18.6.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 156/1 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 919/2005 of 13 June 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 8272004 as regards the prohibition of imports of Atlantic bigeye tuna from Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 826/2004 prohibiting imports of blue-fin tuna from Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone and Regulation (EC) No 828/2004 prohibiting imports of swordfish from Sierra Leone THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (4 Since the adoption of resolution 98-18, ICCAT has iden- tified Bolivia, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia and Sierra Leone as countries whose vessels fish Atlantic bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in a manner which diminishes the effectiveness of its conservation and management measures, substantiating its findings with data concerning catches, trade and the activities of vessels. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, (5)  ICCAT has also identified Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Whereas: Leone as countries whose vessels fish Atlantic blue-fin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in a manner which diminishes the effectiveness of its conservation and management (1) The Community has been a Contracting Party to the measures. International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas signed in Rio de Janeiro on 14 May 1966, as amended by the Protocol annexed to the (6)  ICCAT has furthermore identified Sierra Leone as country Final Act of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the whose vessels fish Atlantic swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in a States Parties to the Convention signed at Paris on manner which diminishes the effectiveness of its conser- 10 July 1984 (the ICCAT Convention) since 14 vation and management measures. November 1997, following the adoption of Council Decision 86/238/EEC ('). (7 Imports of Atlantic bigeye tuna originating in Bolivia, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia and Sierra Leone () The ICCAT Convention provides a framework for are currently prohibited by Regulation (EC) No regional cooperation in the conservation and 827/2004 (%). management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas through the estab- lishment of an Ir.ltemational Commission for the Cpnser— (8)  Imports of Atlantic blue-fin tuna originating in Equatorial vation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the adoption by Guinea and Sierra Leone are currently prohibited by the latter of conservation and management measures Regulation (EC) No 826/2004 (3). which become binding on the contracting parties. (9)  Imports of Atlantic swordfish originating in Sierra Leone () In 1998, ICCAT adopted resolution 98-18 concerning are currently prohibited by Regulation (EC) No the unreported and unregulated catches of tuna by 828/2004 (4. large-scale longline vessels in the Convention area. That resolution established procedures for the identification of countries whose vessels had fished for tuna and tuna-like (1) At its 14th Special Meeting in 2004, ICCAT species in a manner which diminished the effectiveness of ICCAT conservation and management measures. It also specified measures to be taken, including if necessary non-discriminatory trade restrictive measures, in order to prevent those countries’ vessels from continuing such fishing practices. acknowledged the efforts made by Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone to address its concerns and adopted recommendations for the lifting of trade- restrictive measures against those three countries. 0] L 127, 29.4.2004, p. 21. - () O] L 127, 29.4.2004, p. 19. () O] L 162, 18.6.1986, p. 33. (% O] L 127, 29.4.2004, p. 23.