CHAPTER II

OBJECTIVES, PRIORITIES, PROCEDURES AND BENCHMARKS

Objectives
Article 3
1
The specific control and inspection programme shall ensure the uniform and effective implementation of conservation and control measures applicable to stocks referred to in Article 1.
2
Control and inspection activities carried out under the specific control and inspection programme shall in particular aim at ensuring compliance with the following provisions:
a
fishing opportunities management and any specific conditions associated therewith, including the monitoring of quota uptake and effort regime in areas referred to in Article 1;
b
reporting obligations applicable to fishing activities in Western Waters, in particular the reliability of the information recorded and reported;
c
provisions on the high grading ban;
d
the special rules for weighing of certain pelagic species provided for in Articles 78 through 89 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.

Priorities
Article 4
1
Member States concerned shall carry out control and inspection activities with respect to fishing activities by fishing vessels and fishing related activities by other operators on the basis of a risk management strategy, in conformity with Article 4, point (18), of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Article 98 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.
2
Each fishing vessel, group of fishing vessels, fishing gear category, operator, and/or fishing related activity, for each stock referred to in Article 1, shall be subject to control and inspections according to the level of priority attributed pursuant to paragraph 3.
3
Each Member State concerned shall attribute the level of priority on the basis of the results of the risk assessment carried out in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5.

Procedures for risk assessment
Article 5
1
This Article shall apply to Member States concerned and, for the sole purposes of application of paragraph 4, to all other Member States.
2
Member States shall assess risks with regard to the stocks and area(s) covered, on the basis of the table set out in Annex I.
3
The risk assessment by each Member State shall consider, on the basis of past experience and using all available and relevant information, how likely a non-compliance is to happen and, if it were to happen, the potential consequence(s). By combining these elements, each Member State shall estimate a level of risk (‘very low’, ‘low’, ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’) for each category for inspection referred to in Article 4(2).
4
In case where a fishing vessel flying the flag of a Member State which is not a Member State concerned, or a third country fishing vessel, operates in the area(s) referred to in Article 1, it shall be attributed a level of risk in accordance with paragraph 3. In the absence of information and unless its flag authorities provide, in the framework of Article 9, the results of their own risk assessment performed according to Article 4(2) and to paragraph 3 leading to a different risk level, it shall be considered as a ‘very high’ risk level fishing vessel.

Risk management strategy
Article 6
1
On the basis of its risk assessment, each Member State concerned shall define a risk management strategy focused on ensuring compliance. Such strategy shall encompass the identification, description and allocation of appropriate cost-effective control instruments and inspection means, in relation to the nature and the estimated level of each risk, and the achievement of target benchmarks.
2
The risk management strategy referred to in paragraph 1 shall be coordinated at regional level through a joint deployment plan as defined in Article 2(c) of Regulation (EC) No 768/2005.

Relation with joint deployment plans procedures
Article 7
1
In the framework of a joint deployment plan, where applicable, each Member State concerned shall communicate to the EFCA the results of its risk assessment carried out in accordance with Article 5(3) and, in particular, a list of estimated levels of risk with corresponding targets for inspection.
2
Where appropriate, the risk levels and targets lists referred to in paragraph 1 shall be updated by using information collected during joint inspection and surveillance activities. The EFCA shall be informed immediately following completion of each update.
3
The EFCA shall use information received from Member States concerned to coordinate the risk management strategy at regional level, in accordance with Article 6(2).

Target benchmarks
Article 8
1
Without prejudice to target benchmarks defined in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, the target benchmarks at Union level for ‘high’ and ‘very high’ risk level fishing vessels and/or other operators are set out in Annex II.
2
The target benchmarks for ‘very low’, ‘low’, and ‘medium’ risk level fishing vessels and/or other operators shall be determined by Member States concerned through the national control action programmes referred to in Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and the national measures referred to in Article 95(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
3
By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States may apply alternatively different target benchmarks, expressed in terms of improved compliance levels, provided that:
a
a detailed analysis of the fishing activities or fishing related activities and enforcement related issues justifies the need for setting target benchmarks in the form of improved compliance levels;
b
the benchmarks expressed in terms of improved compliance levels are notified to the Commission, and this latter does not object to them within 90 days, are not discriminatory, and do not affect objectives, priorities and risk-based procedures defined by the specific control and inspection programme.
4
All target benchmarks shall be assessed annually on the basis of the evaluation reports referred to in Article 13(1) and, where appropriate, be revised accordingly in the framework of the evaluation referred to in Article 13(4).
5
Where applicable, a joint deployment plan shall give effect to target benchmarks referred to in this Article.