Council Regulation (EC) No 1591/2006 of 24 October 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 51/2006 as regards provisions on vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries in the North-East Atlantic

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the common fisheries policy (1), and in particular Article 20 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 51/2006 (2) fixes for 2006 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required.

(2) The North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) made a recommendation in February 2004 regarding vessels having engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries. In May 2006, NEAFC made a recommendation to amend the provisions regarding IUU fisheries, such that vessels that have been confirmed to have engaged in IUU fisheries shall not be allowed to enter a Community port. Implementation of that recommendation in the Community legal order should be ensured.

(3) Regulation (EC) No 51/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex III, point 13 to Regulation (EC) No 51/2006 shall be replaced by the following:

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day 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 Luxembourg, 24 October 2006.

For the Council The President J. KORKEAOJA

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59.

(2) OJ L 16, 20.1.2006, p. 1.