Collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy

PURPOSE: to improve the rules for the collection of basic fisheries data and use for scientific advice.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 concerning the establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy.

CONTENT: this Regulation lays down rules on: (i) the collection and management, in the framework of multiannual programmes, of biological, technical, environmental and socio-economic data concerning the fisheries sector; (ii) the use of data concerning the fisheries sector in the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for the purpose of scientific analysis. The Regulation also lays down provisions for the improvement of the scientific advice needed for the implementation of the CFP.

Community programme: a multi-annual Community programme for the collection, management and use of biological, technical, environmental, and socio-economic data concerning:

• commercial fisheries carried out by Community fishing vessels, (including commercial fisheries for eels and salmon in inland waters) and outside Community waters;
• recreational fisheries carried out within Community waters, including recreational fisheries for eels and salmon in inland waters;
• aquaculture activities related to marine species, including eels and salmon, carried out within the Member States’ and the Community waters;
• industries processing fisheries products.

The Community programmes shall be drawn up for three-year periods. The first period shall cover the years 2009 and 2010.

National programmes: without prejudice to their current data collection obligations under Community law, Member States shall collect primary biological, technical, environmental and socioeconomic data within the framework of a multi-annual national programme drawn up in accordance with the Community programme. The national programme shall include, in particular: (a) multi-annual sampling programmes; (b) a scheme for at-sea monitoring of commercial and recreational fisheries, where necessary; (c) a scheme for research surveys-at-sea; (d) a scheme for management and use of the data for the purposes of scientific analyses.

Coordination and cooperation: Member States shall coordinate their national programmes with other Member States in the same marine region and make every effort to coordinate their actions with third countries having sovereignty or jurisdiction over waters in the same marine region.

Community financial assistance: Community financial assistance for national programmes shall be implemented in accordance with the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 861/2006, establishing Community financial measures for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy in the area of the Law of the Sea. The Commission may, after having afforded the Member States concerned an opportunity of being heard, suspend and/or recover Community financial assistance in certain circumstances.

Management of and access to data: Member States are required to ensure that primary data collected under national programmes are safely stored in computerised databases, and take all necessary measures to ensure that they are treated as confidential. They must ensure that the Commission has access to the national computerised databases.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 12/03/2008.