Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1970 of 27 October 2017 fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/127

This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2018.

1 This Regulation shall apply to Union fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea.

2 This Regulation shall also apply to recreational fisheries where they are expressly referred to in the relevant provisions.

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: (1) ‘subdivision’ means an ICES subdivision of the Baltic Sea as defined in Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 ; (2) ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means the quantity of each stock that can be caught over the period of a year; (3) ‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country; (4) ‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources such as for recreation, tourism or sport.

The TACs, the quotas and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in the Annex.

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) additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (d) quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or transferred under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (e) deductions made pursuant to Articles 105 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

1 Catches of species which are subject to catch limits and which have been caught in fisheries specified in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 are subject to the landing obligation, as established in that Article.

2 The stocks of non-target species within the safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 are identified in the Annex to this Regulation for the purpose of the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quota provided for in that Article.

1 In recreational fisheries, no more than five specimens of cod may be retained per fisherman per day in subdivisions 22-24.

2 By way of derogation from paragraph 1, no more than three specimens of cod may be retained per fisherman per day in subdivisions 22-24 in the period from 1 February 2018 to 31 March 2018.

3 Paragraphs 1 and 2 are without prejudice to more stringent national measures.

When, pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Member States send data relating to quantities of stocks caught or landed to the Commission, they shall use the stock codes set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

1 Except where specified otherwise in the Annex to this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to precautionary TACs and Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to an analytical TAC.

2 Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 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.

In Annex IA to Regulation (EU) 2017/127, the fishing opportunities table for Norway pout and associated by-catches in 3a, and Union waters of 2a and 4 is replaced by the following: ‘Species: Norway pout and associated by-catches Trisopterus esmarkii Zone: 3a; Union waters of 2a and 4 (NOP/2A3A4.) Year20172018Denmark14181954949Germany2711The Netherlands10440Union14195055000Norway25000Faroe Islands9300TAC238981Not relevant Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply. Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.

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 2018, with the exception of Article 10 which shall apply from 1 November 2017.