Brussels, 30.4.2024

COM(2024) 183 final

ANNEX

to the

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Regulation (EU) No 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area


ANNEX

(1) Annexes VII, VIII and XI are replaced by the following:

“ANNEX VII

SIGHTING INFORMATION SHEET

SIGHTING INFORMATION SHEET

1. Date of sighting:    Time    Day    Month    Year

2. Position of vessel sighted:

Latitude    Longitude

3. Name of the vessel sighted:

4. Flag state:

5. Port (and country) of registry:

6. Type of vessel:

7. International Radio Call Sign:

8. Registration number:

9. GFCM fleet register number:

10. IMO number:

11. Estimated length overall and gross tonnage:    m    GT

12. Fishing gear description (if applicable):

Type:    Estimated quantity (units)

13. Nationality of captain:    Officer:    Crew:

14. Vessel situation (Please check):

[ ] Fishing    [ ] Cruising    [ ] Drifting

[ ] Supplying    [ ] Transshipping    [ ] Other (specify)

15. Type of activities of the vessel sighted (please describe):

16. Description of vessel and fishing gear identified:

17. Other relevant information:

18. List of attached documents (such as photos etc.):

19. The above information was collected by:

Name:    Title:

Means of sighting (including vessel/aircraft name and position, where appropriate):

Date:    (day) (month) (year)     Signature:



ANNEX VIII

DATA TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF VESSELS

The list referred to in Articles 15, 24, [That article doesn’t provide for a list. To be checked, for all articles referred to.], 34, 47, 61, 70, 74, 75c, 78, 96c and 116 shall contain, for each vessel, the following information:

·Vessel name (authorised vessel or authorised vessel used for harvesting)

·Vessel register number (code assigned by Member States)

·GFCM registration number (country ISO 3-alpha code + 9 digits, e.g. xxx000000001)

·Port of registration (full name of the port)

·Previous name (if any)

·Previous flag (if any)

·Previous details of deletion from other registers (if any) International radio call sign (if any)

·VMS (indicate Y/N)

·Type of vessel, length overall (LOA) and gross tonnage (GT) and/or gross registered tonnage (GRT) and engine power expressed in kW

·Safety and security equipment to host observer(s) on board (indicate Y/N) (if applicable)

·Main target species

·Name and address of owner(s) and operator(s)

·Main gear(s) and fleet segment allocation and operational unit as identified in the DCRF (if applicable)

·Seasonal period authorised for fishing: from DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY and gear concerned (if applicable)

·Area authorised for fishing (GSAs and/or rectangles of the GFCM statistical grid (if applicable)

·Participation in research programs led by national/international scientific institutions (indicate Y/N with description) (if applicable)

·Number of fishing days exerted by each vessel in the previous year and number of fishing days that can be exerted by each vessel by year and by gear (if applicable)

·Designated port

·Targeted species (if applicable)



ANNEX XI 

 FISHERIES RESTRICTED AREAS AND BUFFER ZONE COORDINATES 

A. Fisheries restricted area in the Gulf of Lions

A fisheries restricted area in the eastern Gulf of Lions, bound by lines joining the following respective geographic coordinates:  

Zone (1):

— 43°00’ N, 4°49,35’ E

— 43°00’ N, 4°53,7’ E

— 42°55,896’ N, 4°53,7’ E

— 42°55,896’ N, 4°49,35’ E

Zone (2):

— 42° 40′ N, 4° 20′ E

— 42° 40′ N, 5° 00′ E

— 43° 00′ N, 4° 20′ E

— 43° 00′ N, 5° 00′ E.

B. Fisheries restricted areas in the Strait of Sicily  

(1) fisheries restricted area ‘East of Adventure Bank’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates:  

— 37° 23,850′ N, 12° 30,072′ E  

— 37° 23,884′ N, 12° 48,282′ E  

— 37° 11,567′ N, 12° 48,305′ E  

— 37° 11,532′ N, 12° 30,095′ E

  (2)    fisheries restricted area ‘West of Gela Basin’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates:  

— 37° 12,040′ N, 13° 17,925′ E  

— 37° 12,047′ N, 13° 36,170′ E  

— 36° 59,725′ N, 13° 36,175′ E  

— 36° 59,717′ N, 13° 17,930′ E  

(3)    fisheries restricted area ‘East of Malta Bank’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates:  

— 36° 12,621′ N, 15° 13,338′ E  

— 36° 12,621′ N, 15° 26,062 ′ E  

— 35° 59,344′ N, 15° 26,062′ E  

— 35° 59,344′ N, 15° 13,338′ E.  

