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European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products
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For the sixth year, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) coordinates the Joint Deployment Plan (JDP) for the Blue Fin Tuna fishery in the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic waters for 2013.
The European Fisheries Control Agency has presented the new tools to develop a culture of compliance in a reformed Common Fisheries Policy at the European Parliament today. Indeed, in the context of the new policy being designed, the EFCA, within its mandate, is ready to contribute to the success of the new CFP and the key features of regionalisation and discard ban and develop the necessary tools.
The European Fisheries Control Agency is delighted to invite you to a Hearing at the European Parliament entitled `Tools to improve a Culture of Compliance in the European Fisheries - a EFCA contribution´. More information is available on the EFCA website.

Infringements and sanctions

EU point system for serious fisheries infringements

To ensure that fishing rules are applied in the same way in all member countries, and to harmonise the way infringements are sanctioned, the EU has established a list of serious infringements of the rules of the common fisheries policy. EU countries must include in their legislation effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions, and ensure that the rules are respected.

As from 1 January 2012, EU countries should have introduced  a point system for serious infringements. Under the scheme, national authorities will:

  • assess alleged infringements involving vessels registered under its flag, using standard EU definitions
  • impose a pre-set number of penalty points on vessels involved in serious infringements (points are recorded in the national registry of fisheries offences)
  • suspend the vessel’s licence for 2, 4, 8 or 12 months when a pre-set number of points have been accumulated in a 3-year period.

Points are attributed to the fishing licence that is linked to a vessel, so they will stay with the vessel even when it is sold on to a new owner.

Detailed rules for the point system have been drawn up at EU level in close cooperation with EU governments.

EU countries will also be required to establish a point system for masters of fishing vessels.

The point system does not introduce new sanctions and does not interfere with the discretionary power of the national judge in assessing the facts of the case and the gravity of the behaviour in question.

Official documents

Corrigendum to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy 

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 404/2011 
of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy

Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community 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