02021R0092 — EN — 29.01.2021 — 000.003

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Amended by:









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COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2021/92

of 28 January 2021

fixing for 2021 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters







TITLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Subject matter

1. This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities available in Union waters and to Union fishing vessels in certain non-Union waters, for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks.

2. The fishing opportunities referred to in paragraph 1 include: (a) catch limits for the year 2021 and, where specified in this Regulation, for the year 2022; (b) fishing effort limits for the year 2021, except the fishing effort limits set out in Annex II, which will apply from 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2022; (c) fishing opportunities for the period from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021 for certain stocks in the CCAMLR Convention Area.

Article 2

Scope

1. This Regulation applies to the following vessels: (a) Union fishing vessels; (b) third-country vessels in Union waters.

2. This Regulation also applies to: (a) recreational fisheries, where such fisheries are expressly referred to in the relevant provisions of this Regulation; and (b) commercial fisheries from shore.

Article 3

Definitions

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:

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

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

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

(d) ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means: (i) in fisheries subject to the exemption from the landing obligation referred to in Article 15(4) to (7) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the quantity of fish that may be landed from each stock each year; (ii) in all other fisheries, the quantity of fish that may be caught from each stock each year;

(e) ‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country;

(f) ‘analytical assessment’ means quantitative evaluation of trends in a given stock, based on data about the stock’s biology and exploitation, which scientific review has indicated to be of sufficient quality to provide scientific advice on options for future catches;

(g) ‘mesh size’ means the mesh size of fishing nets as defined in point (34) of Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241;

(h) ‘Union fishing fleet register’ means the register set up by the Commission in accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(i) ‘fishing logbook’ means the logbook referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(j) ‘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;

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

Article 4

Fishing zones

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

(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 Council ( 1 );

(b) ‘Skagerrak’ means the geographical area bounded on the west by a line drawn from the Hanstholm lighthouse to the Lindesnes lighthouse and on the south by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast;

(c) ‘Kattegat’ means the geographical area bounded on the north by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast and on the south by a line drawn from Hasenøre to Gnibens Spids, from Korshage to Spodsbjerg and from Gilbjerg Hoved to Kullen;

(d) ‘functional unit 16 of ICES subarea 7’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions: — 53° 30' N 15° 00' W, — 53° 30' N 11° 00' W, — 51° 30' N 11° 00' W, — 51° 30' N 13° 00' W, — 51° 00' N 13° 00' W, — 51° 00' N 15° 00' W;

(e) ‘functional unit 25 of ICES division 8c’ means the geographical sea area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions: — 43° 00' N 9° 00' W, — 43° 00' N 10° 00' W, — 43° 30' N 10° 00' W, — 43° 30' N 9° 00' W, — 44° 00' N 9° 00' W, — 44° 00' N 8° 00' W, — 43° 30' N 8° 00' W;

(f) ‘functional unit 26 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions: — 43° 00' N 8° 00' W, — 43° 00' N 10° 00' W, — 42° 00' N 10° 00' W, — 42° 00' N 8° 00' W;

(g) ‘functional unit 27 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions: — 42° 00' N 8° 00' W, — 42° 00' N 10° 00' W, — 38° 30' N 10° 00' W, — 38° 30' N 9° 00' W, — 40° 00' N 9° 00' W, — 40° 00' N 8° 00' W;

(h) ‘functional unit 30 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area under the jurisdiction of Spain in the Gulf of Cádiz and in the adjacent waters of 9a;

(i) ‘functional unit 31 of ICES division 8c’ means the geographical sea area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions: — 43° 30' N 6° 00' W, — 44° 00' N 6° 00' W, — 44° 00' N 2° 00' W, — 43° 30' N 2° 00' W;

(j) ‘Gulf of Cádiz’ means the geographical area of ICES division 9a east of longitude 7o 23' 48″ W;

(k) ‘CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in point (a) of Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 ( 2 );

(l) CECAF (Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries) areas are the geographical areas specified in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 3 );

(m) ‘IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica ( 4 );

(n) ‘ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ( 5 );

(o) ‘IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) Area of Competence’ is the geographical area defined in the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission ( 6 );

(p) NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) areas are the geographical areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 217/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 7 );

(q) ‘SEAFO (South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean ( 8 );

(r) ‘SIOFA (Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement) Agreement Area’ is the geographic area defined in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement ( 9 );

(s) ‘SPRFMO (South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean ( 10 );

(t) ‘WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean ( 11 );

(u) ‘high seas of the Bering Sea’ is the geographical area of the high seas of the Bering Sea beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial seas of the coastal States of the Bering Sea is measured;

(v) ‘overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC’ is the geographical area defined by the following limits: — longitude 150 o W, — longitude 130 o W, — latitude 4 o S, — latitude 50 o S.







TITLE II

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS







CHAPTER I

General provisions

Article 5

TACs and allocations

1. The TACs for Union fishing vessels in Union waters or in certain non-Union waters and the allocation of such TACs among Member States, and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in Annex I.

2. Union fishing vessels may be authorised to fish, within the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation, in waters falling within the fisheries jurisdiction of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway, and the fishing zone around Jan Mayen, subject to the conditions set out in Article 22 of, and Part A of Annex V to, this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 12 ) and its implementing provisions.

3. Union fishing vessels may be authorised to fish, within the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation, in waters falling within the fisheries jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, subject to the conditions set out in Article 22 of this Regulation and Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 and its implementing provisions.

Article 6

TACs to be determined by Member States

1. The TACs for certain fish stocks shall be determined by the Member State concerned. Those stocks are identified in Annex I.

2. The TACs to be determined by a Member State shall: (a) be consistent with the principles and rules of the CFP, in particular the principle of sustainable exploitation of the stock; and (b) result: (i) if an analytical assessment is available, in the exploitation of the stock in line with MSY, with as high a probability as possible, or (ii) if an analytical assessment is unavailable or incomplete, in the exploitation of the stock consistent with the precautionary approach to fisheries management.

3. By 15 March 2021, each Member State concerned shall submit the following information to the Commission: (a) the TACs adopted; (b) the data collected and assessed by the Member State concerned on which the TACs adopted are based; (c) details on how the TACs adopted comply with paragraph 2.

Article 7

Application of provisional TACs

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1. Where a reference is made to this paragraph in a fishing opportunities table in Annex IA or Annex IB, the fishing opportunities in that table are provisional and shall apply from 1 January to 31 July 2021. Those provisional fishing opportunities shall be without prejudice to setting definitive fishing opportunities for 2021 and 2022, based on the best available scientific advice, and in accordance with the outcomes of international negotiations and/or consultations, the guidelines on special stocks to be agreed with the United Kingdom, the applicable provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and relevant multiannual plans.

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1a. Member States shall make use of any applicable inter-area, inter-species and inter-annual flexibilities in a way which ensures that the overall level of Union catches in 2021 does not exceed the Union share of the maximum provisional TAC level which the Union may set under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part.

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2. Union vessels may fish for stocks in accordance with the provisional fishing opportunities referred to in paragraph 1 in Union and international waters and in waters of third countries that have granted access to their waters for Union vessels.

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Article 7a

Application of fishing opportunities in Greenland waters

Where a reference is made to this Article in a fishing opportunities table in Annex IB, the fishing opportunities in that table shall apply from the date of provisional application of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, of the other part, to 31 December 2021.

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Article 8

Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

1. Catches that are not subject to the landing obligation under Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall be retained on board or landed only if they: (a) have been taken by vessels flying the flag of a Member State having a quota and that quota has not been exhausted; or (b) consist of a share in a Union quota which has not been allocated by quota among Member States, and that Union quota has not been exhausted.

2. The stocks of non-target species within safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 are identified in Annex I to this Regulation for the purposes of the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quotas provided for in that Article.

Article 9

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

1. In order to take into account the introduction of the landing obligation and to make quotas for certain by-catches available to Member States without a quota, the quota-exchange mechanism set out in paragraphs 2 to 5 shall apply to the TACs identified in Annex IA.

2. ►M2 ◄ . 6 % of each quota from the provisional TACs for cod in the Celtic Sea, cod in the West of Scotland, whiting in the Irish Sea and plaice in ICES divisions 7h, 7j and 7k, and 3 % of each quota from the provisional TAC for West of Scotland whiting, allocated to each Member State, shall be made available for a pool for quota exchanges, which shall open as of 1 January 2021. Member States without quota shall have exclusive access to the quota pool until31 July 2021

3. ►M2 ◄ , to those Member States that have initially contributed to the pool for quota exchanges. The quantities drawn from the pool may not be exchanged or transferred to the following year. Any unused quantities shall be returned, after31 July 2021, to those Member States that have initially contributed to the pool for quota exchanges.

4. The quotas provided in return shall be preferably taken from a list of TACs identified by each Member State contributing to the pool as listed in the Appendix to Annex IA.

5. The quotas referred to in paragraph 4 shall be of equivalent commercial value by using a market exchange rate or other mutually acceptable exchange rates. In absence of alternatives, the equivalent economic value in accordance to the average Union prices of the previous year, as provided by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products, shall be used.

6. In cases where the quota-exchange mechanism set out in paragraphs 2–5 of this Article does not allow Member States to cover their unavoidable by-catches to a similar extent, Member States shall endeavour to agree on quota exchanges pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, ensuring that quotas exchanged are of equivalent commercial value.

Article 10

Fishing effort limits in ICES division 7e

1. For the periods referred to in point (b) of Article 1(2), the technical aspects of the rights and obligations related to Annex II for the management of the sole stock in ICES division 7e are set out in Annex II.

2. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, allocate a requesting Member State a number of days at sea additional to those referred to in point 5 of Annex II, on which a vessel may be authorised by its flag Member State to be present within ICES division 7e when carrying on board any regulated gear, on the basis of such a request by that Member State, in accordance with point 7.4 of that Annex. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 58(2).

3. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, allocate a requesting Member State a maximum of three days between 1 February 2021 and 31 January 2022 additional to those referred to in point 5 of Annex II, on which a vessel may be present within ICES division 7e on the basis of an enhanced programme of scientific observer coverage as referred to in point 8.1 of that Annex. Such an allocation shall be done on the basis of the description submitted by that Member State in accordance with point 8.3 of Annex II and following consultation with the STECF. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 58(2).

Article 11

Measures on European seabass fisheries

1. It shall be prohibited for Union 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. It shall be prohibited to retain, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in that area.

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2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, in January 2021 and from 1 April to 31 July, Union fishing vessels in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 7d, 7e, 7f and 7h 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: ▼B (a) using demersal trawls ( 13 ), 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 seines ( 14 ), 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 lines ( 15 ), not exceeding ►M2 3,32 ◄ tonnes per vessel; (d) using fixed gillnets ( 16 ), for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding ►M2 0,82 ◄ tonnes per vessel.

The derogations set out in the first subparagraph shall apply to Union 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 Union fishing vessel, Member States may allow the derogation to apply to another fishing vessel provided that the number of Union fishing vessels subject to the derogation and their overall fishing capacity do not increase.

3. The catch limits set out in paragraph 2 shall not be transferable between vessels and, where a monthly limit applies, from one month to another. For Union 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.

Member States shall report to the Commission all catches of European seabass per type of gear no later than 15 days after the end of each month.

4. France and Spain shall ensure that fishing mortality of European seabass stock in ICES divisions 8a and 8b from their commercial and recreational fisheries do not exceed the F MSY point value resulting in 3 108 tonnes of total catches, as required by Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472.

5. In recreational fisheries, including from shore, in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 6a, 7a to 7k: (a) from 1 January to 28 February, only catch-and-release fishing with a rod or a handline for European seabass shall be allowed. During that period, it shall be prohibited to retain, relocate, tranship or land European seabass caught in that area; (b) ►M2 from 1 March to 31 July ◄ not more than two specimens of European seabass may be caught and retained per fisherman per day; the minimum size of European seabass retained shall be 42 cm.

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

6. In recreational fisheries, including from shore, in ICES divisions 8a and 8b, a maximum of two specimens of European seabass may be caught and retained per fisherman per day. This paragraph shall not apply to fixed nets, which shall not be used to catch or retain European seabass.

7. Paragraphs 5 and 6 shall be without prejudice to more stringent national measures on recreational fisheries.

Article 12

Measures on European eel fisheries in Union waters of the ICES area

Any targeted, incidental and recreational fishery of European eel shall be prohibited in Union waters of the ICES area and brackish waters such as estuaries, coastal lagoons and transitional waters for a consecutive three-month period to be determined by each Member State concerned between 1 August 2021 and 28 February 2022. Member States shall communicate the determined period to the Commission no later than 1 June 2021.

Article 13

Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities

1. The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States as set out in this Regulation shall be without prejudice to: (a) exchanges made pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (b) deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009; (c) reallocations made pursuant to Articles 12 and 47 of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2403; (d) additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (e) quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (f) deductions made pursuant to Articles 105, 106 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009; (g) quota transfers and exchanges pursuant to Article 23 of this Regulation.

2. Stocks which are subject to precautionary or analytical TACs are identified in Annex I to this Regulation for the purposes of the year-to-year management of TACs and quotas provided for in Regulation (EC) No 847/96.

3. Except where otherwise specified in Annex I to this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to a precautionary TAC, and Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to an analytical TAC.

4. Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses the year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

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Article 14

Closed 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 shall be prohibited in ICES divisions 2a and 3a and in ICES subarea 4 from 1 January to 31 March 2021 and from 1 August to 31 December 2021.

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Article 15

Technical measures for cod and whiting in the Celtic Sea

1. The following measures shall apply to Union vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines in ICES divisions 7f and 7g, the part of ICES division 7h north of latitude 49° 30' North and the part of ICES division 7j north of latitude 49° 30' North and east of longitude 11° West: (a) Union vessels fishing with bottom trawls or seines shall use gear with one of the following mesh sizes: (i) 110 mm cod-end with 120 mm square-mesh panel; (ii) 100 mm T90 cod-end; (iii) 120 mm cod-end; (iv) 100 mm cod-end with 160 mm square-mesh panel; (b) in addition to measures referred to in point (a), Union vessels fishing with bottom trawls whose catches, measured before any discards, consist of at least 20 % of haddock shall use: (i) a fishing gear that is constructed with a minimum of one metre 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 the STECF, and approved by the Commission.

2. Member States may exempt from the application of point (b) of paragraph 1 vessels fishing with bottom trawls whose catches, measured before any discards, consist of less than 1,5 % of cod, provided that those vessels are subject to a progressive increase of observer coverage at sea up to at least 20 % of all their fishing trips as of 1 July 2021.

3. Union vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines in ICES divisions 7f to 7k and in the area west of 5° W longitude in ICES division 7e shall be prohibited from fishing unless they use a minimum cod-end mesh size of at least 100 mm. Nevertheless, that minimum cod-end mesh size requirement shall not apply to vessels whose by-catches of cod do not exceed 1,5 %, according to the assessment by the STECF, when fishing outside the areas referred to in paragraph 1.

4. Measures referred to in paragraph 3 shall apply to Union vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines in ICES divisions 7b and 7c from 1 June 2021. Union vessels fishing in those areas may also use other fishing gear which, according to the assessment by the STECF, results in the same or better selectivity characteristics in mixed demersal fisheries as that of a minimum cod-end mesh size of at least 100 mm, and which has been approved by the Commission.

5. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, in ICES divisions 7f and 7g, the part of ICES division 7h north of latitude 49° 30' North and the part of ICES division 7j north of latitude 49° 30' North and east of longitude 11° West: (a) vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 30 % of Norway lobster shall use one of the following gear options: (i) 300 mm squared mesh panel; however, vessels below 12 metres in length overall may use a 200 mm square mesh panel; (ii) Seltra panel; (iii) sorting grid with a 35 mm bar spacing as referred to in Annex VI Part B of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 or a similar Netgrid selectivity device; (iv) 100 mm cod-end with a 100 mm square mesh panel; (v) dual cod-end with the uppermost cod-end constructed with T90 mesh of at least 90 mm and fitted with a separation panel with a maximum mesh size of 300 mm; (b) vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 55 % of whiting or 55 % of anglerfish, hake or megrim combined, shall use one of the following gear options: (i) 100 mm cod-end with a 100 mm squared mesh panel; (ii) 100 mm T90 cod-end and extension.

6. In accordance with 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.

Article 16

Technical measures in the Irish Sea

The following measures shall apply to Union fishing vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines in ICES division 7a (Irish Sea):

(a) vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines with a cod-end mesh size equal to or larger than 70 mm and smaller than 100 mm and with catches comprising more than 30 % of Norway lobster shall use one of the following gear options: (i) 300 mm square mesh panel; however, vessels below 12 metres in length overall may use a 200 mm squared mesh panel; (ii) Seltra panel; (iii) sorting grid with 35 mm bar spacing; (iv) Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) netgrid; (v) flip-flap trawl;

(b) vessels equal to or greater than 12 metres in length overall operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 10 % of haddock, cod and skates and rays combined, shall use 120 mm cod-end;

(c) vessels equal to or greater than 12 metres in length overall operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising less than 10 % of haddock, cod and skates and rays combined shall apply a cod-end mesh size of 100 mm with a 100 mm square mesh panel.

Point (c) of the first paragraph shall not apply to vessels with catches comprising more than 30 % of Norway lobster or more than 85 % of queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis).

Article 17

Technical measures in the West of Scotland

The following measures shall apply to Union fishing vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines in ICES divisions 6a and 5b, within Union waters, east of 12°W (West of Scotland) in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) fisheries:

(a) vessels shall use a square mesh panel (positioning retained) of at least 300 mm for vessels deploying a cod-end mesh size less than 100 mm; however, for vessels below 12 m in length overall or with engine power of 200 kW or less, the panel overall length may be 2 m and the panel 200 mm;

(b) vessels with catches comprising more than 30 % of Norway lobster shall use a square mesh panel (positioning retained) of at least 160 mm for vessels deploying a cod-end mesh size of 100-119 mm.

Article 18

Remedial 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.

2. Vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines with minimum mesh size of at least 70 mm in ICES divisions 4a and 4b or at least 90 mm in ICES division 3a, and longlines ( 17 ) shall be prohibited from fishing in Union waters of ICES division 4a, north of latitude 58° 30′ 00″ N and south of latitude 61° 30′ 00″ N and in Union waters of ICES divisions 3a.20 (Skagerrak), 4a and 4b, north of latitude 57° 00′ 00″ N and east of longitude 5° 00′ 00″ E.

3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, fishing vessels referred to in that paragraph may fish in the areas referred to in that paragraph provided that they fulfil at least one of the following criteria: (a) the percentage of cod catches does not exceed 5 % of the total catches per fishing trip; vessels with cod catches that have not exceeded 5 % of their total catches in the period 2017–2019 are presumed to comply with this criterion provided that they continue to use the same gear which they used in that period; this presumption may be rebutted; (b) a regulated and highly selective bottom trawl or seine is used, resulting, according to a scientific study, in at least a 30 % reduction in cod catches compared to vessels fishing with the baseline mesh size for towed gears as specified in point 1.1 of Part B of Annex V of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241; such studies may be evaluated by the STECF; in the case of a negative evaluation by the STECF, those gears shall no longer be considered to be valid for use in the areas referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article; (c) for vessels operating with bottom trawls and seines with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 100 mm (TR1), the following highly selective gears are used: (i) belly trawls with a minimum belly mesh size of 600 mm; (ii) raised fishing line (0,6 m); (iii) horizontal separating panel with large mesh escape panel; (d) for vessels operating with bottom trawls and seines with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 70 mm in ICES division 4a and 90 mm in ICES division 3a and less than 100 mm (TR2), the following highly selective gears are used: (i) horizontal sorting grid with maximum 50 mm bar spacing separating flatfish and roundfish, with an unblocked fish outlet for roundfish; (ii) Seltra panel with 300 mm square-mesh size; (iii) sorting grid with maximum 35 mm bar spacing, with an unblocked fish outlet; (e) vessels are subject to a national cod avoidance plan to sustain cod catches in line with the fishing mortality corresponding to the fishing opportunities fixed, based on scientific advice levels, through spatial or technical measures, or a combination thereof; such plans should be assessed no later than two months following their implementation, by the STECF in the case of Member States, and by their relevant national scientific body in the case of third countries, and, where deemed necessary, further revised if such assessments consider that the objective of the national cod avoidance plan will not be met.

4. Member States shall enhance monitoring, control and surveillance of vessels referred to in paragraph 2 to control compliance with the conditions set out in points (a) to (e) of paragraph 3.

5. The measures provided for in this Article shall not apply to fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations, provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

Article 19

Remedial measures for cod in Kattegat

1. Union vessels fishing in the Kattegat with bottom trawls (gear codes: OTB, OTT, OT, TBN, TBS, TB, TX and PTB) with minimum mesh size of 70 mm shall use one of the following selective gears: (a) a sorting grid with maximum 35 mm bar spacing, with an unblocked fish outlet; (b) a sorting grid with maximum 50 mm bar spacing separating flatfish and roundfish, with an unblocked fish outlet for roundfish; (c) Seltra panel with 300 mm square-mesh size; (d) a regulated highly selective gear, the technical attributes of which result, according to the scientific study assessed by the STECF, in catches of less than 1,5 % of cod, if it is the only gear that the vessel carries on board.

2. Those Union vessels participating in a project of a Member State concerned and having functioning equipment for fully documented fisheries may use a gear in accordance with Part B of Annex V of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241. Member States concerned shall communicate the list of those vessels to the Commission.

3. The measures provided for in this Article shall not apply to fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations, provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

Article 20

Prohibited species

1. It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or to land the following species: (a) starry ray (Raja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 7d and ICES subarea 4; (b) splendid alfonsino (Beryx splendens) in NAFO subarea 6; (c) leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; (d) Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; (e) kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; (f) birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; (g) common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10; (h) great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14; (i) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14; (j) porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in all waters; (k) thornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a; (l) undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6 and 10; (m) whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in all waters; (n) common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) in the Mediterranean; (o) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in Union waters of ICES subareas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, with the exception of avoidance programmes as set out in Annex IA.

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

Article 21

Data transmission

When, pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Member States submit to the Commission data relating to landings of quantities of stocks caught and fishing effort, they shall use the stock codes set out in Annex I to this Regulation.







CHAPTER II

Fishing authorisations in third - country waters

Article 22

Fishing authorisations

1. The maximum number of fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels in third-country waters, where applicable, is set out in Part A of Annex V.

2. Where one Member State transfers quota to another Member State (‘swap’) in the fishing areas set out in Part A of Annex V to this Regulation in accordance with Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the transfer shall include an appropriate transfer of fishing authorisations and shall be notified to the Commission. However, the total number of fishing authorisations for each fishing area, as set out in Part A of Annex V to this Regulation, shall not be exceeded.







CHAPTER III

Fishing opportunities in waters of regional fisheries management organisations







Section 1

General provisions

Article 23

Quota transfers and exchanges

1. Where, under the rules of a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO), quota transfers or exchanges between the Contracting Parties to the RFMO are permitted, a Member State (‘the Member State concerned’) may discuss with a Contracting Party to the RFMO and, as appropriate, establish a possible outline of an intended quota transfer or exchange.

2. Upon notification to the Commission by the Member State concerned, the Commission may endorse the outline of the intended quota transfer or exchange that the Member State has discussed with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. Thereupon, the Commission shall express, without undue delay, the consent to be bound by such quota transfer or exchange with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. The Commission shall notify the secretariat of the RFMO of the agreed quota transfer or exchange in accordance with the rules of that organisation.

3. The Commission shall inform the Member States of the agreed quota transfer or exchange.

4. The fishing opportunities received from or transferred to the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO under the quota transfer or exchange shall be deemed to be quotas allocated to, or deducted from, the allocation of the Member State concerned, as of the moment that the quota transfer or exchange takes effect in accordance with the terms of the agreement reached with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO or in accordance with the rules of the relevant RFMO, as appropriate. Such allocation shall not change the existing distribution key for the purpose of allocating fishing opportunities among Member States in accordance with the principle of relative stability of fishing activities.

5. This Article shall apply until 31 January 2022 for quota transfers from a RFMO Contracting Party to the Union and their subsequent allocation to Member States.







Section 2

NEAFC Convention Area

Article 24

Closures for redfish in the Irminger

All fishing activities shall be prohibited in the area bounded by following coordinates measured according to the WGS84 system:







Latitude Longitude 63°00' -30°00' 61°30' -27°35' 60°45' -28°45' 62°00' -31°35' 63°00' -30°00'







Section 3

ICCAT Convention Area

Article 25

Fishing, farming and fattening capacity limitations

1. The number of Union bait boats and trolling boats authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the eastern Atlantic shall be limited as set out in point 1 of Annex VI.

2. The number of Union coastal artisanal fishing vessels authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 2 of Annex VI.

3. The number of Union fishing vessels fishing for bluefin tuna in the Adriatic Sea for farming purposes authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm shall be limited as set out in point 3 of Annex VI.

4. The number of fishing vessels authorised to fish for, retain on board, tranship, transport, or land bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 4 of Annex VI.

5. The number of traps engaged in bluefin tuna fishery in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 5 of Annex VI.

6. The bluefin tuna total farming and fattening capacity, and the maximum input of wild caught bluefin tuna allocated to the farms in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 6 of Annex VI.

7. The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for northern albacore as a target species in accordance with Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 ( 18 ) shall be limited as set out in point 7 of Annex VI to this Regulation.

8. The maximum number of Union fishing vessels of at least 20 metres length that fish for bigeye tuna in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be limited as set out in point 8 of Annex VI.

Article 26

Recreational fisheries

Where appropriate, Member States shall allocate a specific share for recreational fisheries from their allocated quotas as set out in Annex ID.

Article 27

Sharks

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.







Section 4

CCAMLR Convention Area

Article 28

Exploratory fisheries notifications for toothfish

Member States may participate in longline exploratory fisheries for toothfishes (Dissostichus spp.) in FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in FAO divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a outside areas of national jurisdiction in 2021. If a Member State intends to participate in such exploratory fisheries, it shall notify the CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with Articles 7 and 7a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 no later than 1 June 2021.

Article 29

Limits on exploratory fisheries for toothfish

1. Fishing for toothfish during the 2020–2021 fishing season shall be limited to the Member States, subareas and number of vessels set out in table A of Annex VII for the species, TACs and by-catch limits set out in table B of that Annex.

2. Direct fishing of shark species for purposes other than scientific research shall be prohibited. Any by-catch of shark, especially juveniles and gravid females, taken accidentally in the toothfish fishery shall be released alive.

3. Where applicable, fishing in any small-scale research unit (SSRU) shall cease when the reported catch reaches the specified TAC, and the 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 FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in FAO divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a, where permitted in accordance with Article 28, shall be prohibited in depths less than 550 metres.

Article 30

Krill fishery during the 2020–2021 fishing season

1. If a Member State intends to fish for krill ( Euphausia superba ) in the CCAMLR Convention Area during the 2020–2021 fishing season, it shall notify the Commission, no later than 1 May 2021, of its intention to fish for krill, using the format laid down in Part B of the Appendix to Annex VII. On the basis of the information provided by Member States, the Commission shall submit the notifications to the CCAMLR Secretariat no later than 30 May 2021.

2. The notification referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article 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. A Member State intending to fish for krill in the CCAMLR Convention Area shall notify its intention to do so only in respect of authorised vessels either flying its flag at the time of the notification or flying the flag of another CCAMLR member that are expected, at the time the fishery takes place, to be flying the flag of that Member State.

4. Member States shall be entitled to authorise participation in a krill fishery by vessels other than those notified to CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, if an authorised vessel is prevented from participation due to legitimate operational reasons or force majeure. In such circumstances the Member States concerned shall immediately inform the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission, providing: (a) full details of the intended replacement vessel(s), including information provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004; (b) a comprehensive account of the reasons justifying the replacement and any relevant supporting evidence or references.

5. Member States shall not authorise a vessel placed on any CCAMLR illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel list to participate in krill fisheries.







Section 5

IOTC Area of Competence

Article 31

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

1. The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for tropical tunas in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 1 of Annex VIII.

2. The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ) and albacore ( Thunnus alalunga ) in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 2 of Annex VIII.

3. Member States may reallocate vessels assigned to one of the two fisheries referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 to the other fishery, provided that they can demonstrate to the Commission that such change does not lead to an increase of fishing effort on the fish stocks involved.

4. Member States shall ensure that, where there is a proposed transfer of capacity to their fleet, vessels to be transferred are on the IOTC record of authorised vessels or on the record of vessels of other tuna RFMOs. Furthermore, no vessels placed on the list of vessels engaged in IUU fishing activities of any RFMO may be transferred.

5. Member States may only increase their fishing capacity beyond the ceilings referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 within the limits set out in the development plans submitted to the IOTC.

Article 32

Drifting FADs and supply vessels

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

2. A purse seine vessel 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 shall be 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, all flying the flag of a Member State. This provision shall not apply to Member States using only one supply vessel.

5. A single purse seine vessel shall not be supported by more than one single supply vessel flying the flag of a Member State at any time.

6. The Union shall not register new or additional supply vessels in the IOTC record of authorised vessels.

Article 33

Sharks

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 vessels under 24 metres overall length engaged solely in fishing operations within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Member State whose flag they fly, and provided that their catch is destined solely for local consumption.

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

Article 34

Mobulid rays

1. It shall be prohibited for Union 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 (i.e. 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 through artisanal fishing (i.e. 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.







Section 6

SPRFMO Convention Area

Article 35

Pelagic fisheries

1. Only those Member States which have actively exercised pelagic fisheries activities in the SPRFMO Convention Area in 2007, 2008 or 2009 may fish for pelagic stocks in that area in accordance with the TACs set out in Annex IH.

2. The Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall limit the total level of gross tonnage of vessels flying their flag and fishing for pelagic stocks in 2021 to the total Union level of 78 600 gross tonnage in that area.

3. The fishing opportunities set out in Annex IH may only be used under the condition that Member States send to the Commission the list of vessels actively fishing or engaged in transhipment in the SPRFMO Convention Area, records from vessel monitoring systems, monthly catch reports and, where available, port calls, at the latest by the fifth day of the following month, with the aim of communicating that information to the SPRFMO Secretariat.

Article 36

Bottom fisheries

1. Member States shall limit their bottom fishing catch or effort in 2021 in the SPRFMO Convention Area to those parts of that Convention Area where bottom fishing has occurred from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 and to a level that does not exceed the annual average levels of catches or effort parameters in that period. They may fish beyond the track record only if SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish beyond the track record.

2. Member States without a track record in bottom fishing catch or effort in the SPRFMO Convention Area over the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 shall not fish, unless SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish without a track record.

Article 37

Exploratory fisheries

1. Member States may participate in longline exploratory fisheries for toothfishes ( Dissostichus spp.) in the SPRFMO Convention Area in 2021 only if the SPRFMO has approved their application for such fisheries that includes a fisheries operation plan and commitment to implement a data collection plan.

2. Fishing shall take place only in the research blocks specified by SPRFMO. Fishing shall be prohibited in depths less than 750 metres and more than 2 000 metres.

3. The TAC shall be as set out in Annex IH. Fishing shall be limited to one trip of a maximum duration of 21 consecutive days and to a maximum number of 5 000 hooks per set, with a maximum of 20 sets per research block. Fishing shall cease either when the TAC is reached or if 100 sets have been set and hauled, whichever is earlier.







Section 7

IATTC Convention Area

Article 38

Purse-seine fisheries

1. Fishing by purse seiner vessels for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) shall be prohibited: (a) from 00.00 hours on 29 July 2021 to 24.00 hours on 8 October 2021 or from 00.00 hours on 9 November 2021 to 24.00 hours on 19 January 2022 in the area defined by the following limits: — the Pacific coastlines of the Americas, — longitude 150 o W, — latitude 40 o N, — latitude 40 o S; (b) from 00.00 hours on 9 October 2021 to 24.00 hours on 8 November 2021 in the area defined by the following limits: — longitude 96 o W, — longitude 110 o W, — latitude 4 o N, — latitude 3 o S.

2. For each of their vessels, Member States concerned shall notify to the Commission before 1 April 2021 the selected period of closure referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1. All purse seine vessels of the Member States concerned shall stop purse-seine fishing in the areas defined in paragraph 1 during the selected period.

