THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules on the common fisheries policy, and in particular Article 36, paragraph 2 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Council Regulation (EU) No 40/2013 of 21 January 2013 fixing for 2013 the fishing opportunities available in EU waters and, to EU vessels, in certain non-EU waters for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are subject to international negotiations or agreements fixes the amount of bluefin tuna which may be fished in 2013 in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and the Mediterranean Sea by European Union fishing vessels and traps.
(2)
Council Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 of 6 April 2009 concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, amending Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1559/2007, requires Member States to inform the Commission of the individual quota allocated to their vessels over 24 metres. For catching vessels less than 24 metres and for traps, Member States need to inform the Commission at least of the quota allocated to producer organisations or groups of vessels fishing with similar gear.
(3)
The Common Fisheries Policy is designed to ensure the long-term viability of the fisheries sector through sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources based on the precautionary approach.
(4)
In accordance with Article 36, paragraph 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, where the Commission finds that, on the basis of information provided by Member States and of other information in its possession, fishing opportunities available to the European Union, a Member State or group of Member States are deemed to have been exhausted for one or more gears or fleets, the Commission shall inform the Member State(s) concerned thereof and shall prohibit fishing activities for the respective area, gear, stock, group of stocks or fleet involved in those specific fishing activities.
(5)
The information in the Commission's possession indicates that the fishing opportunities for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W, and the Mediterranean Sea allocated to traps registered in Italy have been exhausted.
(6)
On the 1 July 2013, Italy informed the Commission of the fact that it had imposed a stop on the commercial fishing activities of its three traps active in the 2013 bluefin tuna fishery with effect from 14 June 2013 at 17:00. Italy also informed the Commission that two of those traps were involved after that date in the scientific programme established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and defined in ICCAT Circular #2779 / 2013 of 28 May 2013.
(7)
On the 3 July 2013, Italy informed the Commission of the fact that all scientfic fishing activities of the Italian traps as defined in ICCAT Circular #2779 / 2013 of 28 May 2013 were closed during the day of the 2 July.
(8)
Without prejudice to the actions by Italy mentioned above, it is necessary that the Commission confirms the prohibition of fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of longitude 45° W and the Mediterranean Sea by traps registered in Italy with effect from 14 June 2013 at 17:00 with the exception of fishing of bluefin tuna by two traps for scientific purposes as defined in ICCAT Circular #2779 / 2013 of 28 May 2013. Furthermore, it is necessary that the Commission confirms the final closure of all activities of those traps as of 3 July 2013 at 00:00,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: