COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2021/1168

of 27 April 2021

establishing the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds as part of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 (1), and in particular the first and third subparagraphs of Article 4(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) requires the Member States to collect the biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data that are necessary for fisheries management.

(2) Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 requires the Commission to establish a multiannual Union programme for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector (EU MAP).

(3) The EU MAP is necessary for Member States to specify and plan their data collection activities in their national work plans. It sets out a detailed list of data requirements for the collection and management of biological, environmental and socioeconomic data, lists mandatory surveys at sea and sets thresholds for data collection. The EU MAP for 2020-2021 was adopted by Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 (3) and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 (4). Both decisions expire on 31 December 2021.

(4) This Decision therefore establishes the list of mandatory research surveys at sea and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data from their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea, as referred to in Article 5(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 from 1 January 2022. It also lays down the areas of marine regions for the purposes of data collection as referred to in Article 9(11) of that Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.

(5) The Commission has consulted the relevant regional coordination groups and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries in line with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.

(6) This Decision is to be read in conjunction with Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 (5) which repeals Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 and lays down detailed arrangements on the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data by Member States, as referred to in Article 5(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004, from 1 January 2022.

(7) For reasons of legal certainty, Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 should be repealed with effect from 1 January 2022.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The list of mandatory research surveys at sea, the definitions of geographical areas applicable for the collection of Union fisheries data and thresholds below which it is not mandatory for Member States to collect data from their fishing and aquaculture activities or carry out surveys at sea from 2022 is set out in the Annex to this Decision. The list of surveys and thresholds form part of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries sector, as referred to in points (b) and (c) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004.

Article 2

Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 is repealed.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

It shall apply from 1 January 2022.

Done at Brussels, 27 April 2021.

For the Commission

The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1)

OJ L 157, 20.6.2017, p. 1

(2) Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (

OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22

(3) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910 of 13 March 2019 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (

OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, p. 27

(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 of 18 February 2019 establishing the list of mandatory research surveys and thresholds for the purposes of the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors (

OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, p. 21

(5) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 of 27 April 2021 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022 (See page 51 of this Official Journal).

ANNEX

CHAPTER I

Research surveys at sea

The research surveys at sea listed in table 1 below shall be carried out, as a minimum, unless a scientific review of surveys concludes that one or more of those surveys are no longer appropriate for informing stock assessment and fisheries management. New surveys may be added to the table on the basis of the same review criteria.

In the national work plans referred to in Article 21 of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), Member States shall set out the research surveys at sea to be carried out and shall be responsible for these surveys.

Member States’ national work plans, or regional work plans where applicable, shall ensure continuity with previous survey designs.

It is not mandatory for Member States to participate (physically or financially) in single-species research surveys at sea where:

(a) their share of a Union total allowable catch (TAC) for the main target species (as listed in the table) is below 3 % unless another threshold of up to 5 % is agreed at marine region level; or

(b) where no TAC is fixed, their share of the relevant total Union landings is below 3 % in the 3 preceding years unless another threshold of up to 5 % is agreed at marine region level.

For multispecies and ecosystem surveys, thresholds may be set at marine region level.

Member States contributing to international research surveys shall coordinate their efforts within the same marine region.

