COMMISSION DECISION

of 26 July 2010

on the allocation to Portugal of additional days at sea within ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz

(notified under document C(2010) 5011)

(Only the Portuguese text is authentic)

(2010/415/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 53/2010 of 14 January 2010 fixing for 2010 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of stocks, applicable in EU waters and, for EU vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required(1), and in particular point 7 of Annex IIB thereto,

Whereas:

(1) Point 5.1 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 53/2010 specifies the maximum number of days on which Union vessels of an overall length equal to or greater than 10 metres carrying on board trawls, Danish seines and similar gears of mesh size equal to or lager than 32 mm and gill-nets of mesh size equal to or lager than 60 mm and bottom long-lines may be present within ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz from 1 February 2010 to 31 January 2011.

(2) Point 7 of Annex IIB enables the Commission to allocate an additional number of days at sea on which a vessel may be present within the geographical area when carrying on board such fishing gears, on the basis of permanent cessations of fishing activities that have taken place since 1 January 2004.

(3) On 8 February, 23 February, 25 March and 22 April 2010 Portugal submitted data demonstrating that 28 fishing vessels have ceased activities since 1 January 2004. In view of the data submitted and having regard to the method of calculation laid down in point 7.1 of Annex IIB, 19 additional days at sea for vessels carrying on board the fishing gears specified in point 2(a) of the same Annex shall be allocated to Portugal for the period from 1 February 2010 to 31 January 2011.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.   The maximum number of days on which a fishing vessel flying the flag of Portugal and carrying on board fishing gear, mentioned in point 2(a) of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 53/2010 and not subject to any of the special conditions listed in point 5.2 of that Annex may be present in ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz, as laid down in Table I of that Annex, shall be amended to 177 days per year.

2.   The maximum number of days referred to in paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to any future decision taken by the Commission on the basis of point 7.5 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 53/2010 concerning the reassessment of the additional number of days resulting from permanent cessations of activity previously allocated by the Commission.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Portuguese Republic.

Done at Brussels, 26 July 2010.

For the Commission

Maria DAMANAKI

Member of the Commission

(1)  

OJ L 21, 26.1.2010, p. 1

.