According to Article 43(3) of the Treaty, the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities.

Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy2 requires the Council to establish measures governing access to waters and resources and the sustainable pursuit of fishing activities, taking into account available scientific, technical and economic advice and in particular reports drawn up by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).

It is incumbent upon the Council to establish the total allowable catches (TAC) by fishery or group of fisheries. Fishing opportunities should be distributed among Member States in such a way as to assure each Member State relative stability of fishing activities for each stock or fishery and having due regard to the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy established in Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002. Moreover, in order for the fishing opportunities to be optimal and applied in an effective way, certain conditions essential to and functionally linked to them should be fixed.

The TACs should be established on the basis of the available scientific advice and by taking into account the biological and socio-economic aspects whilst ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors. In this regard, it is necessary to take account of the opinions expressed during the consultation of stakeholders, in particular at the meeting on 23 July 2009 with the Advisory Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture, the concerned Regional Advisory Councils and Member States and on 29 September 2009 with the Advisory Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture and the concerned Regional Advisory Councils.

Council Regulation (EC) No 388/2006 of 23 February 2006 establishing a multiannual plan for the sustainable exploitation of the stock of sole in the Bay of Biscay5, Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2007 of 7 May 2007 establishing a multi-annual plan for the sustainable exploitation of the stock of sole in the Western Channel6, Council Regulation (EC) No 676/2007 of 11 June 2007 establishing a multiannual plan for fisheries exploiting stocks of plaice and sole in the North Sea7, Council Regulation (EC) No 1300/2008 of 18 December 2008 establishing a multi-annual plan for the stock of herring distributed to the west of Scotland and the fisheries exploiting that stock8, Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 and Council Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 of 6 April 2009 concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean9 respectively.

In accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96, the stocks that are subject to the various measures referred to therein must be identified.

Fishing operations conducted solely for the purpose of scientific investigations should not be included in the scope of this Regulation, with the exception of the operations carried out by vessels participating in initiatives regarding fully documented fisheries.

For certain species, such as certain species of sharks, even a limited fishing activity could result in a serious risk to their conservation. Fishing opportunities for such species should therefore be fully restricted through a general prohibition to fish those species.

It is necessary to establish the maximum allowable effort ceilings for 2010 in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2166/2005, Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 509/2007, Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 676/2007, Articles 11 and 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008 and Articles 5 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 302/2009, while taking into account Council Regulation (EC) No 754/2009 of 27 July 2009 excluding certain groups of vessels from the fishing effort regime laid down in Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1342/200810.

It is necessary, following the advice from the ICES, to maintain and revise a system to manage the fishing effort on sandeel in EU waters of ICES zones IIa, IIIa and IV.

In the light of the most recent scientific advice from the ICES and in accordance with the international commitments in the context of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Convention (NEAFC), it is necessary to limit the fishing effort on certain deep-sea species.

Council Regulation (EC) No 2347/2002 of 16 December 2002 establishing specific access requirements and associated conditions applicable to fishing for deep-sea stocks17, Council Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 of 4 November 2003 on the management of the fishing effort relating to certain Community fishing areas and resources18, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003 of 18 December 2003 laying down detailed provisions regarding satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems19, Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 of 22 March 2004 laying down certain control measures applicable to fishing activities in the area covered by the Convention on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources20, Council Regulation (EC) No 2115/2005 of 20 December 2005 establishing a recovery plan for Greenland halibut in the framework of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation21,

Regulation (EC) No 2166/2005, Regulation (EC) No 388/2006, Council Regulation (EC) No 1966/2006 of 21 December 2006 on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities and on means of remote sensing22, Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea23, Regulation (EC) No 509/2007, Council Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 of 7 May 2007 laying down technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species24, Regulation (EC) No 676/2007, Council Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007 of 22 October 2007 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation25, Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing26, Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 of 29 September 2008 concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters27,

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1077/2008 of 3 November 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1966/2006 on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities and on means of remote sensing28, Regulation (EC) No 1300/2008, Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008, Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic (recast)29, Regulation (EC) No 217/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of catch and activity statistics by Member States fishing in the north-west Atlantic (recast)30, Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic (recast)31, Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 and 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 policy32.

In accordance with the procedure provided for in the agreements or protocols on fisheries relations with Norway33, the Faroe Islands34 and Greenland35, the Union has held consultations on fishing rights with those partners. The consultations with Greenland were concluded on 25 November 2009 with the establishment of the fishing opportunities available for 2010 for EU vessels in Greenland waters. The consultations with the Faroe Islands and Norway have not been finalised and the arrangements for 2010 with those partners are expected to be concluded early 2010. In order to avoid interruption of Union fishing activities whilst allowing for the necessary flexibility for the conclusion of those arrangements early 2010, it is appropriate for the Union to establish the fishing opportunities for stocks subject to those arrangements on a provisional basis awaiting their conclusion.

The Union is a contracting party to several fisheries organisations and participates in other organisations as a cooperating non-party. Moreover, by virtue of the 2003 Act of Accession fisheries agreements previously concluded by the Republic of Poland, such as the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock resources in the central Bering Sea, are as from the date of accession of Poland to the European Union managed by the Union. Those fisheries organisations have recommended the introduction for 2010 of a number of measures, including fishing opportunities for EU vessels. Those fishing opportunities should be implemented by the Union.

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) failed to adopt catch limitations for yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and skipjack tuna at its Annual Meeting in 2009, and although the Union is not a member of the IATTC, it is necessary to regulate the fishing opportunities for resource under the jurisdiction of the IATTC in order to ensure its sustainable management.

At its Annual Meeting in 2009, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) adopted tables indicating the under-utilisation and over-utilisation of the fishing possibilities of the ICCAT contracting parties. In that context, ICCAT adopted a decision observing that during the year 2008, the Union had under-exploited its quota for Northern and Southern swordfish, bigeye tuna and Northern albacore. In order to respect the adjustments to the Union quotas established by the ICCAT, it is necessary for the distribution of the fishing opportunities arising from this under-utilisation to be carried out on the basis of the respective contribution of each Member State towards the under-utilisation without modifying the distribution key established in this Regulation concerning the annual allocation of TACs. At the same meeting the recovery plan for bluefin tuna was amended. ICCAT further adopted a recommendation on the conservation of bigeye thresher sharks. In order to contribute to the conservation of fish stocks it is necessary to implement those measures.

During the Third International Meeting, held in May 2007, for the creation of a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) in the high seas of the South Pacific, the participants adopted interim measures, including fishing opportunities, in order to regulate pelagic fishing activities as well as bottom fisheries in that area until the establishment of such RFMO. Those measures were revised during the Eighth International Meeting for the creation of that SPRFMO held in November 2009. According to the agreement reached by the participants, those interim measures are voluntary and are not legally binding under international law. It is nevertheless advisable, in the light of the related provisions of the United Nations Fish Stock Agreement, to incorporate those measures into Union law.

At its Annual Meeting in 2009, the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) adopted catch limits for two additional fish stocks in the SEAFO Convention Area. It is necessary to implement those catch limits into Union law.

For continuity reasons, certain third-country fishing vessels should be allowed to fish in EU waters under certain conditions and subject to Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 and its implementing provisions.

Within the context of establishing fishing opportunities and in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008, the Council may, on the basis of information provided by Member States and assessed by the STECF, exclude certain groups of vessels from the effort regime established in that Regulation, provided that appropriate data is available on cod catches and discards of the vessels concerned, that the percentage of cod catches does not exceed 1,5 % of the total catches of the group of vessels and that the inclusion of the group in the effort regime would constitute an administrative burden disproportionate to its overall impact on cod stocks. Poland provided information on the cod catches by a group of vessels consisting of one vessel targeting saithe in the North Sea with bottom trawls of mesh size equal to or larger than 100 mm. The United Kingdom provided information on the cod catches of two groups of vessels using bottom trawls to the west of Scotland. On the basis of that information as assessed by STECF, it can be established that the cod catches, including discards, of those groups of vessels do not exceed 1,5 % of their total catches. Having moreover regard to control and monitoring measures in place ensuring the monitoring and control of the fishing activities of those groups of vessels and considering that the inclusion of these groups would constitute an administrative burden disproportionate to the overall impact of that inclusion on cod stocks, it is appropriate to exclude those groups of vessels from the application of Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008, thus allowing to establish the effort limits for the concerned Member States accordingly.

In accordance with Article 291 of the Treaty, the measures necessary for the fixing of the catch limits for certain short-lived stocks should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission36 for reasons of urgency,