2023/2810

15.12.2023

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/2810

of 11 December 2023

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/862

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) By Council Decision 2005/75/EC (1), the Union acceded to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (‘WCPF Convention’), which established the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

(2) The WCPFC adopts conservation and management measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of highly migratory fish stocks in the WCPF Convention Area and promote their optimum utilisation. Such measures may become binding upon the Union.

(3) Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) provides that the Union is to ensure that fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed in a way that is consistent with the objectives of achieving economic, social and employment benefits, and of contributing to the availability of food supplies. It also provides that the Union is to apply the precautionary approach to fisheries management and is to aim to ensure that exploitation of living marine biological resources restores and maintains the population of harvested species above levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield. It further provides that the Union is to take management and conservation measures based on the best available scientific advice, to support the development of scientific knowledge and advice, to gradually eliminate discards and to promote fishing methods that contribute to more selective fishing and the avoidance and reduction, as far as possible, of unwanted catches, to fishing with low impact on marine ecosystem and fishery resources. Furthermore, Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 specifically provides that those objectives and principles are to be applied by the Union in the conduct of its external fisheries relations.

(4) In line with the Communications from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives’, ‘Forging a climate-resilient Europe — the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change’ and ‘A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system’, it is essential to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. Climate change and loss of biodiversity are not to jeopardise the availability of the goods and services that healthy marine ecosystems provide to fishers, coastal communities and humanity at large.

(5) The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy’ refers to specific measures to reduce plastics and marine pollution as well as the loss or abandonment at sea of fishing gear. Furthermore, the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All EU Action Plan: Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’ aims at reducing by 50 % plastic litter at sea and by 30 % micro-plastics released into the environment.

(6) The Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions ‘Setting the course for a sustainable blue planet’ emphasises the importance of marine biodiversity protection and conservation under the Union’s external action. The Union is the most prominent actor in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and fisheries bodies worldwide. There, the Union promotes the sustainability of fish stocks, promotes transparent decision making based on sound scientific advice, enhances scientific research, and strengthens compliance.

(7) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the meetings of the WCPFC for the period 2024-2028, as the WCPFC conservation and enforcement measures may be binding on the Union and capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law, namely, Council Regulations (EC) No 1005/2008 (3), (EC) No 1224/2009 (4) and Regulations (EU) 2017/2403 (5) and (EU) 2022/2056 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6).

(8) Currently, the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the meetings of the WCPFC is established by Council Decision (EU) 2019/862 (7). It is appropriate to repeal that Decision and to replace it by a new Decision which would cover the period 2024-2028.

(9) In view of the evolving nature of fishery resources in the WCPF Convention Area and the consequent need for the Union’s position to take account of new developments, including new scientific and other relevant information presented before or during the meetings of the WCPFC, procedures should be established, in line with the principle of sincere cooperation among the Union institutions enshrined in Article 13(2) of the Treaty on European Union, for the year-to-year specification of the Union’s position for the period 2024-2028,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the meetings of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is set out in Annex I.

Article 2

The year-to-year specification of the Union’s position to be taken in the meetings of the WCPFC shall be conducted in accordance with Annex II.

Article 3

The Union’s position set out in Annex I shall be assessed and, where appropriate, revised by the Council upon a proposal from the Commission, at the latest for the annual meeting of the WCPFC in 2029.

Article 4

Decision (EU) 2019/862 is hereby repealed.

Article 5

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 11 December 2023.

For the Council

The President

L. PLANAS PUCHADES

(1)  Council Decision 2005/75/EC of 26 April 2004 on the accession of the Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (

OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, 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)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999 (

OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 1

).

(4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (

OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1

).

(5)  Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 (

OJ L 347, 28.12.2017, p. 81

).

(6)  Regulation (EU) 2022/2056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 laying down conservation and management measures applicable in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Area and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 (

OJ L 276, 26.10.2022, p. 1

).

(7)  Council Decision (EU) 2019/862 of 14 May 2019 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), and repealing the Decision of 12 June 2014 on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the Union, for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the WCPFC (

OJ L 140, 28.5.2019, p. 44

).

ANNEX I

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)

1.   PRINCIPLES

In the framework of the WCPFC, the Union shall:

(a) ensure that measures adopted within the WCPFC are consistent with international law, and in particular with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 1995 UN Agreement relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, the 1993 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Agreement to promote compliance with international conservation and management measures by fishing vessels on the high seas, and the 2009 FAO Port State Measures Agreement;

(b) promote the objectives of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction and at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular as regards stepping up the protection of marine biodiversity and the protection of 30 % of the world’s ocean through marine protected areas;

(c) contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal, in line with the Council Conclusions of 23 October 2020 on Biodiversity – the need for urgent action, the Council Conclusions of 10 June 2021 on Forging a climate-resilient Europe – the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, notably concerning the protection of nature, and with the Council Conclusions of 19 October 2020 on the Farm to Fork Strategy, and a stronger Europe in the world;

