Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2604of 15 November 2023establishing a fisheries closure for bottom trawl vessels flying the flag of Italy and targeting European hake in the Strait of Sicily (GFCM geographical subareas 12-13-14-15-16)

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2604 of 15 November 2023 establishing a fisheries closure for bottom trawl vessels flying the flag of Italy and targeting European hake in the Strait of Sicily (GFCM geographical subareas 12-13-14-15-16) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to 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 OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1. , and in particular Article 36(2) thereof, Whereas: (1) Council Regulation (EU) 2023/195 Council Regulation (EU) 2023/195 of 30 January 2023 fixing for 2023 the fishing opportunities for certain stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/110 as regards the fishing opportunities for 2022 applicable in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas (OJ L 28, 31.1.2023, p. 220). lays down fishing opportunities for 2023. (2) According to the information received by the Commission, the maximum allowable fishing effort for bottom trawl vessels flying the flag of or registered in Italy and targeting European hake in the Strait of Sicily (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean geographical subareas 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16), is deemed to have been reached for 2023. (3) It is therefore necessary to prohibit certain fishing activities for that stock group, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Effort exhaustion The maximum allowable fishing effort allocated to Italy for bottom trawl vessels targeting European hake in the Strait of Sicily (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean geographical subareas 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) for 2023 referred to in the Annex shall be deemed to be reached from the date set out in that Annex.

Article 2

Prohibitions Fishing activities for the stock referred to in Article 1 by bottom trawl vessels flying the flag of or registered in Italy shall be prohibited from the date set out in the Annex. In particular it shall be prohibited to retain on board, relocate, tranship or land fish from that stock caught by those vessels after that date.

Article 3

Entry into force This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 15 November 2023. For the Commission, On behalf of the President, Virginijus Sinkevičius Member of the Commission

Annex

ANNEX No14/TQ195Member StateItalyFishing effort group codeEFF4/MED4_OTB2Stock groupEuropean hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12-13-14-15-16)Vessels concernedBottom trawl vessels T-10Closing date10 October 2023