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in 
point 1 of Annex VI. 
2. 
The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and 
albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding 
capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 2 of Annex VI. 
3. 
Member States may re-allocate vessels assigned to one of the two fisheries referred to in 
paragraphs 1 and 2 to the other fishery, provided that they can demonstrate to the 
Commission that this change does not lead to an increase of fishing effort on the fish 
stocks involved. 
4. 
Member States shall ensure that, where there is a proposed transfer of capacity to their 
fleet, vessels to be transferred are on the IOTC Record of Vessels or on the record of 
vessels of other tuna RFMOs. Furthermore, no vessels featuring on the list of vessels 
engaged in IUU fishing activities of any RFMO may be transferred. 
5. 
Member States may only increase their fishing capacity beyond the ceilings referred to in 
paragraphs 1 and 2 within the limits set out in the development plans submitted to 
the IOTC. 
 
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Article 25 
Drifting FADs and supply vessels 
1. 
A purse-seine vessel shall not deploy more than 350 active drifting FADs at any time. 
2. 
The number of supply vessels shall be no more than one supply vessel in support of not 
less than two purse-seine vessels, all flying the flag of the same Member State. This 
provision shall not apply to Member States using only one supply vessel. 
3. 
A single purse seine vessel shall not be supported by more than one single supply vessel of 
the same flag State at any time. 
4. 
As from 1 January 2018, the Union shall not register new or additional supply vessel in the 
IOTC Record of Authorised Vessels. 
Article 26 
Sharks 
1. 
Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of thresher sharks of 
all the species of the Alopiidae family in any fishery shall be prohibited. 
2. 
Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip 
sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in any fishery shall be prohibited, except for vessels 
under 24 metres overall length engaged solely in fishing operations within the Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Member State whose flag they fly, and provided that their 
catch is destined solely for local consumption. 
3. 
When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not be harmed. 
Specimens shall be promptly released. 
 
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SECTION 5 
SPRFMO CONVENTION AREA 
Article 27 
Pelagic fisheries 
1. 
Only Member States having actively exercised pelagic fisheries activities in the SPRFMO 
Convention Area in 2007, 2008 or 2009 may fish for pelagic stocks in that area in 
accordance with the TACs set out in Annex IJ. 
2. 
Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall limit the total level of gross tonnage of 
vessels flying their flag and fishing for pelagic stocks in 2019 to the total Union level 
of 78 600 gross tonnage in that area. 
3. 
The fishing opportunities set out in Annex IJ may only be used under the condition that 
Member States send to the Commission the list of vessels actively fishing or engaged in 
transhipment in the SPRFMO Convention Area, records from vessel monitoring systems, 
monthly catch reports and, where available, port calls, at the latest by the fifth day of the 
following month, with the aim of communicating that information to the SPRFMO 
Secretariat. 
Article 28 
Bottom fisheries 
1. 
Member States shall limit their bottom fishing catch or effort in 2019 in the SPRFMO 
Convention Area to those parts of the Convention Area where bottom fishing has occurred 
from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 and to a level that does not exceed the annual 
average levels of catches or effort parameters in that period. They may fish beyond the 
track record only if SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish beyond the track record. 
 
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2. 
Member States without a track record in bottom fishing catch or effort in the SPRFMO 
Convention Area over the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 shall not fish, 
unless SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish without the track record. 
SECTION 6 
IATTC CONVENTION AREA 
Article 29 
Purse-seine fisheries 
1. 
Fishing by purse-seine vessels for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna 
(Thunnus obesus) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) shall be prohibited: 
•  (a) from 29 July 00:00 hours to 8 October 2019 24:00 hours or 
from 9 November 2019 00:00 hours to 19 January 2020 24:00 hours in the area 
defined by the following limits: 
– 
the Pacific coastlines of the Americas, 
1.  longitude 150º W, 
2.  latitude 40º N, 
3.  latitude 40º S; 
•  (b) from 9 October 2019 00:00 hours to 8 November 2019 24:00 hours in the area 
defined by the following limits: 
4.  longitude 96º W, 
5.  longitude 110º W, 
6.  latitude 4º N, 
7.  latitude 3º S. 
 
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2. 
For each of their vessels, Member States concerned shall notify to the Commission 
before 1 April 2019 the selected period of closure referred to in paragraph 1. All 
purse-seine vessels of the Member States concerned shall stop purse-seine fishing in the 
areas defined in paragraph 1 during the selected period. 
3. 
Purse-seine vessels fishing for tuna in the IATTC Convention Area shall retain on board 
and then land or tranship all yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna caught. 
4. 
Paragraph 3 shall not apply in the following cases: 
•  (a) where the fish is considered unfit for human consumption for reasons other than 
size; or 
•  (b) during the final set of a trip when there may be insufficient well space remaining 
to accommodate all the tuna caught in that set. 
Article 30 
Drifting FADs 
1. 
A purse-seine vessel shall not have more than 450 FADs active at any time in the IATTC 
Convention Area. A FAD shall be considered active when it is deployed at sea, starts 
transmitting its location and is being tracked by the vessel, its owner or operator. A FAD 
shall only be activated on board a purse-seine vessel. 
2. 
A purse-seine vessel may not deploy FADs during 15 days before the start of the selected 
closure period set out in Article 29(1)(a) and it shall recover the same number of FADs as 
initially deployed within 15 days prior to the start of the closure period. 
 
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3. 
Member States shall report to the Commission, on a monthly basis, daily information on all 
active FADs as required by the IATTC. The reports shall be submitted with a delay of at 
least 60 days, but not longer than 75 days. The Commission shall transmit that information 
to the IATTC Secretariat without delay. 
Article 31 
Catch limits for bigeye tuna in long-line fisheries 
The total annual catches of bigeye tuna by longline vessels of each Member State in the IATTC 
Convention Area shall not exceed 500 metric tons or their respective yearly catches of bigeye tuna 
in 2001. 
Article 32 
Prohibition of fishing for oceanic whitetip sharks 
1. 
It shall be prohibited to fish for oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in the 
IATTC Convention Area, and to retain on board, to tranship, to store, to offer to sell, to sell 
or to land any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks caught in that area. 
2. 
When accidentally caught, the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. 
Specimens shall be promptly released by vessel operators. 
3. 
Vessel operators shall: 
•  (a) record the number of releases with indication of status (dead or alive); 
•  (b) report the information specified in point (a) to the Member State of which they are 
nationals. Member States shall transmit the information collected during the previous 
year to the Commission by 31 January. 
 
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Article 33 
Prohibition of fishing for Mobulid rays 
It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels in the IATTC Convention Area to fish for, to retain 
on board, to tranship, to land, to store, to offer to sell or to sell any part or whole carcass of Mobulid 
rays (family Mobulidae, which includes the genera Manta and Mobula). As soon as Union fishing 
vessels notice that Mobulid rays have been caught, Union fishing vessels shall, wherever possible, 
promptly release them alive and unharmed. 
SECTION 7 
SEAFO CONVENTION AREA 
Article 34 
Prohibition of fishing for deep water sharks 
Directed fishing for the following deep water sharks in the SEAFO Convention Area shall 
be prohibited: 
1.  ghost catshark (Apristurus manis), 
2.  blurred smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus bigelowi), 
3.  shorttail lanternshark (Etmopterus brachyurus), 
4.  great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps), 
5.  smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus), 
6.  skates (Rajidae), 
7.  velvet dogfish (Scymnodon squamulosus), 
8.  deep-sea sharks of the Selachimorpha super-order, 
9.  picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias). 
 
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SECTION 8 
WCPFC CONVENTION AREA 
Article 35 
Conditions for bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna  
and south Pacific albacore fisheries 
1. 
Member States shall ensure that the total number of fishing days allocated to purse-seine 
vessels fishing for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and 
skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located in 
the high seas between 20º N and 20º S does not exceed 403 days. 
2. 
Union fishing vessels shall not target south Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the 
WCPFC Convention Area south of 20° S. 
3. 
Member States shall ensure that catches of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) by longliners do 
not exceed 2 000 tonnes. 
Article 36 
Management of fishing with FADs 
1. 
In the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located between 20º N and 20º S, it shall be 
prohibited for purse-seine vessels to deploy, service or set on FADs between 00:00 hours 
of 1 July 2019 and 24:00 hours of 30 September 2019. 
2. 
In addition to the prohibition set in paragraph 1, it shall be prohibited to set on FADs on 
the high seas of the WCPFC Convention Area, between 20º N and 20º S, for an additional 
two months: either from 00:00 hours of 1 April 2019 to 24:00 hours of 31 May 2019, or 
from 00:00 hours of 1 November 2019 to 24:00 hours of 31 December 2019. The choice 
for the additional two months shall be notified to the Commission before 31 January 2019. 
 
