Council Regulation (EC) No 520/2007
of 7 May 2007
laying down technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species and repealing Regulation (EC) No 973/2001

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Whereas:
(1) The Community has by Decision 98/392/EC approved the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which contains principles and rules relating to the conservation and management of the living resources of the sea. In the framework of its wider international obligations, the Community participates in efforts made in international waters to conserve fish stocks.
OJ L 179, 23.6.1998, p. 1.
(2) Pursuant to Decision 86/238/EEC the Community has been a Contracting Party to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter ‘the ICCAT Convention’, since 14 November 1997.
OJ L 162, 18.6.1986, p. 33.
(3) The ICCAT Convention provides a framework for regional cooperation on the conservation and management of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas through the setting up of an International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter the ‘ICCAT’, and the adoption of recommendations on conservation and management in the Convention area which become binding on the Contracting Parties.
(4) ICCAT has recommended a number of technical measures for certain stocks of highly migratory species in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, specifying inter alia authorised sizes and weights of fish, and restrictions on fishing within certain areas and time periods, with certain gears, and on capacity. These recommendations are binding on the Community and should therefore be implemented.
(5) The Community has by Decision 95/399/EC approved the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. The Agreement provides an appropriate framework for closer international cooperation and the rational use of tunas and related species in the Indian Ocean by setting up the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, hereinafter the ‘IOTC’, and adopting recommendations on conservation and management in the IOTC area which become binding on the Contracting Parties.
OJ L 236, 5.10.1995, p. 24.
(6) The IOTC has adopted a recommendation laying down technical measures for certain stocks of highly migratory species in the Indian Ocean and in particular the limiting of capacity. That recommendation is binding on the Community and should therefore be implemented.
(7) The Community has by Decision 2005/938/EC approved the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme. It should therefore apply the provisions laid down in that Agreement.
OJ L 348, 30.12.2005, p. 26.
(8) The objectives of the Agreement include a progressive reduction of incidental dolphin mortalities in the tuna purseseine fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean to levels approaching zero, by setting annual limits, and the long-term sustainability of the tuna stocks in the Agreement Area.
(9) The Community has fishing interests in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and has participated in the procedure for the adoption of the Convention for the strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, hereinafter the ‘Antigua Convention’. By Decision 2005/26/EC it signed the Antigua Convention and launched the procedure for becoming a party to it. Pending the entry into force of the Antigua Convention, the Community, as a cooperating non-contracting party to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, hereinafter the ‘IATTC’, has decided to apply the technical measures adopted by the IATTC. These measures should therefore be incorporated in Community law.
OJ L 15, 19.1.2005, p. 9.
(10) Pursuant to Decision 2005/75/EC and with effect from 25 January 2005 the Community is a Contracting Party to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, hereinafter the ‘WCPFC Convention’.
OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, p. 1.
(11) The WCPFC Convention provides a framework for regional cooperation with a view to ensuring the long-term conservation and sustainable exploitation of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean through the setting up of a Fisheries Commission for the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC).
(12) The Community should therefore apply the provisions laid down in the Convention and the technical measures adopted by the WCPFC.
(13) The technical measures adopted by these regional fisheries organisations have been incorporated into Council Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 of 14 May 2001 laying down technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species.
OJ L 137, 19.5.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 831/2004 (OJ L 127, 29.4.2004, p. 33).
(14) The adoption of new technical measures by these organisations and the updating of those in force since the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 require the repeal of that Regulation and its replacement by this Regulation.
(15) The limits on capacity must be determined in accordance with Article 20 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy.
OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59.
(16) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation 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 Commission,
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

TITLE I INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Article 1 Object
This Regulation lays down technical conservation measures applicable to the capture and landing of certain stocks of highly migratory species as referred to in Annex I and to the capture of by-catches.

Article 2 Scope
Without prejudice to Article 9, this Regulation applies to United Kingdom fishing vessels.
Art. 2 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 3 Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation:
1. ‘Highly migratory species’ means the species listed in Annex I.
2. ‘Tunas and related species covered by ICCAT’ means the species listed in Annex II.
3. ‘Dolphin mortality limit’ means the limit defined in Article V of the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme.
OJ L 348, 30.12.2005, p. 28.
4. ‘Leisure fisheries’ means fishing activities exploiting living aquatic resources for recreation or sport.
5. ‘Encircling nets’ means nets which catch fish by surrounding them both from the sides and from below; they may or may not be equipped with a purse line.
6. ‘Purse seines’ means any encircling net the bottom of which is drawn together by means of a purse line at the bottom of the net, which passes through a series of rings along the groundrope, enabling the net to be pursed and closed. Purse seines may be used to catch small pelagic species, large pelagic species or demersal species.
7. ‘Longlines’ means a fishing gear which comprises a main line carrying numerous hooks on branch lines (snoods) of variable length and spacing depending on the target species. It may be deployed either vertically or horizontally to the sea surface; it may be set either at or near the bottom (bottom-set longline) or drifting in midwater or near the surface (surface longline).
8. ‘Hook’ means a bent, sharpened piece of steel wire usually with barb. The point of a hook may be either straight or even reversed and curved. The shank can be of varying length and form and its cross section can be round (regular) or flattened (forged). The total length of a hook shall be measured as the maximum overall length of the shank from the tip of the hook which serves for fastening the line and is usually shaped as an eye, to the apex of the bend. The width of a hook shall be measured as the greatest horizontal distance from the external part of the shank to the external part of the barb.
9. ‘Fish-aggregating devices (FADs)’ means any equipment floating on the sea surface and with the objective of attracting fish.
10. ‘Pole and line tuna vessel’ means vessels equiped for catching tuna by pole and line.

Article 4 Areas
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions of maritime waters shall apply:
1. ...
Deleted by Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2017 laying down management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Convention area of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1936/2001, (EC) No 1984/2003 and (EC) No 520/2007.
2. Area 2
all waters of the Indian Ocean covered by the Agreement for the establishment of the IOTC as defined in Article 2 thereof;
3. Area 3
all waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean as defined in Article 3 of the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme;
4. Area 4
all waters of the Eastern and Central Pacific Ocean as defined in Article 3 of the WCPFC Convention.

TITLE II TECHNICAL MEASURES APPLICABLE IN AREA 1

CHAPTER 1 Restrictions on the use of certain types of vessels and gears

Article 5 Protection of bigeye tuna in certain tropical waters
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Article 6 Bluefin tuna fishing in the Mediterranean
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Deleted by Council Regulation (EC) No 1559/2007 of 17 December 2007 establishing a multi-annual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and amending Regulation (EC) No 520/2007.

Article 7 Fishing for skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin tuna in certain Portuguese waters
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CHAPTER 2 Minimum size

Article 8 Sizes
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Article 9 Prohibitions
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Article 10 Measurement of size
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Article 11 Sampling procedure for bluefin tuna cages
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CHAPTER 3 Restrictions on the number of vessels

Article 12 North Atlantic bigeye and albacore tuna
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CHAPTER 4 Species not targeted and sport and recreational fishing

Article 13 Marlins
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Article 14 Sharks
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Article 15 Sea turtles
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Article 16 Sport and recreational fishing in the Mediterranean
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Article 17 Report
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TITLE III TECHNICAL MEASURES APPLICABLE IN AREA 2

CHAPTER 1 Restrictions on the number of vessels

Article 18 Number of authorised vessels
1 A fisheries administration, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 must determine the number of United Kingdom fishing vessels greater than 24 metres in length overall authorised to fish in Area 2. The number of vessels is set at the number of United Kingdom fishing vessels registered in the IOTC vessels register in 2003. The restriction on the number of vessels must correspond to the overall gross tonnage (GT). Where vessels are replaced the overall tonnage must not be exceeded.
Words in Art. 18(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(11)(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 18(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(11)(a)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 18(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(11)(a)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Art. 18(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(11)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

CHAPTER 2 Species not targeted

Article 19 Sharks
1 A fisheries administration must do its utmost to encourage the release of live sharks caught accidentally, in particular juveniles.
Words in Art. 19(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(12)(a) (as substituted by S.I. 2019/1312, regs. 1(2), 9(3)(b)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
2 A fisheries administration must encourage the reduction of discards of sharks.
Words in Art. 19(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(12)(b) (as substituted by S.I. 2019/1312, regs. 1(2), 9(3)(b)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 20 Sea turtles
1 A fisheries administration must do its utmost to reduce the impact of fishing on sea turtles, in particular by applying the measures provided for in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.
Words in Art. 20(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(13); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
2 The use of all fishing gear shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) appropriate handling, including the recovery or prompt release of sea turtles caught accidentally (by hooks or nets) or as by-catch;
(b) the presence on board of equipment necessary for the release of sea turtles caught accidentally or as by-catch.
3 The use of the purse seine shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) an obligation to avoid, where possible, encircling sea turtles;
(b) the development and application of specifications for appropriate gear for minimising by-catches of sea turtles;
(c) the adoption of all the measures necessary for releasing encircled or caught sea turtles;
(d) the adoption of all the measures necessary for monitoring fish-aggregating devices in which sea turtles could be caught, to release those taken and recover devices that are not used.
4 The use of longlines shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) the development and putting in place of combinations of hook shapes, type of lures, depth and design of nets and fishing practices to minimise accidental catches or by-catches and mortality of sea turtles;
(b) the presence on board of equipment necessary for releasing sea turtles caught accidentally or as by-catch. including tools for unhooking them or cutting the lines and landing nets.

TITLE IV TECHNICAL MEASURES APPLICABLE IN AREA 3

Article 21 Transhipment
1 The use of ancillary vessels to support vessels fishing with the aid of fish-aggregating devices shall be prohibited.
2 Transhipments at sea by seiners shall be prohibited.

Article 22 Restrictions on the number of vessels
1 A fisheries administration, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 must determine the number of United Kingdom seiners authorised to fish in Area 3. The number of vessels shall be set at the number of United Kingdom seiners registered in the IATTC register on 28 June 2002.
Words in Art. 22(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(14)(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 22(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(14)(a)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 22(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(14)(a)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
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Art. 22(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(14)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
3 The lists referred to in paragraph 1 must give the United Kingdom fishing fleet register number assigned to the vessel in accordance with Annex 1 to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218 on the Union fishing fleet register and the type of gear used.
Art. 22(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(14)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 23 Protection of dolphins
Only United Kingdom fishing vessels operating under the conditions laid down in the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme which have been allocated a Dolphin Mortality Limit (DML) shall be authorised to encircle schools or groups of dolphins with purse seines when fishing for yellowfin tuna in Area 3.
Words in Art. 23 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(15); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 24 Requests for DMLs
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Art. 24 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(16); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 25 Allocation of DMLs
1 A fisheries administration must ensure that applications for DMLs comply with the conditions laid down in the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme and the conservation measures adopted by the IATTC.
Words in Art. 25(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(17)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
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Art. 25(2)(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(17)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
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4 A fisheries administration must send the IATTC Secretariat the breakdown of the DMLs among United Kingdom fishing vessels in its fleet by 1 February each year.
Art. 25(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(17)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
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Art. 25(5) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(17)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 26 Protection of other species not targeted
1 Purse seine vessels shall promptly release unharmed, to the extent practicable, all sea turtles, sharks, skipjack tuna, billfishes, rays, dorado, and other non-target species.
2 Fishermen shall be encouraged to develop and use techniques and equipment to facilitate the rapid and safe release of any such animals.

Article 27 Sea turtles
1 Whenever a sea turtle is sighted in the net, all reasonable efforts shall be made to rescue the turtle before it becomes entangled in the net, including, if necessary, the deployment of a speedboat.
2 If a sea turtle is entangled in the net, net roll shall stop as soon as the turtle comes out of the water and shall not start again until the turtle has been disentangled and released.
3 If a sea turtle is brought on board a vessel, all appropriate methods to assist in the recovery of the turtle shall be made before returning it to the water.
4 Tuna-fishing vessels shall be prohibited from disposing of salt bags or any other type of plastic rubbish at sea.
5 Where possible sea turtles caught in fish-aggregating devices and other fishing gear shall be released.
6 Fish-aggregating devices which are not used for fishing shall be recovered.

TITLE V TECHNICAL MEASURES APPLICABLE IN AREA 4

Article 28 Waste reduction
A fisheries administration must take measures to reduce to the minimum waste, discards, catches taken by lost or abandoned gear, pollution from fishing vessels, catches of fish and animals of species not targeted and repercussions for related or dependent species, in particular species threatened with extinction.
Words in Art. 28 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(18); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

TITLE VI GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 29 Marine mammals
1 The encircling with purse seines of any school or group of marine mammals shall be prohibited.
2 Paragraph 1 shall apply to all United Kingdom fishing vessels with the exception of the vessels referred to in Article 23.
Words in Art. 29(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(19); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

TITLE VII FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 30 Comitology
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Art. 30 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(20); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 31 Repeal
Regulation (EC) No 973/2001 is hereby repealed.

Article 32 Entry into force
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Art. 32 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy and Aquaculture (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/753), regs. 1, 15(20); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEX I List of highly migratory species
Albacore: Thunnus alalunga
Bluefin tuna: Thunnus thynnus
Bigeye tuna: Thunnus obesus
Skipjack tuna: Katsuwonus pelamis
Atlantic bonito: Sarda sarda
Yellowfin tuna: Thunnus albacares
Blackfin tuna: Thunnus atlanticus
Little tuna: Euthynnus spp.
Southern bluefin tuna: Thunnus maccoyii
Frigate tuna: Auxis spp.
Oceanic sea breams: Bramidae
Marlins: Tetrapturus spp.; Makaira spp.
Sailfish: Istiophorus spp.
Swordfish: Xiphias gladius
Sauries: Scomberesox spp.; Cololabis spp.
Dolphinfish; common dolphinfish: Coryphaena hippurus; Coryphaena equiselis
Sharks: Hexanchus griseus; Cetorhinus maximus; Alopiidae Rhincodon typus; Carcharhinide; Sphyrnidae; Isuridae; Lamnidae
Cetaceans (whales and porpoises): Physeteridae; Balenidae; Eschrichtiidae; Monodontidae; Ziphiidae; Delphinidae

ANNEX II ICCAT list of tunas and related species
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ANNEX III Length of vessels (Article 6(2))
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ANNEX IV