Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009Show full title

Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 of 16 January 2009 fixing for 2009 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

Article 53Minimisation of the incidental mortality of seabirds

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

2.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.

3.Vessels using exclusively the trotline method shall use weights only at the distal end of the droppers in the trotline. The weights shall be traditional weights of at least 6 kg or solid steel weights of at least 5 kg.

4.Vessels using both the Spanish method referred to in paragraph 1 and the trotline method referred to in paragraph 3 shall use:

(i)

for the Spanish method: line weighting in accordance with the provisions in paragraph 1;

(ii)

for the trotline method: line weighting which shall consist either of 8,5 kg traditional weights or of 5 kg steel weights attached on the hook-end of all droppers in the trotline at no more than 80 m intervals.