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3. 
Member States shall ensure that each of its purse-seine vessels have deployed at sea, at any 
time, no more than 350 FADs with activated instrumented buoys. The buoy shall be 
activated exclusively onboard a vessel. 
4. 
All purse-seine vessels fishing in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area referred to in 
paragraph 1 shall retain onboard and land or tranship all bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack 
tuna caught. 
5. 
Paragraph 4 shall not apply in the following cases: 
•  (a) in the final set of a trip, if the vessel has insufficient well space left to 
accommodate all fish; 
•  (b) where the fish is unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or 
•  (c) when a serious malfunction of freezer equipment occurs. 
Article 37 
Limitations to the number of Union fishing vessels 
 authorised to fish for swordfish 
The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in 
areas south of 20º S of the WCPFC Convention Area shall be as set out in Annex VII. 
Article 38 
Catch limits for swordfish in long-line fisheries south of 20°S 
Member States shall ensure that catches of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) south of 20°S by long-liners 
do not exceed the limit set out in Annex IH. Member States shall also ensure that there is no shift of 
the fishing effort for swordfish to the area north of the 20°S, as a result of that measure. 
 
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Article 39 
Silky sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks 
1. 
Retaining on board, transhipping, storing or landing any part or whole carcass of the 
following species in the WCPFC Convention Area shall be prohibited: 
•  (a) silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis), 
•  (b) oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus). 
2. 
When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. 
Specimens shall be promptly released. 
Article 40 
Overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC 
1. 
Vessels listed exclusively in the WCPFC register shall apply the measures set out in this 
Section when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC as defined in 
Article 4(u). 
2. 
Vessels listed in both the WCPFC register and the IATTC register and vessels listed 
exclusively in the IATTC register shall apply the measures set out in Article 29(1)(a), (2), 
(3) and (4) and Articles 30, 31 and 32 when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC 
and WCPFC as defined in Article 4(u). 
 
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SECTION 9 
GFCM AGREEMENT AREA 
Article 41 
Small pelagic stocks in geographical subareas 17 and 18 
1. 
Catches of small pelagic stocks by Union fishing vessels in the geographical subareas 17 
and 18 shall not exceed the levels as set out in Annex IL to this Regulation.  
2. 
Union fishing vessels targeting small pelagic stocks in geographical subareas 17 and 18 
shall not exceed 180 fishing days per year. Within that total of 180 fishing days, a 
maximum of 144 fishing days targeting sardine and a maximum of 144 fishing days 
targeting anchovy shall apply. 
Article 42 
European eel in the Mediterranean Sea (GSAs 1 to 27) 
1. 
All activities by Union vessels and other Union fishing activities catching European eel, 
namely targeted, incidental and recreational fisheries, shall be subject to the provisions of this 
Article.  
2. 
This Article shall apply to the Mediterranean Sea and to brackish waters such as estuaries, 
coastal lagoons and transitional waters. 
3. 
It shall be prohibited to fish for European eel in EU and international waters of the 
Mediterranean Sea, for a consecutive three-month period to be determined by each Member 
State. The fishing closure period shall be consistent with the conservation objectives set out in 
Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007, with national management plans in place and with the 
temporal migration patterns of European eel in the Member States concerned. Member States 
shall communicate the determined period to the Commission no later than one month before 
the entry into force of the closure and in any case no later than 31 January 2019. 
 
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SECTION 10 
BERING SEA 
Article 43 
Prohibition on fishing in the high seas of the Bering Sea 
Fishing for pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the high seas of the Bering Sea shall 
be prohibited. 
SECTION 11 
SIOFA 
Article 44  
Interim bottom fishing measures 
1. Member States whose vessels have fished for more than 40 days in any given year in the SIOFA 
Agreement Area up to 2016 shall ensure that fishing vessels flying their flag limit their annual 
bottom fishing effort and/or catch to its average annual level and that fishing activities take place 
within the area assessed in their impact assessment submitted to SIOFA.  
2. Member States whose vessels have not fished for more than 40 days in any given single year in 
the SIOFA Agreement Area up to 2016 shall ensure that vessels flying its flag limit their bottom 
fishing effort and/or catch, and spatial distribution, in accordance with their historical fishing 
record. 
 
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TITLE III 
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES  
FOR THIRD-COUNTRY VESSELS IN UNION WATERS 
Article 45 
Fishing vessels flying the flag of Norway and fishing vessels registered in the Faroe Islands  
Fishing vessels flying the flag of Norway and fishing vessels registered in the Faroe Islands shall be 
authorised to make catches in Union waters within the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation 
and shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Chapter III of 
Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008. 
Article 46 
Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela  
Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this 
Regulation and in Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008.  
Article 47 
Fishing authorisations 
The maximum number of fishing authorisations for third-country vessels fishing in Union waters 
shall be as set out in Annex VIII. 
Article 48 
Conditions for landing catches and by-catches 
The conditions specified in Article 7 shall apply to catches and by-catches of third-country vessels 
fishing under the authorisations specified in Article 45. 
 
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Article 49 
Closed fishing seasons 
Third-country vessels authorised to fish for sandeel and associated by-catches in Union waters of 
ICES subarea 4 shall not fish for sandeel in that area with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed 
gears with a mesh size of less than 16 mm from 1 January to 31 March 2019 and from 1 August 
to 31 December 2019. 
Article 50 
Prohibitions 
1. 
It shall be prohibited for third-country vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or 
to land the following species whenever they are found in Union waters: 
•  (a) starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 7d 
and ICES subarea 4; 
•  (b) the following species of sawfish in Union waters: 
•  (i)  
pointed sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata), 
•  (ii) 
dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata), 
•  (iii) 
smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), 
•  (iv) 
largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis), 
•  (v) 
green sawfish (Pristis zijsron); 
•  (c) basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and white shark (Carcharodon carcharias
in Union waters; 
 
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•  (d) common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. 
intermedia) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 
and 10; 
•  (e) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of 
ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14; 
•  (f) smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus) in Union waters of ICES division 2a 
and ICES subareas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14; 
•  (g) kitefin shark (Dalatias licha), birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea), leafscale gulper 
shark (Centrophorus squamosus), great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) and 
Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in Union waters of ICES division 2a 
and ICES subareas 1, 4 and 14; 
•  (h) porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in Union waters; 
•  (i) the following species of Mobula rays in Union waters: 
•  (i)  
devil fish (Mobula mobular), 
•  (ii) 
lesser Guinean devil ray (Mobula rochebrunei), 
•  (iii) 
spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica), 
•  (iv) 
smoothtail mobula (Mobula thurstoni), 
•  (v) 
longhorned mobula (Mobula eregoodootenkee), 
•  (vi) 
Munk’s devil ray (Mobula munkiana), 
•  (vii) 
Chilean devil ray (Mobula tarapacana), 
•  (viii) 
shortfin devil ray (Mobula kuhlii), 
 
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•  (ix) 
lesser devil ray (Mobula hypostoma), 
•  (x) 
reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi), 
•  (xi) 
giant manta ray (Mobula birostris); 
•  (j) hornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a; 
•  (k) Norwegian skate (Dipturus nidarosiensis) in Union waters of ICES divisions 6a, 
6b, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h and 7k; 
•  (l) undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6, 9 and 10 and 
white skate (Rostroraja alba) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10; 
•  (m) guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae) in Union waters of ICES subareas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 
8, 9, 10 and 12; 
•  (n) common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) in the Mediterranean; 
•  (o) whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in all waters; 
•  (p) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in Union waters of ICES subareas 2, 3, 4, 5, 
6, 7, 8, 9 and 10; 
•  (q) angel shark (Squatina squatina) in Union waters. 
2. 
When accidentally caught, the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. 
Specimens shall be promptly released. 
 
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TITLE IV 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
Article 51 
Committee procedure 
1. 
The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture 
established by Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. That committee shall be a committee 
within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 
2. 
Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 
shall apply. 
Article 52 
Transitional provision 
Article 10, Article 12(2), Articles 14, 20, 21, 26, 32, 33, 34, 39, 42, 43 and 50 shall continue to 
apply, mutatis mutandis, in 2020 until the entry into force of the Regulation fixing the fishing 
opportunities for 2020. 
Article 53 
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
It shall apply from 1 January 2019. 
 
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However, Article 9 shall apply from 1 February 2019. The provisions on fishing opportunities set 
out in Articles 21, 22 and 23 and Annexes IE and V for certain stocks in the CCAMLR Convention 
Area shall apply from 1 December 2018. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 
 
 
 
 
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