Table 1

Research surveys at sea

Name of survey	Acronym	Area(s)	Main target species	Regional coordination group (RCG) governance
Baltic Sea (ICES areas 3aS, 3b-d)
Baltic International Trawl Survey	BITS_Q1	3aS, 3b-d	BLL COD DAB FLE HER PLE TUR	Baltic RCG
Baltic International Trawl Survey	BITS_Q4	3aS, 3b-d	BLL COD DAB FLE HER PLE TUR
Baltic International Acoustic Survey (autumn)	BIAS	3a, 3b-d	HER SPR
Gulf of Riga Acoustic Herring Survey	GRAHS	3d	HER
Sprat Acoustic Survey	SPRAS	3d	SPR
Rügen Herring Larvae Survey	RHLS_DEU	3d	HER
Fehmarn Juvenile Cod Survey	FEJUCS	3c SD22	COD
North Sea and Eastern Arctic (ICES areas 1, 2, 3a, 4, 7d)
Kattegat Cod Survey	CODS_Q4	3a	COD	North Sea and Eastern Arctic RCG
International Bottom Trawl Survey	IBTS_Q1	3a, 4	COD FLE GUG HAD HER NOP PLE RJC RJM RJN RJR SPR SYC TUR WHG WIT	North Sea and Eastern Arctic RCG
International Bottom Trawl Survey	IBTS_Q3	3a, 4	COD HAD HER NOP PLE POK RJC RJH RJM RJN RJR SPR SYC TUR WHG WIT
North Sea Beam Trawl Survey	BTS	4b, 4c, 7d	DAB PLE RJC RJE RJM SDV SOL SYC SYT TUR
Demersal Young Fish Survey	DYFS	Coasts of NS	SOL
Sole Net Survey	SNS_NLD	4b, 4c	SOL TUR
North Sea Sandeels Survey	NSSS	4a, 4b	SAN
International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Seas	ASH	2a	HER
Mackerel Egg Survey (triennial)	NSMEGS	4	MAC
Herring Larvae Survey	IHLS	4, 7d	HER
NS Herring Acoustic Survey	NHAS	3a, 4, 6a	HER SPR
Nephrops UWTV survey	UWTV3-4, UWTV6, UWTV7, UWTV8, UWTV9	3a, 4a, 4b	NEP
North Atlantic (ICES areas 5-14 and NAFO areas)
International Redfish Trawl and Acoustic Survey (triennial)	REDTAS	5a, 12, 14; NAFO SA 1-3	REB	North Sea and Eastern Arctic RCG
Flemish Cap Groundfish Survey	FCGS	3M	AME COD GRE NOR RED ROU SHO
Greenland Groundfish Survey	GGS	14, NAFO SA1	COD RED REG
3LNO Groundfish Survey	PLATUXA_ESP	NAFO 3LNO	AME COD GRE NOR RED ROU THO WHI WIT YEL
Western IBTS 4th quarter (including porcupine survey)	IBTS_Q4	6a, 7, 8, 9a	OCTs MON ANK ANF BOC BSS COD CTL DGS GAG GFB HAD HER HKE HOM LDB MAC MEG LEZ LDB NEP PLE RJC RJM RJN RNG SDV SHO SQZ SYC WHG	North Atlantic RCG
Western IBTS 1st quarter	IBTS_Q1	6a, 7a	OCTs COD CTL HAD HER HOM LEZ MAC NEP PLE RJC RJM RJN SDV SHO SYC WHG
ISBCBTS September	ISBCBTS	7afg	PLE RJC RJE RJH RJM SDV SOL SYC
Western Channel Beam Trawl Survey	SWECOS_GBE	7efgh	RJB RJC RJE RJH RJM SDV SOL SYC
Blue Whiting Survey	IBWSS	6, 7	WHB
International Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Survey (triennial)	MEGS	6, 7, 8, 9a	HOM MAC
Sardine, Anchovy Horse Mackerel Acoustic Survey	SAHMAS	8, 9	ANE BOC HOM PIL
Sardine DEPM (triennial)	SDEPM	8c, 9a	HOM PIL
Spawning/Pre-spawning Herring/Boarfish Acoustic Survey	WESPAS_IRL	6a, 7a-g	BOC HER
Biomass of Anchovy	BIOMAN	8	ANE PIL
Nephrops UWTV Survey	UWTV11-13, UWTV14, UWTV15, UWTV16-17, UWTV19, UWTV20-22, UWTV30	6a, 7a, 7b, 7ghj, 9a	NEP LDB GFB SHO
Nephrops Survey Offshore Portugal (FU 28-29)	NepS	9a	NEP
Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey	CSHAS_IRL	6a, 7gj	HER
Acoustic Survey on Sardine and Anchovy	ECOCADIZ_ESP	9a	ANE
Swept Area Trawl Survey for Mackerel	IESSNS	2, 3aN, 4, 5, 14	MAC HER WHB
Acoustic Survey for Juvenile Anchovy in the Bay of Biscay	JUVENA_ESP	8a-d	ANE
Bay of Biscay Demersal Resources Survey	ORHAGO_Q4_FRA	8ab	SOL
Deepwater Longline Survey	PALPRO_ESP	8c	GFB
Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey	IAMS_IRL	6a, 7	MON ANK ANF MEG LEZ LDB
Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (industry-science survey)	SIAMISS_GBS	4a, 4b, 6a, 6b	ANF LEZ
Western Channel Celtic Sea Pelagic Survey	PELTIC	7de	PIL ANE SPR
Herring Acoustic Survey	ISAS	7a	HER
Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea
Pan-Mediterranean Acoustic Survey	MEDIAS	GSA 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22	ANE PIL	Mediterranean and Black Sea RCG
Bottom Trawl Survey in Black Sea	BTSBS	GSA 29	DGS TUR WHG
Pelagic Trawl Survey in Black Sea	PTSBS	GSA 29	SPR
International Bottom Trawl Survey in the Mediterranean	MEDITS	GSA 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25	according to the target species list from a relevant MEDITS handbook
Beam Trawl Survey (GSA 17)	SOLEMON	GSA 17	CTC MTS SOL
Bluefin Tuna Larval Survey	TUNIBAL	GSA 5, 6 (Balearic Sea)	ALB BFT	Large pelagic RCG

CHAPTER II

Thresholds for data collection

This Chapter sets thresholds for the collection of Union fisheries data specified in Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 (2).

