Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 requires that Union measures governing access to waters and resources and the sustainable pursuit of fishing activities be established taking into account available scientific, technical and economic advice and in particular reports drawn up by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), as well as advice received from Regional Advisory Councils.

By Council Regulation (EC) No 754/2009, the Council excluded certain groups of vessels from the fishing effort regime laid down in Chapter III of Council Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008. The allowable fishing effort for vessels subject to that regime is currently fixed by Annex IIA to Council Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 and Annex IIA to Council Regulation (EU) No 40/2013.

In June 2013, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) published its advice for Northern hake in 2014. In that advice, ICES indicates that the stock’s biomass is at a record high in 2013 and, furthermore, that fishing mortality has decreased sharply in recent years. ICES advised that in 2014, the TAC may be raised by 49 % to 81 846 tonnes. Ireland and Spain requested, in light of this advice, that the TAC in force for this stock be raised in-year from 55 105 tonnes to 69 440 tonnes, to meet the level of landings that ICES estimates as corresponding with the current levels of fishing mortality, which are in turn consistent with maximum sustainable yield. The request is deemed acceptable based on the commitment by the Member States concerned to ensure, through rigorous control of the fishery, that fishing effort and therefore fishing mortality rates remain constant.

A group of vessels flying the flag of Spain and fishing in the West of Scotland is currently excluded from the application of the fishing effort regime laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008. On the basis of information provided by Spain in 2013, the STECF was not in a position to assess whether the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 remained fulfilled in the 2012 management period. It is therefore appropriate to reinclude this group of Spanish vessels in that fishing effort regime. Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 and Annex IIA to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.

A group of vessels flying the flag of France and fishing in the North Sea is currently excluded from the application of the fishing effort regime laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008. On the basis of information provided by France in 2013, the STECF assessed that catches for those vessels exceeded the established threshold. It is therefore appropriate to reinclude that group of French vessels in that fishing effort regime. Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 and Annex IIA to Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.

A group of vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom and targeting queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis) around the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea is currently excluded from the application of the effort regime laid down Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008. However, due to a mathematical error, the effort ceilings in Annex IIA to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 do not reflect this exclusion. Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 should therefore be corrected accordingly.

Council Regulation (EU) No 1262/2012 fixes catch limits for 2013 and 2014 as regards a list of deep-sea sharks. The Commission requested ICES to give it advice on whether it is appropriate to revise that list. ICES concluded that there is sufficient scientific information supporting the exclusion of blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) and the inclusion of all species of the genus Centrophorus (Centrophorus spp.) on the list of deep-sea sharks. Regulation (EU) No 1262/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly.

In accordance with the outcome of consultations between coastal states on the management of mackerel, blue whiting, Atlanto-Scandian herring and North Sea haddock, the Union may authorise fishing by Union vessels of up to 10 % beyond the quota available to the Union, provided that any quantities used beyond the quota available to the Union would be deducted from its quota for 2014. Similarly, the Union may use in 2014 any unused quantities up to 10 % of the quota available to it in 2013. It is appropriate to enable such flexibility in the fixing of those fishing opportunities in order to ensure a level-playing field for Union vessels by allowing the Member States concerned to opt for the use of a flexibility quota. Where a Member State has not opted for the use of the flexibility quota in respect of a particular stock, it is appropriate that Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 continue to apply in accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) No 40/2013.

At its Annual Meeting in 2013, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) adopted a Resolution aiming at the protection of oceanic whitetip sharks and applicable to fishing vessels on the IOTC Record of Authorised Vessels by prohibiting, as an interim pilot measure, to retain on board, tranship, land or store any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip shark. The resolution provides for an exception for artisanal fisheries, namely fishing vessels engaged in fishing operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Member State whose flag they fly. Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.

At its Annual Meeting in 2010, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) adopted a recommendation limiting the number of vessels actively fishing for south Pacific albacore in the Convention Area south of 20° S. Consequently, it should be ensured that Union vessels continue to operate without targeting that species in the WCPFC Convention Area south of 20° S. Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.

Fishing opportunities for Union vessels in Norwegian waters and for Norwegian vessels in Union waters are established each year in the light of consultations on fishing rights held in accordance with the bilateral agreement on fisheries with Norway. Pending the conclusion of those consultations on the arrangements for 2013, Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 fixed provisional fishing opportunities for the stocks concerned. On 18 January 2013, the consultations with Norway were concluded, and Council Regulation (EU) No 297/2013 amended the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) No 40/2013. However, the stock of tusk in Norwegian waters of IV was erroneously excluded from Regulation (EU) No 297/2013. Furthermore, the amount of blue whiting that Norway can fish in Union waters of II, IVa, V, VI north of 56° 30′ N and VII west of 12° W did not reflect the agreed record after consultations with that country. Annex IA to Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.

An error was identified in the number of vessels and the capacity allocated to the Union and authorised to fish for swordfish and albacore in the IOTC Convention Area. Annex VI to Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 should therefore be corrected accordingly.

Pursuant to the 2012 Act of Accession and Croatia’s accession on 1 July 2013, provisions on the allocation of fishing opportunities allocated at Union level to Croatia in 2013 should be included in the relevant Union instruments. The figures concerning the Croatian bluefin tuna fishing and farming capacities added by this Regulation reflect the provisions of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) bluefin tuna recovery plan for Croatia until 2013. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 302/2009, each Member State is to ensure that its fishing capacity is commensurate with its quota.

The provisions of this Regulation concerning fishing effort limits should apply from 1 February 2013. The provisions concerning catch limits and allocations should apply from 1 January 2013, except for the new provisions regarding WCPFC and IOTC, which should apply from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. The provisions included as a result of the accession of Croatia to the European Union should apply from the date of that accession. Such retroactive application will be without prejudice to the principle of legal certainty as the fishing opportunities concerned have not yet been exhausted. Since modifications of effort regimes have a direct influence on the economic activities of the fleets concerned, this Regulation should enter into force immediately upon its publication,