Council Regulation (EC) No 40/2008Dangos y teitl llawn

SECTION 2 U.K. Exploratory fisheries

Article 42 U.K. Rules of conduct for exploratory fisheries

Without prejudice to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 Member States shall ensure that all Community fishing vessels are equipped with:

(a)

adequate communication equipment (including MF/HF radio and carriage of at least one 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and trained operators on board and wherever possible fitted with GMDSS equipment;

(b)

sufficient immersion survival suits for all on board;

(c)

adequate arrangements to handle medical emergencies that may arise in the course of the voyage;

(d)

reserves of food, fresh water, fuel and spare parts for critical equipment to provide for unforseen delays and besetment;

(e)

an approved Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) outlining marine pollution mitigation arrangements (including insurance) in the event of a fuel or waste spill.

Article 43 U.K. Participation in exploratory fisheries

1. Fishing vessels flying the flag of, and registered in, Spain that have been notified to CCAMLR in accordance with the provisions of Articles 7 and 7a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 may participate in long-line exploratory fisheries for Dissostichus spp. in Subareas FAO 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in Divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3b) outside Areas of national jurisdiction.

2. No more than one fishing vessel shall fish in Division 58.4.3a) and 58.4.3b) at any one time.

3. With regard to Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2, total catch and by-catch limits per Subarea and Division, and their distribution among Small Scale Research Units (SSRUs) within each of them shall be as set out in Annex X. Fishing in any SSRU shall cease when the reported catch reaches the specified catch limit, and that SSRU shall be closed to fishing for the remainder of the season.

4. Fishing shall take place over as large a geographical and bathymetric range as possible to obtain the information necessary to determine fishery potential and to avoid over-concentration of catch and fishing effort. However, fishing in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 shall be prohibited in depths less than 550 m.

Article 44 U.K. Reporting systems

Fishing vessels participating in the exploratory fisheries as referred to in Article 43 shall be subject to the following catch and effort reporting systems:

(a)

the Five-day Catch and Effort Reporting System set out in Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004, with the exception that Member States shall submit to the Commission catch and effort reports not later than two working days after the end of each reporting period, for immediate transmission to CCAMLR. In Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2, reporting shall be made by Small Scale Research Units;

(b)

the Monthly fine-scale Catch and Effort Reporting System set out in Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004;

(c)

the total number and weight of Dissostichus eleginoides and Dissostichus mawsoni discarded, including those with the ‘jellymeat’ condition, shall be reported.

Article 45 U.K. Definition of hauls

1. For the purposes of this Section, a haul shall comprise the setting of one or more lines in a single location. The precise geographic position of a haul shall be determined by the centre-point of the line or lines deployed for the purposes of catch and effort reporting.

2. To be designated as a research haul:

(a) each research haul shall be separated by no less than five nautical miles from any other research haul, distance to be measured from the geographical mid-point of each research haul;

(b) each haul shall comprise at least 3 500 hooks and no more than 10 000 hooks; this may comprise a number of separate lines set in the same location;

(c) each haul of a longline shall have a soak time of not less than six hours, measured from the time of completion of the setting process to the beginning of the hauling process.

Article 46 U.K. Research plans

Fishing vessels participating in the exploratory fisheries referred to in Article 43 shall implement Research Plans, in each and all SSRUs in which FAO Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 are divided. The Research Plan shall be implemented in the following manner:

(a)

on first entry into a SSRU, the first 10 hauls, designated ‘first series’, shall be designated ‘research hauls’ and must satisfy the criteria set out in Article 45(2);

(b)

the next 10 hauls, or 10 tonnes of catch, whichever trigger level is achieved first, shall be designated the ‘second series’. Hauls in the second series may, at the discretion of the master, be fished as part of normal exploratory fishing. However, provided they satisfy the requirements of Article 45(2), these hauls may also be designated as research hauls;

(c)

on completion of the first and second series of hauls, if the master wishes to continue to fish within the SSRU, the vessel shall undertake a ‘third series’ which shall result in a total of 20 research hauls being made in all three series. The third series of hauls shall be completed during the same visit as the first and the second series in a SSRU;

(d)

on completion of 20 research hauls of the third series, the vessel may continue to fish within the SSRU;

(e)

in SSRUs A, B, C, E and G in Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 where fishable seabed area is less than 15 000 km², points (b), (c) and (d) shall not apply and on completion of 10 research hauls the vessel may continue to fish within the SSRU.

Article 47 U.K. Data collection plans

1. Fishing vessels participating in the exploratory fisheries referred to in Article 43 shall implement data collection plans, in each and all SSRUs in which FAO Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 are divided. The Data Collection Plan shall comprise the following data:

(a) the position and sea depth at each end of every line in a haul;

(b) the setting, soak, and hauling times;

(c) the number and species of fish lost at surface;

(d) the number of hooks set;

(e) the bait type;

(f) the baiting success ( %);

(g) the hook type; and

(h) the sea and cloud conditions and phase of the moon at the time of setting the lines.

2. All data referred to under paragraph 1 shall be collected for every research haul; in particular, all fish in a research haul up to 100 fish are to be measured and at least 30 fish sampled for biological studies. Where more than 100 fish are caught, a method for randomly subsampling the fish shall be applied.

Article 48 U.K. Tagging programme

Without prejudice to Article 7b of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 each longline vessel shall tag and release Dissostichus spp., continuously while fishing, at a rate specified in the conservation measure for that fishery according to the CCAMLR Tagging Protocol.

Article 49 U.K. Scientific observers

1. Each fishing vessel participating in the exploratory fisheries referred to in Article 43 shall have at least two scientific observers, one of which shall be an observer appointed in accordance with the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation, on board throughout all fishing activities within the fishing period.

2. Each Member State, subject to and in accordance with their applicable laws and regulations, including rules governing the admissibility of evidence in domestic courts, shall consider and act on reports from inspectors of designating CCAMLR Contracting party under this scheme on the same basis as reports from its own inspectors and both Member State and designating CCAMLR Contracting party concerned shall cooperate in order to facilitate judicial or other proceedings arising from any such report.

Article 50 U.K. Notifications of intent to participate in a krill fishery

1. By way of derogation from Article 5a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004, Member States intending to fish for krill in the CCAMLR Convention Area, as defined in Article 2 of that Regulation, shall notify the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission, of their intention not less than four months in advance of the annual meeting of the CCAMLR Commission, immediately prior to the season in which they intend to fish, using the format laid down in Annex XI to this Regulation in order to ensure an appropriate review by the CCAMLR Commission before the vessels commence fishing.

2. The notification, referred to in paragraph 1 shall include the information provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 for each vessel to be authorised by the Member State to participate in the krill fishery.

3. Member States intending to fish for krill in the CCAMLR Convention Area shall only notify vessels flying its flag at the time of the notification.

4. By way of derogation from paragraph 3, Member States shall be entitled to authorise participation in a krill fishery by a vessel other than that notified to CCAMLR in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 3, if the notified vessel is prevented from participation due to legitimate operational reasons or force majeure. In such circumstances Member States concerned shall immediately inform the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission, providing:

(i)

full details of the intended replacement vessel(s) referred to in paragraph 2;

(ii)

a comprehensive account of the reasons justifying the replacement and any relevant supporting evidence or references.

5. By way of derogation from paragraphs 3 and 4, Member States shall not authorise a vessel on either of the CCAMLR IUU Vessel Lists to participate in krill fisheries.

Article 51 U.K. Precautionary catch limitations on krill fishery for certain sub areas

1. The total combined catch of krill in Statistical Sub areas 48.1, 48.2, 48.3 and 48.4 shall be limited to 3,47 million tonnes in any fishing season. The total catch of krill in Statistical Division 58.4.2 shall be limited to 2,645 million tonnes in any fishing season.

2. Until an allocation of this total catch limit between smaller management units has been defined, based on the advice from the Scientific Committee, the total combined catch in Statistical Sub areas 48.1, 48.2, 48.3 and 48.4 shall be further limited to 620 000 tonnes in any fishing season. The total catch in Division 58.4.2 shall be limited to 260 000 tonnes West of 55°E and 192 000 tonnes East of 55°E in any fishing season.

3. A fishing season shall begin on 1 December and end on 30 November of the following year.

4. Each vessel participating in the krill fishery in Division 58.4.2 shall have at least one scientific observer in accordance with the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation or a domestic scientific observer fulfilling the requests in that scheme, and where possible one additional scientific observer on board throughout all fishing activities within the fishing period.

Article 52 U.K. Data Reporting System for krill fisheries

1. Catches of krill shall be reported in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) 601/2004.

2. When the total reported catch in any fishing season is greater than or equal to 80 % of the trigger level of 620 000 tonnes in Sub areas 48.1, 48.2, 48.3 and 48.4 and of 260 000 tonnes west of 55°E and 192 000 tonnes east of 55°E in sub area 58.4.2, catches shall be reported in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) 601/2004.

3. In the fishing season following that in which the total catch has been greater than or equal to 80 % of the trigger level, laid down in paragraph 2, catches shall be reported in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) 601/2004 when the total catch is greater than or equal to 50 % of that trigger level.

4. At the end of each fishing season Member States shall obtain from each of its vessels the haul-by-haul data required to complete the CCAMLR fine-scale catch and effort data form. It shall transmit those data, in the trawl fisheries form C1 of CCAMLR, to the CCAMLR Executive Secretary and to the Commission not later than 1 April of the following year.

Article 53 U.K. Certain limits on the exploratory fishery for Dissostichus spp.

1. The total catch of Dissostichus spp. on BANZARE Bank

(Statistical Division 58.4.3b) outside areas falling under national jurisdiction in the 2007/08 fishing season shall not exceed:

(i)

a precautionary catch limit of 150 tonnes applied as follows:

SSRU A — 150 tonnes

SSRU B — 0 tonnes;

(ii)

an additional catch limit of 50 tonnes for the scientific research survey in SSRUs A and B in 2007/08.

2. The total catch in SSRU A, referred to in paragraph 1(i), shall not be taken during the period from 16 March 2008 until the end of the scientific research survey or 1 June 2008, whichever is sooner.

Article 54 U.K. Interim prohibition of deep-sea gillnetting

1. For the purpose of this Article the following definition shall apply:

Gillnets are strings of single, double or triple netting walls, vertical, near the surface, in midwater or on the bottom, in which fish will gill, entangle or enmesh. Gillnets have floats on the upper line (headrope) and, in general, weights on the ground-line (footrope). Gillnets consist of single or, less commonly, double or triple netting (known as ‘trammel net’) mounted together on the same frame ropes. Several types of nets may be combined in one gear (for example, trammel net combined with gillnet). These nets can be used either alone or, as is more usual, in large numbers placed in line (‘fleets’ of nets). The gear can be set, anchored to the bottom (known as ‘bottom-set net’) or left drifting, free or connected with the vessel (known as ‘driftnet’).

2. The use of gillnets in the CCAMLR Convention Area, for purposes other than scientific research, is prohibited until such time as the Scientific Committee has investigated and reported on the potential impacts of this gear and the Commission has agreed on the basis of advice from the Scientific Committee that such a method may be used in the CCAMLR Convention Area.

3. Proposal for the use of gillnets for scientific research in waters deeper than 100 meters shall be notified in advance to the Scientific Committee and be approved by the Commission before such research can commence.

4. Any vessel seeking to transit the CCAMLR Convention Area carrying gillnets must give advance notice of its intent, including the expected dates of its passage through the CCAMLR Convention Area to the Secretariat. Any vessel in possession of gillnets within the CCAMLR Convention Area which has not given such an advance notice, shall be in breach of this provisions.

Article 55 U.K. Minimisation of the incidental mortality of seabirds

1. Without prejudice to Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 vessels using the Spanish method of longline fishing shall release weights before line tension occurs.

2. For the purpose of the longline fishing referred to in paragraph 1, the following weights may be used:

(a) traditional weights made from rocks or concrete of at least 8.5 kg mass which shall be used, spaced at intervals of no more than 40 m;

(b) traditional weights made from rocks or concrete of at least 6 kg mass which shall be used, spaced at intervals of no more than 20 m, or

(c) solid steel weights, not made from chain links, of at least 5 kg mass which shall be used, spaced at intervals of no more than 40 m.

Article 56 U.K. Closure of all fisheries

1. Following notification by the CCAMLR Secretariat of the closure of a fishery, Member States shall ensure that all vessels flying their flag and fishing in the area, management area, subarea, division, small-scale research unit or other management unit, subject to the closure notice, shall remove all their fishing gear from the water by the notified closure date and time.

2. On receipt of such notification by the vessel, no further longlines may be set within 24 hours of the notified date and time. If such notification is received less than 24 hours before the closure date and time, no further longlines may be set following receipt of that notification.

3. In the case of closure of the fishery, all vessels shall depart from the fishing area as soon as all fishing gear has been removed from the water.

4. Where a vessel is unable to remove all its fishing gear from the water by the notified closure date and time for reasons relating to:

(i)

the safety of the vessel and crew;

(ii)

the limitations which may arise from adverse weather conditions;

(iii)

sea-ice cover; or

(iv)

the need to protect the Antarctic marine environment,

the vessel shall notify the Member State concerned of the situation. The Member States shall promptly notify the CCAMLR Secretariat, and the Commission. The vessel shall nonetheless make all reasonable efforts to remove all its fishing gear from the water as soon as possible.

5. If paragraph 4 applies, Member States shall carry out an investigation of the vessel's actions and, according to its domestic procedures, report the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission of its findings, including all relevant matters, no later than the next CCAMLR meeting. The final report shall assess whether the vessel made all reasonable efforts to remove all its fishing gear from the water:

(i)

by the notified closure date and time; and

(ii)

as soon as possible after the notification referred to in paragraph 4.

6. Where a vessel does not depart from the closed area as soon as all fishing gear has been removed from the water, the flag Member State or vessel shall inform the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission.