Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/262of 2 February 2025reopening the fishery for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean by vessels flying the flag of Greece, by repealing Regulation (EU) 2024/3250

Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/262 of 2 February 2025 reopening the fishery for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean by vessels flying the flag of Greece, by repealing Regulation (EU) 2024/3250 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. , 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, and in particular Article 36(2) thereof, Whereas: (1) Council Regulation (EU) 2024/257 Council Regulation (EU) 2024/257 of 10 January 2024 fixing for 2024, 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/194 (OJ L, 2024/257, 11.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/257/oj). lays down quotas for 2024. (2) On 4 December 2024, Greece notified the Commission, pursuant to Article 35(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, of its decision to prohibit fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean as from 7 November 2024. (3) Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3250 Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3250 of 20 December 2024 establishing a fisheries closure for Bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean for vessels flying the flag of Greece (OJ L, 2024/3250, 31.12.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3250/oj). prohibited fishing for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean for vessels flying the flag of Greece. (4) According to the information received by the Commission on 10 December 2024 from the Greek authorities, a quantity is again available to Greece for the quota for that stock following exchanges of fishing opportunities concluded under Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 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, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1380/oj). . Consequently, the fishery for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Greece should be reopened until further notice. (5) That reopening of fishery should take effect on 9 December 2024, in order to allow the quantity of bluefin tuna in question to be fished before the end of 2024.

(6) Regulation (EU) 2024/3250 should therefore be repealed with effect from 9 December 2024. (7) Such retroactive application does not affect the principle of legal certainty and protection of legitimate expectations as a quota is again available for that stock, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The fishery for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45° W, and Mediterranean for the 2024 fishing season by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Greece referred to in the Annex is reopened. Regulation (EU) 2024/3250 is repealed.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 9 December 2024. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 2 February 2025. For the Commission, On behalf of the President, Costas Kadis Member of the Commission

Annex

ANNEX No32/TQ257 – ReopeningMember StateGreeceStockBFT/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 date7 November 2024Reopening date9 December 2024