C. Buffer areas in the Strait of Sicily 

(1)    buffer area around the fisheries restricted area ‘East of Adventure Bank’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates:

— 37° 24,849′ N, 12° 28,814′ E  

— 37° 24,888′ N, 12° 49,536′ E

— 37° 10,567′ N, 12° 49,559′ E  

— 37° 10,528′ N, 12° 28,845′ E  

(2)    buffer area around the fisheries restricted area ‘West of Gela Basin’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates: 

— 37° 13,041′ N, 13° 16,672′ E

— 37° 13,049′ N, 13° 37,422′ E

— 36° 58,723′ N, 13° 37,424′ E  

— 36° 58,715′ N, 13° 16,682′ E

  (3)    buffer area around the fisheries restricted area ‘East of Malta Bank’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates:  

— 36° 13,624′ N, 15° 12,102′ E  

— 36° 13,624′ N, 15° 27,298′ E  

— 35° 58,342′ N, 15° 27,294′ E  

— 35° 58,342′ N, 15° 12,106′ E  

D. Fishing restrictions in the Jabuka/Pomo Pit area in the Adriatic Sea

(1) is bound by lines joining the following coordinates:

— 43° 32,044′ N, 15° 16,501′ E

— 43° 05,452′ N, 14° 58,658′ E

— 43° 03,477′ N, 14° 54,982′ E

— 42° 50,450′ N, 15° 07,431′ E

— 42° 55,618′ N, 15° 18,194′ E

— 43° 17,436′ N, 15° 29,496′ E

— 43° 24,758′ N, 15° 33,215′ E

(2) is bound by lines joining the following coordinates:

— 43° 03,477′ N, 14° 54,982′ E

— 42° 49,811′ N, 14° 29,550′ E

— 42° 35,205′ N, 14° 59,611′ E

— 42° 49,668′ N, 15° 05,802′ E

— 42° 50,450′ N, 15° 07,431′ E

(3) is bound by lines joining the following coordinates:

— 43° 17,436′ N, 15° 29,496′ E

— 43° 24,758′ N, 15° 33,215′ E

— 43° 20,345′ N, 15° 47,012′ E

— 43° 18,150′ N, 15° 51,362′ E

— 43° 13,984′ N, 15° 55,232′ E

— 43° 12,873′ N, 15° 52,761′ E

— 43°13,494' N, 15°40,040' E

E. Fisheries Restricted Area in deep-sea sensitive habitats  

(1)deep-sea fisheries restricted area ‘Lophelia reef off Capo Santa Maria di Leuca’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates: 

- 39° 27,72′ N, 18° 10,74′ E 

- 39° 27,80′ N, 18° 26,68′ E 

- 39° 11,16′ N, 18° 32,58′ E 

- 39° 11,16′ N, 18° 04,28′ E; 

(2)deep-sea fisheries restricted area ‘The Nile delta area cold hydrocarbon seeps’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates: 

 - 31° 30,00′ N, 33° 10,00′ E 

 - 31° 30,00′ N, 34° 00,00′ E 

 - 32° 00,00′ N, 34° 00,00′ E 

 - 32° 00,00′ N, 33° 10,00′ E; 

 (3)deep-sea fisheries restricted area ‘The Eratosthenes Seamount’ bound by lines joining the following coordinates: 

 - 33° 00,00′ N, 32° 00,00′ E 

 - 33° 00,00′ N, 33° 00,00′ E 

 - 34° 00,00′ N, 33° 00,00′ E 

 - 34° 00,00′ N, 32° 00,00′ E.”;



(2) the following Annexes XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII and XXIII are added:

“ANNEX XVII

SPECIES-SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR ELASMOBRANCHS

For Smooth-hound sharks (Mustelus asterias, M. mustelus, M. punctulatus):

·assess the incidental (bycatch) and targeted catch rates of smooth-hound sharks in all fisheries, including pelagic/midwater trawlers targeting small pelagics;

·assess the survival rates of smooth-hound sharks caught as bycatch in the different fisheries;

·identify the critical habitats of smooth-hound sharks;

·identify fishing technology solutions to reduce bycatch and increase post-release survival rates;

·compile any fisheries management measures in place, including spatial measures, that can positively affect the conservation of smooth-hound sharks, if any; and

·assess priority market demand (domestic, export, etc.), if any.

For Common thresher (Alopias vulpinus):

·assess the incidental (bycatch) and targeted catch rates of common thresher in all fisheries;

·assess the survival rates of common thresher caught as bycatch in the different fisheries;

·identify the critical habitats of common thresher;

·identify fishing technology solutions to reduce bycatch and increase post-release survival rates;

·compile any fisheries management measures in place, including spatial measures, that can positively affect the conservation of common thresher, if any; and

·assess priority market demand (domestic, export, etc.), if any.

For Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus):

·assess the incidental (bycatch) and targeted catch rates of sandbar shark in all fisheries;

·assess the survival rates of sandbar sharks caught as bycatch in the different fisheries;

·identify the critical habitats of sandbar shark;

·identify fishing technology solutions to reduce bycatch and increase post-release survival rates;

·compile any fisheries management measures in place, including spatial measures, that can positively affect the conservation of sandbar shark, if any; and

·assess priority market demand (domestic, export, etc.), if any.

For Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus):

·assess the incidental (bycatch) and targeted catch rates of gulper shark in all fisheries;

·assess the survival rates of gulper sharks caught as bycatch in the different fisheries;

·identify the critical habitats of gulper shark;

·identify fishing technology solutions to reduce bycatch and increase post-release survival rates;

·compile any fisheries management measures in place, including spatial measures, that can positively affect the conservation of the gulper shark, if any; and

·assess priority market’s demand (domestic, export, etc.), if any.

For Sharpnose sevengill shark (Heptranchias perlo):

·assess the incidental (bycatch) and targeted catch rates of sharpnose sevengill shark in all fisheries;

·assess the survival rates of sharpnose sevengill sharks caught as bycatch in the different fisheries;

·identify critical habitats of sharpnose sevengill shark;

·identify fishing technology solutions to reduce bycatch and increase post-release survival rates;

·compile any fisheries management measures in place, including spatial measures, that can positively affect the conservation of sharpnose sevengill shark, if any; and

·assess priority market’s demand (domestic, export, etc.), if any.

For Piked dogfish (Squalus acanthias):

·assess the incidental (bycatch) and targeted catch rates of piked dogfish in all fisheries;

·assess the survival rates of piked dogfish caught as bycatch in the different fisheries;

·identify critical habitats of piked dogfish;

·identify fishing technology solutions to reduce bycatch and increase post-release survival rates;

·compile any fisheries management measures in place, including spatial measures, that can positively affect the conservation of piked dogfish, if any; and

·assess priority market’s demand (domestic, export, etc.), if any.

For Blue shark (Prionace glauca):

·assess the incidental (bycatch) and targeted catch rates of blue shark in all fisheries;

·assess the survival rates of blue shark caught as bycatch in the different fisheries;

·identify critical habitats of blue shark;

·identify fishing technology solutions to reduce bycatch and increase post-release survival rates;

·compile any fisheries management measures in place, including spatial measures, that can positively affect the conservation of blue shark, if any; and

·assess priority market’s demand (domestic, export, etc.), if any.



ANNEX XVIII

MITIGATION MEASURES

The mitigation measures may comprise the following elements to be adapted according to the specificities of each fishery:

·Set fishing gear at night preferably (one hour after dusk and one hour before dawn);

·Use a modified gear with increased weighting. Vessels shall be encouraged to develop gear configurations that minimize risks of seabird interaction with parts of the net, lines and hooks to which they are most vulnerable; 

·Use a modified gear with at least a single tori line and coloured streamers. Brightly coloured streamers may be either short or long, or both. It is recommended that short streamers shall be attached at 1 m intervals and long streamers at 5 m intervals along the aerial extent of the line. For fishing vessels below 35 metres length overall, the tori line shall be attached at a height of at least 6 metres and shall include an aerial extent of 75 metres, with streamers reaching the surface of the water every 5 metre along the first 55 metres of the line. A suitable towed device shall be used to drag, maximize aerial extent and maintain the line behind the vessel during crosswinds;

·Prohibit the discharge of offal and discards during the shooting and hauling of fishing gear. Nets and other types of fishing gear shall be cleaned prior to setting in order to remove any item that might attract seabirds. Additionally, vessels shall adopt shooting and hauling procedures that minimize the floating time of the fishing gear on the water surface. The maintenance of nets and other types of gear shall not be carried out, to the extent possible, when the nets or gear are in the water;

·ensure regular training for an appropriate and safe release of caught individuals;

·Conduct fishing operations in such a way that hooklines or cables sink as soon as possible beyond the reach of seabirds once they are set in the water;

·Deploy a streamer line during the setting of the fishing gear to deter seabirds from approaching the hooklines or trawling cables;

·Encourage the use of bird exclusion devices to discourage seabirds from foraging on baits during the hauling of longlines;

·Make every effort to ensure that seabirds captured alive during fishing operations shall be released alive and hooks are safely removed, if necessary, without endangering their life.



