Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 51/2006 of 22 December 2005 fixing for 2006 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of stocks, applicable in Community waters and for Community vessels in waters where catch limitations are required^f1, and in particular point 10 of Annex IIA,

Whereas:

Point 8 of Annex IIA to Regulation (EC) No 51/2006 specifies the maximum number of days on which Community vessels of an overall length equal to or greater than 10 meters carrying on board beam trawls of mesh sizes equal to or larger than 80 mm may be present within Skagerrak, Area IV, Divisions IIa (EC waters) and VIId, within Division VIIa and within Division VIa as defined in point 2 of Annex IIA from 1 February 2006 to 31 January 2007.

Point 10 of Annex IIA enables the Commission to allocate an additional number of fishing days on which a vessel may be present within the geographical area when carrying on board such beam trawls, on the basis of permanent cessations of fishing activities that have taken place since 1 January 2002.

The Netherlands submitted data demonstrating that vessels, which have ceased activities since 1 January 2002, deployed 14,18 % of the fishing effort deployed in 2001 by Dutch vessels present within the geographical area and carrying on board beam trawls of mesh size equal to or greater than 80 mm. Within the philosophy of Regulation (EC) No 51/2006, the Dutch Authorities have committed themselves to reduce the fishing effort deployed in flatfish fisheries.

In view of the data submitted, 20 or 22 additional days at sea should be allocated to the Netherlands for the period between 1 February 2006 and 31 January 2007 for vessels carrying on board beam trawls of groupings of fishing gears 4.b.i, 4.b.ii, 4.b.iii and 4.b.iv, according to whether they are or are not subjected to the special conditions laid down in point 8.1.(c), 8.1.(e) and 8.1.(i) of Annex IIA to Regulation (EC) No 51/2006.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: