THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2016/72 of 22 January 2016 fixing for 2016 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2015/104, and in particular point 8.5 of Annex IIB thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Table I of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) 2016/72 lays down the maximum number of days that Union vessels of an overall length equal to or greater than 10 meters, carrying on board or deploying trawls, Danish seines and similar gears of mesh size equal to or larger than 32 mm, gill-nets of mesh size equal to or larger than 60 mm and bottom long-lines, may be present within ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa, excluding the Gulf of Cádiz, from 1 February 2016 to 31 January 2017.
(2)
According to point 8.5 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) 2016/72, the Commission may, on the basis of permanent cessations of fishing activities that took place between 1 February 2015 and 31 January 2016 and subject to conditions set out in point 8.5 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) 2016/72, allocate an additional number of days at sea on which a vessel may be authorised by its flag Member State to be present within the relevant area when carrying on board regulated gear.
(3)
On 27 May 2016, in accordance with point 8.4 of Annex IIB of Regulation (EU) 2016/72, Spain submitted, together with supporting information, a request for additional days at sea on the basis of the permanent cessation of fishing activity. On 6 June 2016 Spain confirmed that 14 vessels ceased fishing activities between 1 February 2015 and 31 January 2016.
(4)
In view of the data made available to the Commission and having regard to the calculation method laid down in point 8.2 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) 2016/72, nine additional days at sea for the vessels referred to in point 1 of that Annex should be allocated to Spain for the period from 1 February 2016 to 31 January 2017.
(5)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: