Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2868of 13 December 2023establishing a fisheries closure for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean for vessels flying the flag of Cyprus

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2868 of 13 December 2023 establishing a fisheries closure for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean for vessels flying the flag of Cyprus 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) 2023/194 Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194 of 30 January 2023 fixing for 2023 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, as well as fixing for 2023 and 2024 such fishing opportunities for certain deep-sea fish stocks (OJ L 28, 31.1.2023, p. 1). lays down quotas for 2023. (2) According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Cyprus have exhausted the quota allocated for 2023. (3) It is therefore necessary to prohibit certain fishing activities for that stock, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Quota exhaustion The fishing quota allocated for 2023 to Cyprus for the stock of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean referred to in the Annex shall be deemed to be exhausted from the date set out in that Annex.

Article 2

Prohibitions Fishing activities for the stock referred to in Article 1 by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Cyprus 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, 13 December 2023. For the Commission, On behalf of the President, Virginijus Sinkevičius Member of the Commission

Annex

ANNEX No19/TQ194Member StateCyprusStockBFT/AE45WM (including special conditions BFT/641, BFT/643, BFT/8301, BFT/8302, BFT/8303F)SpeciesBluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)ZoneAtlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and MediterraneanClosing date5 June 2023