THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing a multiannual plan for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 779/97, and in particular Article 29(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Provisions for setting fishing effort limitations for the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea are set out in Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007.
(2)
On the basis of Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007, Annex II to Council Regulation (EU) No 1088/2012 of 20 November 2012 fixing for 2013 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea has established fishing effort limitations for 2013 in the Baltic Sea.
(3)
According to Article 29(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 the Commission may exclude ICES Subdivisions 27 and 28.2 from the scope of certain fishing effort limitations when the catches of cod were below a certain threshold in the last reporting period.
(4)
Taking into account the reports submitted by Member States and the advice from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, ICES Subdivisions 27 and 28.2 should be excluded in 2013 from the scope of those fishing effort limitations.
(5)
Regulation (EU) No 1088/2012 will apply from 1 January 2013. In order to ensure coherence with that Regulation, this Regulation should also apply from 1 January 2013.
(6)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: