Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 902/2014 of 19 August 2014 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1415/2004 as regards the adaptation for the United Kingdom of the maximum annual fishing effort in certain fishing areas

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 of 4 November 2003 on the management of the fishing effort relating to certain Community fishing areas and resources⁽¹⁾, and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,

Whereas:

1. Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 provides for the adoption of a Regulation fixing the maximum annual fishing effort for each Member State and for each area and fishery defined in Articles 3 and 6 of that Regulation. Accordingly, Council Regulation (EC) No 1415/2004⁽²⁾ established the maximum annual fishing effort for those fishing areas and fisheries.

2. According to Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 the Commission may, upon request of a Member State, shift the fishing effort between areas or divisions in order to allow the Member State to fully take up its fishing possibilities.

3. On 2 June 2014, the United Kingdom requested the Commission to transfer 30 000 kW days from ICES area VII to ICES area VIII. On 16 June 2014, the United Kingdom submitted additional information on the utilisation of quotas and the operation of vessels in ICES area VIII. The information provided by the United Kingdom warrants the requested shift of fishing effort between the areas concerned.

4. Regulation (EC) No 1415/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

5. The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: