PURPOSE: to establish a multi-annual plan for the sustainable exploitation of the stock of sole in the Western Channel.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2007.
CONTENT: this Regulation sets up a method for the establishment of the annual total allowable catches (TACs) and a system whereby fishing efforts on sole stocks are restricted to levels at which the TACs are unlikely to be exceeded. It also fixes an objective of 0.27 of fishing mortality rate on appropriate age-groups of sole, in accordance with the advice provided by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, with a view to bringing the Western Channel sole stock within safe biological limits.
Control measures in addition to those laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy, need to be included in order to ensure compliance with the measures laid down in this Regulation.
During the first stage in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, the multi-annual plan shall be deemed to be a recovery plan and subsequently a management plan within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 31/05/2007.