The European Parliament adopted by 589 votes to 6, with 38 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/833 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation.

The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure by endorsing the Commission proposal.

The objective of this proposal is to transpose into EU law the amendments to the conservation and enforcement measures adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), to which the EU is a Contracting Party, at its annual meeting in 2021. The NAFO Convention stipulates that the conservation measures adopted by the NAFO Commission are binding and that the Contracting Parties are obliged to implement them.

The Regulation aims to amend Regulation (EU) 2019/833 in order to apply the new NAFO conservation and enforcement measures to Union fishing vessels.

The Regulation implements the amendments adopted at the September 2021 NAFO Annual Meeting regarding the calculation of the 'other' quota, introducing accompanying measures for cod in Division 3M with regard to port inspection of landings, as well as for Greenland halibut.

The amendments also include revised provisions on additional procedures for serious infringements related to the use of mesh sizes or sorting grids, and strengthened measures on the follow-up of infringements, as well as the transmission of documents to NAFO and the European Fisheries Control Agency.

Certain provisions of the Conservation and Enforcement Measures (CEM) are likely to be amended at future NAFO annual meetings following the introduction of new technical measures in relation to changing stock biomass and a review of area restrictions for bottom fishing activities. Therefore, in order to swiftly incorporate into Union law such future amendments to the CEMs, before the start of fishing season, the power to adopt delegated acts should be delegated to the Commission in respect of landing and inspection measures for Greenland halibut and control measures for cod in Division 3M.

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Isabel CARVALHAIS (S&D, PT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/833 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should endorse the Commission's proposal.

The objective of this proposal is to transpose into EU law the amendments to the conservation and enforcement measures adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), to which the EU is a Contracting Party, at its annual meeting in 2021. The NAFO Convention stipulates that the conservation measures adopted by the NAFO Commission are binding and that the Contracting Parties are obliged to implement them.

In the explanatory memorandum accompanying the draft resolution, the rapporteur stressed that it is essential to ensure compliance with the best conservation measures for fisheries in these waters, given the particular sensitivity of certain target species, especially those with long life cycles.

The rapporteur also insisted on:

- the transposition into the EU legal framework of several decisions taken at the NAFO annual meeting in September 2021, in particular, concerning the calculation of ‘Others’ quota, introducing flanking measures for Cod in Division 3M in relation to inspection of landings, as well as Greenland halibut;

- the transposition of revised provisions concerning additional procedures, serious infringements in relation to use of mesh sizes, grid or grate, and reinforced measures relating follow-up for infringements, as well as transmission of documents to NAFO and European Fisheries Control Agency.

Recalling that the gear used by fisheries in the Convention area is trawl gear, which affects the integrity of the seabed, the rapporteur stressed the importance of ensuring that the exploitation of a resource has a limited impact on habitats, other resources and other species.

PURPOSE: to transpose into EU law the amendments to the conservation and enforcement measures adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) at its annual meeting in September 2021.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: the NAFO Convention provides that conservation measures adopted by the NAFO Commission are binding and that Contracting Parties are obliged to implement them. The EU has been a Contracting Party to NAFO since 1979.

Regulation (EU) 2019/833 implemented into Union law the NAFO conservation and enforcement measures.

The NAFO subsequently adopted at its 43rd Annual Meeting in September 2021, a number of legally binding decisions for the conservation of fishery resources under its purview as regards catch retention of ‘Others’ quota, port inspection of landings of Cod in Division 3M and of Greenland halibut, monitoring and reinforced provisions concerning infringements and their enforcement.

This proposal relates to the amendments adopted by NAFO at its annual meeting in September 2021. These amendments entered into force on 2 December 2021 and apply from that date.

CONTENT: this proposal aims to amend Regulation (EU) 2019/833 in order to apply the new NAFO conservation and enforcement measures to Union fishing vessels .

The proposal implements the amendments adopted at the NAFO annual meeting of September 2021 concerning the calculation of “Others” quota, introducing flanking measures for Cod in Division 3M in relation to inspection of landings, as well as Greenland halibut.

The amendments also include revised provisions concerning additional procedures, serious infringements in relation to use of mesh sizes, grid or grate, and reinforced measures relating follow-up for infringements, as well as transmission of documents to NAFO and European Fisheries Control Agency.

The proposal also delegates to the Commission powers to amend the Regulation (EU) 2019/833 concerning landing, inspection for Greenland halibut and control measures for Cod in Division 3M, if NAFO amends its measures in the future.