TITLE IGENERAL PROVISIONS

F1Article 1Subject matter

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Article 2Scope

1.

This Regulation applies to the following vessels:

(a)

F2United Kingdom fishing vessels;

(b)

third-country vessels in F2United Kingdom waters.

2.

This Regulation also applies to recreational fisheries where such fisheries are expressly referred to in its relevant provisions.

Article 3Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions set out in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 apply. In addition, the following definitions apply:

  1. (a)

    ‘third-country vessel’ means a fishing vessel flying the flag of, and registered in, a third country;

  2. (b)

    ‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources such as recreation, tourism or sport;

  3. (c)

    ‘international waters’ means waters falling outside the sovereignty or jurisdiction of any State;

  4. (d)

    F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  5. (e)

    F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  6. (f)

    F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  7. (g)
    ‘mesh size’ means the mesh size of fishing nets as defined in point (34) of Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council13;
  8. (h)

    F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  9. (i)

    F4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  10. (j)

    F5‘instrumented buoy’ means a buoy clearly marked with a unique reference number allowing identification of its owner and equipped with a satellite tracking system to monitor its position;

  11. (k)

    ‘operational buoy’ means any instrumented buoy, previously activated, switched on and deployed at sea on a drifting FAD or log, which transmits positions and any other available information such as echo-sounder estimates.

Article 4Fishing zones

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following zone definitions apply:

  1. (a)
    ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) zones are the geographical areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council14;
  2. (b)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  3. (c)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  4. (d)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  5. (e)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  6. (f)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  7. (g)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  8. (h)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  9. (i)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  10. (j)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  11. (k)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  12. (l)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  13. (m)

    F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  14. (n)
    ‘ICCAT Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas18;
  15. (o)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  16. (p)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  17. (q)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  18. (r)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  19. (s)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  20. (t)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  21. (u)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  22. (v)

    F7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TITLE IIFISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR F8UNITED KINGDOM FISHING VESSELS

CHAPTER IGeneral provisions

F9Article 5TACs and allocations

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F9Article 6TACs to be determined by Member States

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F9Article 7Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

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F9Article 8Quota-exchange mechanism for TACs for unavoidable by-catches with regard to the landing obligation

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F9Article 9Fishing effort limits in ICES division 7e

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Article 10Measures on European seabass fisheries

1.

F10Until the end of 2021 it is prohibited for F11United Kingdom fishing vessels, as well as for any commercial fisheries from shore, to fish for European seabass in ICES divisions 4b and 4c, and in ICES subarea 7. F12During that period it is prohibited to retain, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in that area.

2.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, F13until the end of January 2021 and from F141st April to the end of December 2021, F15United Kingdom fishing vessels in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 7d, 7e, 7f and 7h and in waters within 12 nautical miles from baselines under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom in ICES divisions 7a and 7g may fish for European seabass, and retain, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in that area with the following gear and within the following limits:

(a)

using demersal trawls26, for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 520 kilogrammes per two months and 5 % of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by that vessel per fishing trip;

(b)

using seines27, for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 520 kilogrammes per two months and 5 % of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by that vessel per fishing trip;

(c)

using hooks and lines28, not exceeding 5,7 tonnes per vessel per year;

(d)

using fixed gillnets29, for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 1,4 tonnes per vessel per year.

The derogations set out in the first subparagraph F16... apply to F15United Kingdom fishing vessels that have recorded catches of European seabass over the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2016: in point (c) with recorded catches using hooks and lines, and in point (d) with recorded catches using fixed gillnets. In the case of a replacement of a F15United Kingdom fishing vessel, F17a fisheries administration may allow the derogation to apply to another fishing vessel provided that the number of F15United Kingdom fishing vessels subject to the derogation and their overall fishing capacity do not increase.

3.

The catch limits set out in paragraph 2 F18are not transferable between vessels and, where a monthly limit applies, from one month to another. For F19United Kingdom fishing vessels using more than one gear in a single calendar month, the lowest catch limit set out in paragraph 2 for either gear shall apply.

F20...

F214.

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5.

In recreational fisheries, including from shore, in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 6a, F227a and 7d to 7j:

(a)

F23until the end of February 2021 and F24for the whole of December 2021, only catch-and-release fishing with a rod or a handline for European seabass F25is permitted. During those periods, it F26is prohibited to retain, relocate, tranship or land European seabass caught in that area;

(b)

from F271st March to the end of November 2021, not more than two specimens of European seabass may be caught and retained per fisherman per day; the minimum size of European seabass F28which may be retained is 42 cm.

Point (b) of the first subparagraph F29does not apply to fixed nets, which may not be used to catch or retain European seabass during the period referred to in that point.

F306.

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F317.

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F32Article 11Measures on European eel fisheries in United Kingdom waters

Any targeted, incidental and recreational fishery of European eel is prohibited in United Kingdom waters and brackish waters such as estuaries, coastal lagoons and transitional waters until the end of February 2021.

F33Article 12Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities

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F5Article 12aClosed fishing seasons for sandeels

Commercial fishing for sandeels with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gears with a mesh size of less than 16 mm F34is prohibited in ICES F35division 2a and ICES subarea 4 F36... from 1 January to F37the end of March 2021.

Article 13Remedial measures for cod and whiting in the Celtic Sea

1.

The following measures shall apply to F38United Kingdom fishing vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines in ICES divisions from 7f, 7g, the part of 7h North of latitude 49° 30' North and the part of 7j North of latitude 49° 30' North and East of longitude 11° West:

(a)

F38United Kingdom fishing vessels fishing with bottom trawls whose catches consist of at least 20 % of haddock shall be prohibited from fishing in the area referred to in paragraph 1 unless they use gear with one of the following mesh sizes:

  • 110 mm cod-end with 120 mm square-mesh panel,

  • 100 mm T90 cod-end,

  • 120 mm cod-end,

  • F39100 mm with 160 mm square-mesh panel;

(b)

As from 1 June 2020, in addition to measures referred to in point (a), F38United Kingdom fishing vessels shall use: (i) a fishing gear that is constructed with a minimum of one meter spacing between the fishing line and ground gear, or (ii) any means proven to be at least equally selective for avoidance of cod, according to the assessment by ICES or F40a similar independent scientific body recognised at international level;

(c)

F38United Kingdom fishing vessels fishing with bottom seines whose catches consist of at least 20 % of haddock shall be prohibited from fishing in the area referred to in paragraph 1 unless they use gear with one of the following mesh sizes:

  • 110 mm cod-end with 120 mm square-mesh panel,

  • 100 mm T90 cod-end,

  • 120 mm cod-end.

2.

Except vessels falling within the scope of Article 9(2) of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) F412019/2239, F38United Kingdom fishing vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines in ICES divisions from 7f to F427j and in the area west of 5° W longitude in ICES division 7e, or F38United Kingdom fishing vessels fishing with bottom trawls in the area of paragraph 1 whose catches consist of less than 20 % of haddock, shall be prohibited from fishing unless they use a minimum cod-end mesh size of at least 100 mm. This minimum cod-end mesh size requirement does not apply to vessels whose by-catches of cod do not exceed 1,5 %, as assessed by F43an independent scientific body recognised at international level.

3.

According to Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 27(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, the catch percentages shall be calculated as the proportion by live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip.

4.

F38United Kingdom fishing vessels may deploy an alternative highly selective gear to those listed in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1, the technical attributes of which result, according to a scientific study assessed by F44an independent scientific body recognised at international level, in catches of less than 1 % of cod.

F39Article 14Remedial measures for cod in the North Sea

1.

The closed areas to fishing, except with pelagic gear (purse seines and trawls), and the periods during which the closures apply are set out in Annex IV.

F452.

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F453.

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F454.

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F46Article 15Remedial measures for cod in Kattegat

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Article 16Prohibited species

1.

It shall be prohibited for F47United Kingdom fishing vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or to land the following species:

(a)

starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in F48United Kingdom waters of ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 7d and ICES subarea 4;

(b)

leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) in F49United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in F50... international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;

(c)

Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in F51United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in F52... international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;

(d)

kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) in F53United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in F54... international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;

(e)

birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea) in F55United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in F56... international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;

(f)

common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in F57United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas F584, 6, 7 and 8;

(g)

great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) in F59United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in F60... international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;

(h)

tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in F61United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in F61United Kingdom and international waters of ICES subareas 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14;

(i)

porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in all waters;

F62(j)

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(k)

undulate ray (Raja undulata) in F63United Kingdom waters of ICES F64subarea 6;

(l)

whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in all waters;

F65(m)

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(n)

picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in F66United Kingdom waters of ICES F67subareas 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8F39;

F5(o)

splendid alfonsino ( Beryx splendens ) in NAFO subarea 6.

2.

When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

F68Article 17Data transmission

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F69CHAPTER IIFishing authorisations in third-country waters

Article 18Fishing authorisations

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CHAPTER IIIFishing opportunities in waters of regional fisheries management organisations

F70Section 1General provisions

19Quota transfers and exchanges

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Section 2ICCAT Convention Area

F71Article 20Fishing, farming and fattening capacity limitations

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F72Article 21Recreational fisheries

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Article 22Sharks

1.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of bigeye thresher sharks (Alopias superciliosus) caught in any fishery shall be prohibited.

