1984R3440 — EN — 15.07.1989 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3440/84
of 6 December 1984
on the attachment of devices to trawls, Danish seines and similar nets
(OJ L 318, 7.12.1984, p. 23)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Regulation (EEC) No 955/87 of 1 April 1987 L90 29 2.4.1987
►M2Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2122/89 of 14 July 1989 L203 21 15.7.1989
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▼B
COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3440/84
of 6 December 1984
on the attachment of devices to trawls, Danish seines and similar
nets
THE COMMISSIONOF THE EUROPEANCOMMUN ITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European EconomicCommunity,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 171/83 of 25 January
1983 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation offishery resources(
1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2664/
84(2), and in particular Article 21 thereof,
WhereasArticle7ofRegulation(EEC)No171/83prohibitstheuseof
anydevicebymeansofwhichthemeshinanypartofafishingnetisobstructed or otherwise effectively diminished;
Whereas, having regard to Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 171/83,
these provisions apply only to trawls, Danish seines and similar nets;
Whereas Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 171/83 allows the attach-
ment of devices to nets to be authorized;
Whereas it is appropriate to define certain parts of a trawl;Whereas it is not necessary to prohibit the attachment of devices to
trawls when fishing for species for which a minimum mesh size is notspecified in Regulation (EEC) No 171/83;
Whereas the use of certain devices whose effect is to reduce wear and
tearontrawls,Danishseinesorsimilarnets,tostrengthensuchnets,tolimit the escape of catches to the forward part of such nets, or toimprove their efficiency and security of use, may be authorized;
Whereasthepurposeofabottom-sidechaferistoprotecttheunderside
of the trawl from wear and tear;
Whereas the purpose of a top-side chafer is to protect the top or side
panelsofthecodendfromwearandtearshouldtherearendofthetrawltwist along its axis during fishing operations;
Whereasthepurposeofastrengtheningbagistostrengthenthecodend
andtopreventitfromburstingwhenfilledwithfishandwhenthetrawlis hauled on board;
Whereas the purpose of a chafing piece is to prevent the lifting strap
from cutting the netting of the codend;
Whereas the purpose of a codline is to close the codend;Whereas a limited length of the rearmost part of the codend may be
folded back into the opening of the codend itself in order to assure abetter closure of the codend;
Whereasthepurposeofaliftingstrapistomakeitpossibletocloseoff
the rear section of the codend in order to facilitate its loading aboard;
Whereas the purpose of a round strap is to limit the extension of the
diameter of the codend;
Whereas the purpose of a flapper is to allow catches to pass from the
front to the back of the trawl but to limit their possibility of return;
Whereasthepurposeofasievenettingistocatchfish,shrimps,orother
species selectively;
(1) OJ No L 24, 27. 1. 1983, p. 14.
(2) OJ No L 253, 21. 9. 1984, p. 1.
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Whereasthepurposeofastrengtheningropeistostrengthenthetrawl,
or to prevent stones and debris from reaching the codend;
Whereas the purpose of a torquette is to improve the closing of the
codend by the codline;
Whereasthepurposeofatrousercodendistoreducetheriskofatotal
loss of catches when fishing on rough grounds;
Whereastothatend,certaindetailedrulesconcerningthesedevices,and
in particular technical descriptions thereof, must be drawn up and theconditions subject to which they may be used must be defined;
WhereasderogationstothisRegulationwhichcoverspecificcasesmay
be adopted if necessary;
WhereasthemeasuresprovidedforinthisRegulationareinaccordance
withtheopinionoftheManagementCommitteeforFisheryResources,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
ForthepurposesofthisRegulationtheword‘trawl'shallcorrespondto
the terms ‘trawl, Danish seine or similar net'.
Article 2
Technical terms which are used in this Regulation or which describe
some of the devices or constructions which normally form an integralpart of, or may be used with, a trawl are defined in the Annex.
Article 3
Article4to15containthedefinitionsofcertaindeviceswhichmaybe
attachedtotrawlsandwhichareliabletoobstructthemeshinanypartofatrawlortodiminishthedimensionsofthemesh,andtheconditionsunder which they may be used.
Article 4
Bottom-side chafer
1. A bottom-side chafer may be formed of any piece of canvas,
netting, or any other material.
2. More than one bottom-side chafer may be used at the same time
and they may overlap.
3. Bottom-side chafers may be attached only to the outside of the
trawlandonlytothelowerhalfofanypartofthetrawl.Theymaybefastened only at their front and side edges.
4. If strengthening bags or chafing pieces are used, the bottom-side
chafer may be attached only outside the strengthening bags or chafingpieces and in the manner specified in paragraph 3.
Article 5
Top-side chafer
1. Theuseofeitheroftwotypesoftop-sidechaferdesignatedtypeA
and type B, is permitted.
2. AtypeAtop-sidechafermaybeformedofanyrectangularpiece
ofnettingwhichhasameshsizeequaltoatleastthatofthecodend.Itswidth shall be at least one and a half times the width of the codendwhichiscovered,suchwidthstobemeasuredperpendiculartothelongaxisofthecodend.Itmaybeattachedbyitsforwardandlateraledgesonly to the upper half of the outside of the codend. If a lifting strap isfitted to the codend, the top-side chafer shall be fastened in such amanner that it does not extend more than four meshes forward of therear lifting strap. If a lifting strap is not fitted the top-side chafer shallbe fastened in such a manner that it does not cover more than the last
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▼B
rearthirdofthecodend.Inbothcasesthetop-sidechafershallendnot
less than four meshes in front of the codline.
3. AtypeBtop-sidechafermaybeformedofanyrectangularpiece
ofnettingwhichmustbemadeoftwinewhichhasthesamediameterasthat of which the codend is made and have a mesh size equal to twicethatofthecodend.Itmaycompletelycovertheupperhalfofthecodendsensu stricto;itshallbeattachedonlyitsfouredgesinsuchawaythat,
at the points of attachment, the side of each mesh coincides with twosides of the meshes of the codend.
4. It is prohibited to use more than one top-side chafer at any time.
▼
M1
5. Itisprohibitedtouseatop-sidechafertogetherwithstrengtheningbags except for trawls having a mesh size equal to or less than 60millimetres.
▼
M2
6. Notwithstandingparagraph1,intheSkagerrakandintheKattegatit is prohibited to use a type A top-side chafer.
7. In the Skagerrak and the Kattegat it is prohibited to attach a
top-sidechafertotrawlshavingameshsizelargerthan70millimetres.
Article 6
Strengthening bag
1. A strengthening bag is a cylindrical piece of netting completely
surrounding the codend of a trawl and which may be attached to thecodend at intervals. It shall have at least the same dimensions (lengthand width) as that part of the codend to which it is attached.
2. The provisions of paragraph 3 and 4 shall not apply in the
Skagerrak and the Kattegat.
3. It is prohibited to use more than one strengthening bag except
when attached to trawls having a mesh size equal to or less than 60millimetres, for which two strengthening bags may be used.
4. Themeshsizeshallbeequaltoatleasttwicethatofthecodend.If
asecondstrengtheningbagisused,itsminimummeshsizeshallbe120millimetres.
5. Theprovisionsofparagraphs6,7,8and9shallapplyonlyinthe
Skagerrak and the Kattegat.
6. It is prohibited to attach a strengthening bag to trawls having a
mesh size larger than 70 millimetres.
7. It is prohibited to use a strengthening bag and a top-side chafer
simultaneously.
8. Itisprohibitedtouseastrengtheningbagofwhichthemeshsize
is less than 80 millimetres.
9. It is prohibited to use more than one strengthening bag except
whenattachedtotrawlshavingameshsizeoflessthan16millimetres,for which two strengthening bags may be used. Notwithstanding para-graph 8, the mesh size of one of these strengthening bags may be lessthan 80 millimetres but not less than 35 millimetres.
10. Itisprohibitedtouseastrengtheningbagwhichextendsforward
of the codend.
11. If a strengthening bag is constructed of sections of cylindrical
netting, the sections may not overlap by more than four meshes at thepoints of attachment.
12. Strengtheningbagsattachedtotrawlshavingameshsizegreater
than 60 millimetres shall not extend more than two metres in front ofthe rear lifting strap.
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▼M2
13. Notwithstandingparagraph1,strengtheningbagssmallerthanthe
dimensions of the codend may be attached to nets having a mesh sizeequal to or less than 60 millimetres.
▼
B
Article 7
Chafing or protection piece
1. Achafingorprotectionpieceisashortcylindricalpieceofnetting
with the same circumference as the codend or strengthening bags, ifany, and which surrounds the codend or the strengthening bags at thepoints of attachment of the lifting strap.
2. It is prohibited to use a chafing piece if a lifting strap is not
attached to the codend.
3. Itisprohibitedtouseachafingpiecewhichismorethan1metre
long.
4. The chafing piece may be attached only in front of and behind
each lifting strap.
5. Themeshsizeofthechafingpieceshallbeatleastequaltothatof
the codend.
6. Thecircumferenceofthechafingpieceshallbecomparedtothat
ofthecodendorthestrengtheningbags,ifany,bystretchingthemwiththe same force.
Article 8
Codline
1. A codline is a rope making it possible to close the rear of the
codendand/orstrengtheningbagsbymeansofeitheraknotwhichcanbe easily loosened or a mechanical device.
2. Thecodlineshallbeattachedatadistancewhichisnotmorethan
1metrefromtherearmeshesofthecodend,whichmaybefoldedbackintothecodend.However,ifa‘torquette'complyingwithArticle14isattached,thecodlineshallbepassedthroughtherearmostmeshesofthecodend.
3. Morethanonecodlinemaybeusedpertrawl.Acodlinemaynot
enclose a bottom-side chafer or top-side chafer.
Article 9
Lifting straps
1. A lifting strap is a piece of rope or wire loosely encircling the
circumference of the codend or the strengthening bag, if any, andattached to it by means of loops or rings. More than one lifting strapmay be used at any time.
2. Their minimum length shall conform to the same rules as those
governingroundstraps,asdefinedinArticle10,exceptthattheliftingstrap nearest to the codline may be shorter.
Article 10
Round straps
1. Round straps are ring-shaped ropes which encircle the codend or
the strengthening bag at regular intervals and which are attached to it.
2. The length of a round strap shall be not less than 40 % of the
circumference of the codend, the circumference being measured as theproduct of the number of meshes in the circumference of the codendmultipliedbytheactualmeshsize,exceptfortherearmostroundstrapcalled ‘back strap'if it is attached not more than 2 metres from thecodline meshes, measured when the meshes are stretched lengthwise.
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3. The distance separating two successive round straps shall be notless than 1 metre.
4. A round strap may encircle the strengthening bags but may not
encircle a top-side or bottom-side chafer.
Article 11
Flapper
1. A flapper is a piece of netting with a mesh size at least equal to
thatofthecodend,fastenedinsideatrawl,insuchawaythatitallowscatches to pass from the front to the rear of the trawl but limits theirpossibility of return.
2. Theflappershallbeattachedatitsfrontendandmaybeattached
at its lateral edges inside the codend or in front of the codend.
3. The distance from the point of forward attachment of the flapper
totherearendofthecodendshallbeatleastthreetimesthelengthofthe flapper.
▼
M2
4. In the Skagerrak and the Kattegat the length of the flapper shallnot extend more than the length of 20 meshes into the codend.
▼
B
Article 12
Sieve netting
1. Asievenettingisapieceofnettingwithameshsizewhichmust
be at least twice the mesh size of the codend.
2. Thesievenettingshallbeattachedinsidethetrawlinfrontofthe
codendandshallnotextendintothecodendbymorethanone-thirdofthe length of the codend.
It may be attached to the trawl at all edges.3. Up to two pieces of sieve netting may be used at the same time,
providedthattheseareattachedtotheupperhalfandlowerhalfofthetrawl respectively and do not overlap at any point.
Article 13
Strengthening ropes
1. A strengthening rope is any rope, other than a lacing rope,
attached to any part of the trawl.
2. It is prohibited to attach strengthening ropes inside the codend.
Article 14
‘Torquette'
1. A‘torquette'isapieceofnettingfixedinsidethecodendatitsrear
end. The ‘torquette'may be folded back into the codend.
2. Themeshsizeshallnotbelessthanthemeshsizeofthecodend.3. The ‘torquette'shall be attached at its forward edge only and no
further forward than the last five meshes of the codend and shall notextendbackwardsmorethan1metrefromtherearofthelastmeshesofthe codend.
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Article 15
Median lacing of a trouser codend
Meshes may be laced together in order to build a trouser codend, by
joining lengthwise the upper and lower halves of a codend.
Article 16
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 30th day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
ThisRegulationshallbebindinginitsentiretyanddirectlyapplicablein
all Member States.
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ANNEX
Definitions of certain technical terms, devices or constructions which may
normally form an integral part of, or be used in conjunction with, a trawl
Codend:
The codend is the rearmost part of the trawl, having either a cylindrical shape,
i.e. the same circumference throughout or a tapering shape.
The codend includes the codend sensu stricto and the lengthening piece.
Codend sensu stricto:
Thecodend sensu strictoismadeupofoneormorepanels(piecesofnetting)of
the same mesh size attached to one another along their sides in the axis of thetrawl by a lacing where a lacing rope may also be attached.
Lengthening lacing:
Thelengtheningpieceismadeofoneormorepanelslocatedjustinfrontofthe
codendsensu stricto.
Strengthening lacing:
Astrengtheninglacingismadeofrowsofmesheswhichmaybelacedtogether
in order to strengthen the netting.
Lacing rope:
Alacingropeisdefinedasroperunninglengthwisealongthejoinbetweentwo
pieces of netting in the direction of the axis of the trawl.
Float:
A float is a buoyant unit used to give lift or to mark the position of a trawl, or
both.
Kite:
A kite is a unit used to give lift to the trawl.
Electro-mechanical devices:
Devices such as transducers which are used to provide information about the
position of the net in the water and the extent to which it is filled with fish.