3. Purse seine vessels fishing for tuna in the IATTC Convention Area shall retain on board and then land or tranship all yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna caught.

4. Paragraph 3 shall not apply in the following cases: (a) where the fish is considered unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or (b) during the final set of a trip when there may be insufficient well space remaining to accommodate all the tuna caught in that set.

Article 39

Drifting FADs

1. A purse seine vessel shall not have more than 450 FADs active at any time in the IATTC Convention Area. A FAD shall be considered active when it is deployed at sea, starts transmitting its location and is being tracked by the vessel, its owner or operator. A FAD shall only be activated on board a purse seine vessel.

2. A purse seine vessel may not deploy FADs during the 15 days before the start of the selected closure period referred to in point (a) of Article 38(1), and it shall recover the same number of FADs as initially deployed within 15 days prior to the start of the closure period.

3. Member States shall report to the Commission, on a monthly basis, daily information on all active FADs as required by the IATTC. The reports shall be submitted with a delay of at least 60 days, but not longer than 75 days. The Commission shall transmit that information to the IATTC Secretariat without delay.

Article 40

Catch limits for bigeye tuna in longline fisheries

The total annual catches of bigeye tuna by longline vessels of each Member State in the IATTC Convention Area are established in Annex IL.

Article 41

Prohibition of fishing for oceanic whitetip sharks

1. It shall be prohibited to fish for oceanic whitetip sharks ( Carcharhinus longimanus ) in the IATTC Convention Area, and to retain on board, to tranship, to land, to store, to offer for sale or to sell any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks caught in that area.

2. When accidentally caught, the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released by vessel operators.

3. Vessel operators shall: (a) record the number of releases with indication of status (dead or alive); (b) report the information specified in point (a) to the Member State of which they are nationals. Member States shall transmit the information collected during the previous year to the Commission by 31 January.

Article 42

Prohibition of fishing for Mobulid rays

It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels in the IATTC Convention Area 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). As soon as Union fishing vessels notice that Mobulid rays have been caught, they shall, wherever possible, promptly release them alive and unharmed.







Section 8

SEAFO Convention Area

Article 43

Prohibition of fishing for deep-water sharks

Directed fishing for the following deep-water sharks in the SEAFO Convention Area shall be prohibited:

(a) ghost catshark (Apristurus manis);

(b) blurred smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus bigelowi);

(c) shorttail lanternshark (Etmopterus brachyurus);

(d) great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps);

(e) smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus);

(f) skates (Rajidae);

(g) velvet dogfish (Scymnodon squamulosus);

(h) deep-sea sharks of the Selachimorpha super-order;

(i) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias).







Section 9

WCPFC Convention Area

Article 44

Conditions for bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna and South Pacific albacore fisheries

1. Member States shall ensure that the number of fishing days allocated to purse seine vessels fishing for bigeye tuna ( Thunnus obesus ), yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ) and skipjack tuna ( Katsuwonus pelamis ) in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located in the high seas between 20° N and 20° S does not exceed 403 days.

2. Union fishing vessels shall not target South Pacific albacore ( Thunnus alalunga ) in the WCPFC Convention Area south of 20° S.

3. Member States shall ensure that catches of bigeye tuna ( Thunnus obesus ) by longliners in 2021 do not exceed the limits set out in the table of Annex IG.

Article 45

Management of fishing with FADs

1. In the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located between 20 o N and 20 o S, it shall be prohibited for purse seine vessels to deploy, service or set on FADs between 00.00 hours on 1 July 2021 and 24.00 hours on 30 September 2021.

2. In addition to the prohibition set out in paragraph 1, it shall be prohibited to set on FADs on the high seas of the WCPFC Convention Area, between 20 o N and 20 o S, for an additional two months: either from 00.00 hours on 1 April 2021 to 24.00 hours on 31 May 2021, or from 00.00 hours on 1 November 2021 to 24.00 hours on 31 December 2021.

3. Paragraph 2 shall not apply in the following cases: (a) in the final set of a trip, if the vessel has insufficient well space left to accommodate all fish; (b) where the fish is unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or (c) when a serious malfunction of freezer equipment occurs.

4. Member States shall ensure that each of its purse seiners have deployed at sea, at any time, no more than 350 FADs with activated instrumented buoys. The buoy shall be activated exclusively on board a vessel.

5. All purse seiners fishing in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area referred to in paragraph 1 shall retain on board, tranship and land all bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna caught.

Article 46

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

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in areas south of 20° S of the WCPFC Convention Area shall be as set out in Annex IX.

Article 47

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

Member States shall ensure that catches of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) south of 20° S by longliners do not exceed in 2021 the limit set out in Annex IG. Member States shall also ensure that there is no shift of the fishing effort for swordfish to the area north of the 20° S, as a result of that measure.

Article 48

Silky sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks

1. Retaining on board, transhipping, landing or storing any part or whole carcass of the following species in the WCPFC Convention Area shall be prohibited: (a) silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis); (b) oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus).

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

Article 49

Overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC

1. Vessels listed exclusively in the WCPFC register shall apply the measures set out in this Section when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC.

2. Vessels listed in both the WCPFC register and the IATTC register and vessels listed exclusively in the IATTC register shall apply the measures set out in point (a) of Article 38(1), Article 38(2), (3) and (4) and Articles 39, 40 and 41 when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC.







Section 10

Bering Sea

Article 50

Prohibition on fishing in the high seas of the Bering Sea

Fishing for pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in the high seas of the Bering Sea shall be prohibited.