2.

It shall be prohibited to undertake a directed fishery for species of thresher sharks of the Alopias genus.

3.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of hammerhead sharks of the Sphyrnidae family (except for the Sphyrna tiburo) caught in fisheries in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be prohibited.

4.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) taken in any fishery shall be prohibited.

5.

Retaining on board silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) caught in any fishery shall be prohibited.

F73Section 3CCAMLR Convention Area

Article 23Exploratory fisheries notifications

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Article 24Limits on exploratory fisheries for toothfish

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Article 25Krill fishery during the 2020-2021 fishing season

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Section 4IOTC Area of Competence

F74Article 26Limitation of fishing capacity of vessels fishing in the IOTC Area of Competence

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F39Article 27Drifting FADs and supply vessels

1.

Drifting FADs shall be equipped with instrumented buoys. The use of any other buoys, such as radio buoys is prohibited.

2.

A purse seiner shall not follow more than 300 operational buoys at any one time.

3.

The maximum number of instrumented buoys that may be acquired annually for each purse seine vessel is 500. No purse seine vessel shall have more than 500 instrumented buoys (buoy in stock and operational buoy) at any time.

4.

The maximum number of supply vessels shall be two supply vessels in support of not less than five purse seiners F75.... This provision shall not apply F76where only one supply vessel is used.

5.

A single purse seiner shall not be supported by more than one single supply vessel F77... at any time.

6.

F78A fisheries administration must not register new or additional supply vessels in the IOTC record of authorised vessels.

Article 28Sharks

1.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of thresher sharks of all the species of the Alopiidae family in any fishery shall be prohibited.

2.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in any fishery shall be prohibited, except for F79United Kingdom fishing vessels under 24 metres overall length engaged solely in fishing operations within F80United Kingdom waters, and provided that their catch is destined solely for F81United Kingdom consumption.

3.

When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

F82Article 28aMobulid rays

1.

It shall be prohibited for F83United Kingdom fishing vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship, to land, to store, to offer for sale or to sell any part or whole carcass of Mobulid rays ( Mobulidae family which includes the genera Manta and Mobula ), except for fishing vessels carrying out subsistence fishery (where the fish caught are consumed directly by the families of the fishermen).

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Mobulid rays that are unintentionally caught by artisanal fishing (fisheries other than longline or surface fisheries, i.e. purse seines, pole and line, gillnet fisheries, handline and trolling vessels, and registered in the IOTC record of authorised vessels) may be landed for purposes of local consumption only.

2.

All fishing vessels, other than those carrying out subsistence fishery, shall promptly release alive and unharmed, to the extent practicable, Mobulid rays as soon as they are seen in the net, on the hook, or on the deck, and shall do so in a manner that will result in the least possible harm to the individuals captured.

F84Section 5SPRFMO Convention Area

Article 29Pelagic fisheries

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Article 30 Mobulid rays

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Article 31Bottom fisheries

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Article 32Exploratory fisheries

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F84Section 6IATTC Convention Area

Article 33Purse-seine fisheries

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Article 34Drifting FADs

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Article 35Catch limits for bigeye tuna in longline fisheries

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Article 36Prohibition of fishing for oceanic whitetip sharks

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Article 37Prohibition of fishing for Mobulid rays

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F84Section 7SEAFO Convention Area

Article 38Prohibition of fishing for deep-water sharks

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F84Section 8WCPFC Convention Area

Article 39Conditions for bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna and south Pacific albacore fisheries

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Article 40Management of fishing with FADs

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Article 41Limitations to the number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish

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Article 42Catch limits for swordfish in longline fisheries south of 20° S

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Article 43Silky sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks

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Article 44Overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC

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F84Section 9Bering Sea

Article 45Prohibition on fishing in the high seas of the Bering Sea

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F84Section 10SIOFA Agreement Area

Article 46 Limits to bottom fishing

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F85TITLE IIIFISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIRD-COUNTRY VESSELS IN UNION WATERS

Article 47Fishing vessels flying the flag of Norway and fishing vessels registered in the Faroe Islands

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Article 48Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela

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Article 49Fishing authorisations

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Article 50Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

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Article 51 Closed fishing seasons

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Article 52Prohibited species

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F86TITLE IVFINAL PROVISIONS

Article 53Committee procedure

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Article 54Transitional provision

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Article 55Entry into force

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This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.