PURPOSE: to transpose into Union law the amendments to the conservation and enforcement measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) at its annual meetings in 2006, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
BACKGROUND: the Union has been a Contracting Party to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (the ‘ICCAT Convention’) since 14 November 1997.
The ICCAT Convention establishes a framework for regional cooperation on the conservation and management of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas through the creation of ICCAT. ICCAT has the authority to adopt decisions (recommendations) on the conservation and management of fisheries under its purview, which are binding on the contracting parties.
CONTENT: this proposal concerns a number of amendments following ICCAT recommendations adopted in 2006, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 which need to be transposed into Union law.
The proposal amends Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 taking into account the most recent ICCAT recommendations on the following measures which are not yet transposed into Union law: measures on tropical tunas, northern and southern albacore, sailfish, blue and white marlin, billfish data reporting, shortfin mako sharks, as well as health and safety of observers in ICCAT regional observer programmes, responsibilities of scientific observers and updating the list of ICCAT species.
In addition, the proposal foresees amending the Regulation on the Multi-annual plan for the Bluefin Tuna with the Member States declaration on annual carry-over and certain caging provisions, as well as annual carry-over of bigeye tuna.
It is also proposed to amend the power of the Commission to amend Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 in line with subsequent amendments adopted by ICCAT.