It is not mandatory for Member States to collect biological data for certain stocks where one of the following conditions is met:

(a) their share of the relevant (individual or combined) TAC is less than 10 % of the Union total, unless the sum of the shares of the Member States concerned exceeds 25 % of the TAC; or

(b) where no TAC is fixed, the total landings of a Member State from a stock are less than 10 % of the relevant average total European Union landings in the previous 3 years; or

(c) the total annual landings of a Member State from a stock are less than 200 tonnes. For species with a specific management need, a lower threshold may be defined at marine region level.

Where the collective 25 % threshold referred to in point (a) is reached, the Member States concerned shall share tasks relating to the collection of biological data at marine region level to ensure that the relevant stocks are covered by sampling in accordance with end-user needs.

For species under tuna regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), thresholds as set out in RFMO requirements shall apply.

No thresholds shall apply to:

(a) diadromous species; and

(b) sensitive species as defined in Article 6(8) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).

No thresholds shall apply to obtaining catch estimates from recreational catches. Thresholds on biological data collection from recreational catches shall be agreed and coordinated at marine region level and shall be based on end user needs.

Without prejudice to specific international obligations under RFMOs, it is not mandatory to collect biological data where the Union’s share of an internationally exploited stock is less than 10 %.

As regards the collection of social, economic and environmental data on aquaculture:

(a) it is not mandatory for Member States to collect such data if their total aquaculture production is less than 1 % of total Union aquaculture production by both weight and value;

(b) it is not mandatory for Member States to collect such data for species accounting for less than 5 % of the Member State’s aquaculture production by both weight and value; and

(c) where the total aquaculture production of a Member State is between 1 % and 2,5 % of total Union aquaculture production by both weight and value, that Member State may use simplified methodologies to estimate such data.

The thresholds referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) shall be calculated on the basis of the latest Eurostat publication of the relevant Member State’s data.

Without prejudice to points (a), (b) and (c), Member States shall collect data on the value and weight of their aquaculture production, on a yearly basis.

CHAPTER III

Geographical stratification by region

For the purposes of the collection of Union fisheries data specified in the Annex to Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167, the definitions of the geographical areas of marine regions listed in table 2 below shall apply.

Table 2

Geographical stratification by region

Areas that should be covered for DCF purposes		Region	Supra region (4)
Baltic Sea (FAO area 27)	ICES areas 3b-d	Baltic Sea	Baltic Sea; North Sea; Eastern Arctic; NAFO; extended North Western waters (ICES areas 5, 6 and 7) and extended South Western waters (ICES areas 10, 12 and 14)
Eastern Arctic, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, North Sea and Eastern Channel, North-East Atlantic and Western Channel (FAO area 27)	ICES areas 1, 2, 3a, 4 and 7d	North Sea and Eastern Arctic
	ICES zones 5, 6, 7 (excluding 7d), 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14	North-East Atlantic
North-West Atlantic (FAO area 21)	NAFO Convention area	Other regions where fisheries are operated outside EU waters by Community vessels and are under reporting obligations to Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO) or regional fisheries bodies to which the Community is contracting party or observer.
Eastern Central Atlantic (FAO area 34)	CECAF Convention area		Other regions
Western Central Atlantic (FAO area 31)	WECAFC (*1) Convention area
South-East Atlantic (FAO area 47)	SEAFO Convention area
South Pacific (FAO area 81 and 87)	SPRFMO Convention area
Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas (FAO 21, 27, 31, 37, 41, 47, 34, 48)	ICCAT Convention area
Indian Ocean (FAO area 51 and 57)	IOTC Convention area
Indian Ocean (FAO area 51 and 57)	SIOFA Convention area
Indian Ocean (FAO area 51 and 57)	CCSBT Convention area
Western Central Pacific (FAO area 71)	WCPFC Convention area
Eastern Central Pacific (FAO area 77 and 87)	IATTC Convention area
Antarctic and Southern Indian Ocean (FAO area 48, 58 and 88)	CCAMLR Convention area
EU Outermost Regions	EU waters around Mayotte and la Réunion Islands	Outermost regions
	EU waters around French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe islands
	EU waters around Azores (FAO 27.10.a.2)		Baltic Sea; North Sea; Eastern Arctic; NAFO; extended North Western waters (ICES areas 5, 6 and 7) and extended South Western waters (ICES areas 10, 12 and 14)
	EU waters around Madeira and Canary Islands (FAO 34.1.2)
Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea (FAO area 37)	GFCM GSA 1-29	Mediterranean and Black Sea	Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea

(1) Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (

OJ L 149, 20.5.2014, p. 1

(2) Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2021/1167 of 27 April 2021 establishing the multiannual Union programme for the collection and management of biological, environmental, technical and socioeconomic data in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors from 2022 (OJ L 253, … 51).

(3) Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005 (

OJ L 198, 25.7.2019, p. 105

(4) Each vessel not engaged in long distance fishing shall be allocated to a supra region based on the number of days at sea (more than 50 %) spent in the supra region.

(

)

excluding EU waters