ANNEX XIX

LIST OF DETAILED VESSEL INFORMATION FISHING IN THE FRAS

The list shall contain for each vessel and each FRA the following information:

·Name of vessel (in Latin characters)

·National registration number: The code representing the official vessel identifier as reported in the national fleet register (alphanumeric string)

·GFCM registration number (country ISO 3-alpha code + 9 digits, e.g. xxx000000001)

·IMO number or external marking number

·Registration authority: Name of the authority that issued registration of the vessel

·Name of the Fisheries Restricted Area

·Previous name (if any)

·Previous flag (if any)

·Previous details of deletion from other registers (if any)

·International radio call sign (if any)

·Type of vessel, length overall (LOA) and gross tonnage (GT)

·Main gear used to fish in zone B of the FRA

·Targeted species

·Seasonal period authorized for fishing in the FRA: Period authorized for fishing in the Fisheries Restricted Area (FRA): from DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY and gear concerned.

·Number of fishing days that can be exerted by each vessel.

·Number of fishing days operated by the vessel in zone B of the Fisheries Restricted Area during the year.



ANNEX XX

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN A GFCM TRANSHIPMENT DECLARATION

Element

Donor vessel

Receiving vessel

1. Vessel name

2. Flag State

3. Vessel type (ISSCFV)

4. IMO number, if eligible

5. External ID, if available

6. Registration ID if different to 5

6. International radio call sign, if available

7. MMSI number, if available

8. Vessel owner/company information

Name

Address

Contact information (email and phone number)

9. Vessel contact information

Name of master

Nationality

Phone number

E-mail

10. Transshipment authorization identifier, if any

11. Transshipment authorization issued by

12. Transshipment authorization period of Validity

13. Time and date of the transhipment

Start (hour/day/month/year)

End (hour/day/month/year)

14. Transshipment location Port/position at sea (lat./long.)

15. Quantities onboard prior to Transhipment

Donor vessel

Receiving vessel

Catch area(s)

Species (FAO/ASFIS codes)

Product form (preservation and presentation type )

Quantity ( weight)

16. Transshipped fish

Donor vessel

Receiving vessel

Catch area(s)

Species (FAO/ASFIS codes)

Product form (preservation and presentation type)

Quantity (weight)

17. Signature

Donor vessel

Receiving vessel

Master´s signature



ANNEX XXI

PROHIBITED SPECIES

Marine mammals (all species)

Marine birds (all species)

Marine reptiles (all species)

Species listed in Appendices I and II under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Species listed in Appendices I and II under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

Species listed in Annex II under the SPA/BD Protocol of the Barcelona Convention

Marine species protected under Member States legislation

Marine species specifically prohibited to recreational fishing under Member States legislation



ANNEX XXII

INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED ON INCIDENTAL CATCHES OF SEABIRDS

·International Maritime Organization (IMO) number of the fishing vessel, date, time and location of the catch, measured size of individuals caught dead and estimated size of individuals caught alive;

·rates of incidental mortality of seabirds associated with each fishery, details of the seabird species involved and estimates of total seabird mortality (at GSA or GFCM statistical rectangle level, if possible);

·measures to reduce or eliminate incidental mortality of seabirds that are in place in each fishery and the extent to which any of these are voluntary or mandatory, together with an assessment of their effectiveness; and

·scientific observer programmes providing additional spatial and temporal coverage of fisheries allowing statistically accurate estimation of incidental catch of seabirds associated with each fishery.



ANNEX XXIII

COMPULSORY DATA FIELDS ON FISHING VESSELS IN THE GFCM RECORD OF FISHING VESSELS LARGER THAN 15 METRES IN LENGTH OVERALL AUTHORIZED TO FISH IN THE GFCM AREA OF APPLICATION

DATA FIELDS

DATA CONFIDENTIALITY STATUS

Country

P

Reference year

P

Registration authority

P

Vessel name in Latin characters

P

Previous vessel name (if any)

P

National registration number

P

Vessel registration number

P

International radio call sign (IRCS) (if applicable)

P

Maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) (if applicable)

P

International Maritime Organization (IMO)number (if applicable)

P

Operational status (activity indicator)

P

Port of registration

P

Year of entry into fishing activity (if any)

P

Authorization to fish (license indicator)

P

Geographical subarea (GSA) (main GSA)

P

Secondary fishing statistical area (GSA) (if any)

P

Tertiary fishing statistical area (GSA) (if any)

P

Type of vessel (e.g. trawler, longliner)

P

Main fishing gear

P

Subsidiary fishing gear

P

Third fishing gear (if any)

P

Length overall (LOA)

P

Gross tonnage (GT)

P

Construction year

P

Power of the main engine (kW)

P

Owner (name and address)

R

Operator (name and address) (if different from owner)

R

Minimum number of crew members

R

Maximum number of crew members

R

Vessel monitoring system (VMS) indicator (presence/absence)

P

Authorization to fish in a fisheries restricted area (FRA), name of the FRA (as adopted by the GFCM)

P

”