(d) act in accordance with the objectives and principles pursued by the Union within the common fisheries policy, notably through the precautionary approach and the aims related to the maximum sustainable yield as laid down in Article 2(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, to promote the implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, to avoid and reduce, as far as possible, unwanted catches, and gradually eliminate discards, and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine ecosystems and their habitats, as well as, through the promotion of economically viable and competitive Union fisheries, to provide a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities and taking account of the interests of consumers;

(e) be in line with the Council Conclusions of 19 March 2012 on the Commission Communication on the external dimension of the common fisheries policy;

(f) be in line with the Council Conclusions of 13 December 2022 on International Ocean Governance for safe, secure, clean, healthy and sustainably managed oceans and seas regarding marine biodiversity conservation;

(g) work towards an appropriate involvement of stakeholders in the preparation phase for WCPFC measures and ensure that measures adopted within the WCPFC are in accordance with the objectives of the WCPFC Convention;

(h) promote positions consistent with the best practices of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs);

(i) seek consistency and synergy with the policy that the Union is pursuing as part of its bilateral fisheries relations with third countries, and ensure coherence with its other policies notably in the field of external relations, employment, environment, trade, development, research and innovation;

(j) aim to create a level playing field for the Union fleet within the WCPFC Convention Area based on the same principles and standards as those applicable under Union law, and to promote the uniform implementation of those principles and standards;

(k) promote coordination between the WCPFC, existing RFMOs and regional sea conventions and cooperation with global organisations, as applicable, within their mandates, where appropriate;

(l) promote cooperation mechanisms amongst tuna RFMOs via the so-called Kobe process for tuna RFMOs.

2.   ORIENTATIONS

The Union shall, where appropriate, endeavour to support the adoption of the following actions by the WCPFC:

(a) measures to promote the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems and biodiversity and to promote the sustainability of stocks, taking into account climate change considerations;

(b) conservation and management measures for fisheries resources in the WCPFC Convention Area based on the best scientific advice available, such as total allowable catches and quotas or effort regulation in fisheries harvesting living marine biological resources regulated by the WCPFC, with the aim to restore or maintain these resources at least at levels able to produce maximum sustainable yield. Where necessary, those conservation and management measures shall include specific measures for stocks which suffer from overfishing to keep the fishing effort at levels commensurate with the recovery of these stocks;

(c) measures to promote fisheries data collection to enable robust stock assessments, support the scientific work of the Scientific Committee of the WCPFC and underpin science-based management decisions, measures aiming at strengthening its compliance committee, promoting a culture of compliance and undertaking periodical independent performance reviews;

(d) strengthen cooperation between the WCPFC and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to ensure a coherent approach to the conservation of the relevant marine species in particular regarding data collection to enable robust stock assessments;

(e) measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in the WCPFC Convention Area, including IUU vessel listing and cross-listing with other RFMOs, and measures to promote the traceability of fish and fishery products based on the Voluntary Guidelines for Catch Documentation Schemes;

(f) monitoring, control and surveillance measures in the WCPFC Convention Area in order to ensure efficiency of control and compliance with measures adopted within the WCPFC including the strengthening of control on transhipment operations based on the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Transhipment;

(g) measures to minimise the negative impact of fishing activities on marine biodiversity and marine ecosystems and their habitats, including protective measures for vulnerable marine ecosystems in the WCPFC Convention Area in line with the WCPFC Convention and the FAO International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas, measures to avoid and reduce as far as possible unwanted catches, including in particular vulnerable marine species, and to gradually eliminate discards;

(h) measures to reduce marine pollution and prevent the discharge of plastics at sea and reduce the impact on marine biodiversity and ecosystems of plastics present at sea, including measures to reduce the impact of Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear in the ocean and to facilitate the identification and recovery of such gear based on the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear;

(i) measures aimed at the prohibition of fisheries conducted solely for the purpose of harvesting shark fins and requiring that all sharks are landed with each fin naturally attached;

(j) recommendations, where appropriate and to the extent permitted under the relevant constituent documents, encouraging the implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention of the International Labour Organisation;

(k) common approaches with other RFMOs, where appropriate, in particular those involved in fisheries management in the same region;

(l) additional technical measures based on advice from the subsidiary bodies and working groups of the WCPFC;

(m) measures consistent with the objectives of achieving economic, social and employment benefits, and of contributing to the availability of food supplies.

ANNEX II

Year-to-year specification of the Union’s position to be taken at meetings of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)

Before each meeting of the WCPFC, when that body is called upon to adopt decisions having legal effects on the Union, the necessary steps shall be taken so that the position to be expressed on the Union’s behalf takes account of the latest scientific and other relevant information transmitted to the Commission, in accordance with the principles and orientations set out in Annex I.

To this effect, and based on that information, the Commission shall transmit to the Council, or to its preparatory bodies, in sufficient time before each meeting of the WCPFC, a written document setting out the particulars of the proposed specification of the Union’s position for discussion and endorsement of the details of the position to be expressed on the Union’s behalf.

If in the course of a WCFPC meeting it is impossible to reach an agreement, including on the spot, in order for the Union’s position to take account of new elements, the matter shall be referred to the Council or its preparatory bodies.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2810/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)