Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishes rules for the control of all activities covered by the common fisheries policy carried out on the territory of Member States or in Union waters or by Union fishing vessels or, without prejudice to the primary responsibility of the flag Member State, by nationals of Member States, and provides, in particular, that Member States shall ensure that control, inspection and enforcement are carried out on a non-discriminatory basis as regards sectors, vessels or persons, and on the basis of risk management.

In accordance with Article 95 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, the Commission may, in concert with the Member States concerned, adopt specific control and inspection programmes for specific fisheries and sea basins.

Specific control and inspection programmes have been adopted by the Commission for several sea basins and have been implemented by Members States through joint deployment plans, with the European Fisheries Control Agency (‘EFCA’) assuring operational coordination of inspection activities in this frame.

In order to simplify the adoption and ensure consistent implementation of the specific control and inspection programmes at Union level, those specific control and inspections programmes should be gathered in one single decision. The reporting obligation of the Member States should be revised, with the objective to align them to the new benchmarks and to reduce as much as possible the administrative burden.

In accordance with Article 95(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 the specific control and inspection programmes should state the scope, objectives and priorities as well as benchmarks for inspection activities.

In order to reflect recently adopted Union fisheries conservation and management measures, the scope of the specific control and inspections programmes should be extended to certain additional stocks and fisheries. The scope should also include recreational fisheries for stocks covered by Union conservation measures and fisheries managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. It is also necessary to align the priorities of the specific control and inspection programmes with those of the common fisheries policy, in particular as regards the implementation of the landing obligation.

This decision should therefore cover certain fisheries in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Western Waters of North Eastern Atlantic, the Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

Article 95(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 provides that the specific control and inspection programme benchmarks for inspections activities are to be established on the basis of risk management. For this purpose, and in order to provide for a coherent approach to controls and inspections within a sea basin and a level playing field for fisheries of different Member States, a harmonised methodology for the risk assessment should be used. The harmonised methodology should be established by the Member States in cooperation with EFCA and should be based on possible threats of non-compliance with the rules of the common fishery policy.

Member States should communicate the results of their risk assessment to EFCA. EFCA should use this information when coordinating the risk assessment at regional level.

In accordance with Article 95(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 Member States should adopt the necessary measures to ensure the implementation of the specific control and inspection programme, particularly as regards the required human and material resources and the periods and zones where these are to be deployed.

Joint inspection and surveillance activities between the Member States concerned should be carried out, where applicable, in accordance with joint deployment plans established by the EFCA so as to enhance uniformity of control, inspection and surveillance practices and to coordinate control, inspection and surveillance activities between the competent authorities of those Member States.

The target benchmarks determining the intensity of control and inspection activities should be set for the fishing vessels in the high and very high risk fleet segments in all concerned Member States. All target benchmarks should be assessed taking into account the yearly evaluation performed by Member States. Member States should be entitled to use alternative target benchmarks expressed in terms of improved compliance levels.

Personal data processed for the purpose of implementing the specific control and inspection programmes should not be stored for a period exceeding 10 years. This period will allow the Member States competent authorities and EFCA to complete their duties concerning the follow-up, the reporting and evaluation of the specific control and inspection programmes. As regards the data necessary for the follow-up of inspections such as enquiries, infringements, judicial or administrative proceedings, a specific longer retention period of 20 years is necessary due to the length of such processes and the need for those data to be used until the end of such processes. In addition, where the data is used for scientific purposes and for providing scientific advice, the retention period should be extended to allow for the long-term scientific monitoring and assessment of marine biological resources.

Member States should prepare and send to the Commission yearly reports on the implementation of the specific control and inspection programmes. The Commission should use these reports to assess the implementation of the specific control and inspection programmes and to evaluate, their adequacy and effectiveness. Such assessment may serve as the basis for the review of the specific inspection and control programmes.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for fisheries and aquaculture,