Regulation 2023/1324 - Amendment of Regulation (EU) 2022/109 fixing for 2022 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, and Regulation (EU) 2023/194 fixing for 2023 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, as well as fixing for 2023 and 2024 such fishing opportunities for certain deep-sea fish stocks - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 166/50

Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194 (1) fixes for 2023 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters. The total allowable catches (TACs) and measures functionally linked to the TACs set by Regulation (EU) 2023/194 should be amended to take into account the publication of scientific advice as well as the outcomes of consultations with third countries.

Regulation (EU) 2023/194 sets at zero the TAC for anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) subareas 9 and 10 and Union waters of Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries (CECAF) division 34.1.1 for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, pending the publication by ICES of its scientific advice for that stock for that period. In order to allow fishing to continue until the definitive TAC for that stock is set on the basis of that scientific advice, a provisional TAC at the level of 4 564 tonnes for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 September 2023 should be established. That level corresponds to the catches of that stock in the third quarter of 2022.

On 12 May 2023, the Union, the United Kingdom and Norway held consultations on the level of the fishing opportunities for sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in ICES subarea 4 and division 3a for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, as well as on the level of the TACs for sprat for that period in Union and United Kingdom waters of ICES subarea 4 and division 2a and Union and Norwegian waters of ICES division 3a. Those consultations were conducted on the basis of the Union position endorsed by the Council on 4 May 2023. Those TACs should therefore be set at the levels agreed with the United Kingdom and Norway.

On 4 May 2023, the Union and the United Kingdom held consultations on the level of the TAC for sprat in Union and United Kingdom waters of ICES divisions 7d and 7e for the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. Those consultations were conducted pursuant to Article 498(2), (4) and (6) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (2) and on the basis of the Union position endorsed by the Council on 27 April 2023. The outcome of those consultations was documented in a Written Record. That TAC should therefore be set at the level agreed with the United Kingdom.

Given that, in relation to several stocks, either their biomass is below the limit biomass reference point (‘Blim’) or ICES does not define conservation reference points but recommends zero catches or suspending the targeted fishery, the year-to-year flexibility pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 (3) should be prohibited in 2023.

Codes for several conditions regarding Norwegian quotas under TACs included in Part B of Annex IA to Regulation (EU) 2023/194, establishing in what areas Norway may fish quantities available to it, are missing or incorrect. Annex IA to that Regulation should...