Section 11

SIOFA Agreement Area

Article 51

Limits to bottom fishing

Member States shall ensure that vessels flying their flag that are fishing in the SIOFA Agreement Area:

(a) limit their annual bottom fishing effort and catch to their average annual level for those years where their vessels were active in the SIOFA Agreement Area, over a representative period for which data declared to the Commission exists;

(b) do not expand the spatial distribution of bottom fishing effort, excluding long-line and trap methods, beyond areas fished in recent years;

(c) are not authorised to fish in the interim protected areas of Atlantis Bank, Coral, Fools Flat, Middle of What, Walter’s Shoal, as defined in Annex IK, except with long-line and traps methods and on condition of having a scientific observer on board at all times while fishing in those areas.







TITLE III

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIRD-COUNTRY VESSELS IN UNION WATERS

Article 52

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

Fishing vessels flying the flag of Norway and fishing vessels registered in the Faroe Islands may be authorised to fish in Union waters within the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation and shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Title III of Regulation (EU) 2017/2403.

Article 53

Fishing vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom, registered in the United Kingdom and licensed by a United Kingdom fisheries administration

Fishing vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom, registered in the United Kingdom and licensed by a fisheries administration of the United Kingdom may be authorised to fish in Union waters within the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation and shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) 2017/2403.

Article 54

Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela

Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Title III of Regulation (EU) 2017/2403.

Article 55

Fishing authorisations

The maximum number of fishing authorisations for third-country vessels fishing in Union waters shall be as set out in Part B of Annex V.

Article 56

Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

The conditions specified in Article 8 shall apply to catches and by-catches of third-country vessels fishing under the authorisations referred to in Article 55.

Article 57

Prohibited species

1. It shall be prohibited for third-country vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or to land the following species whenever they are found in Union waters: (a) starry ray (Raja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 7d and ICES subarea 4; (b) common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10; (c) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14; (d) kitefin shark (Dalatias licha), birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea), leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus), great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) and Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 1, 4 and 14; (e) porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in Union waters; (f) thornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a; (g) undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6, 9 and 10; (h) common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) in the Mediterranean; (i) whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in all waters; (j) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in Union waters of ICES subareas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

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







TITLE IV

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 58

Committee procedure

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture established by Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Article 59

Transitional provision

Articles 11, 19, 20, 27, 33, 34, 41, 42, 43, 48, 50 and 57 shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, in 2022 until the entry into force of the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for 2022.

Articles 15, 16 and 17 shall apply until the date on which a delegated act adopted in accordance with Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 and amending Annex VI of that Regulation by introducing corresponding technical measures for the North Western Waters becomes applicable.

Article 60

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2021.

However, Article 11(1), (2), (3) and (5), Articles 14 and 18 shall apply from 1 January to ►M2 31 July 2021 ◄ .

The provisions on fishing opportunities set out in Articles 28, 29 and 30 and Annex VII for stocks indicated in that Annex in the CCAMLR Convention Area shall apply from 1 December 2020.

The provisions on fishing effort limits set out in Annex II shall apply from 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2022.

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









ANNEX

LIST OF ANNEXES







ANNEX I: TACs applicable to Union fishing vessels in areas where TACs exist by species and by area ANNEX IA: Skagerrak, Kattegat, ICES subareas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14, Union waters of CECAF, French Guiana waters ANNEX IB: North East Atlantic and Greenland, ICES subareas 1, 2, 5, 12 and 14 and Greenland waters of NAFO 1 ANNEX IC: North West Atlantic – NAFO Convention Area ANNEX ID: ICCAT Convention Area ANNEX IE: South-East Atlantic Ocean – SEAFO Convention Area ANNEX IF: Southern bluefin tuna – areas of distribution ANNEX IG: WCPFC Convention Area ANNEX IH: SPRFMO Convention Area ANNEX IJ: IOTC Area of Competence ANNEX IK: SIOFA Agreement Area ANNEX IL: IATTC Convention Area ANNEX II: Fishing effort for vessels in the context of the management of Western Channel sole stocks in ICES division 7e ANNEX III: Management areas for sandeel in ICES divisions 2a, 3a and ICES subarea 4 ANNEX IV: Seasonal closures to protect spawning cod ANNEX V: Fishing authorisations ANNEX VI: ICCAT Convention Area ANNEX VII: CCAMLR Convention Area ANNEX VIII: IOTC Area of Competence ANNEX IX: WCPFC Convention Area









ANNEX I

TACs APPLICABLE TO UNION FISHING VESSELS IN AREAS WHERE TACs EXIST BY SPECIES AND BY AREA

The tables in the Annexes set out the TACs and quotas (in tonnes live weight, except where otherwise specified) by stock, and, where appropriate, the conditions functionally linked thereto.

All fishing opportunities set out in the Annexes shall be subject to the rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and in particular Articles 33 and 34 thereof.

The references to fishing zones in the Annexes are references to ICES zones, unless otherwise specified. Within each area, fish stocks are referred to according to the alphabetical order of the scientific names of the species. Only scientific names identify species for regulatory purposes. Common names are provided for ease of reference.

Annexes IA to IL are part of Annex I.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following comparative table of scientifc names and common names of the species is provided:







Scientific name Alpha-3 code Common name Ammodytes spp. SAN Sandeels Argentina silus ARU Greater silver smelt Beryx spp. ALF Alfonsinos Brosme brosme USK Tusk Caproidae BOR Boarfishes Centrophorus squamosus GUQ Leafscale gulper shark Centroscymnus coelolepis CYO Portuguese dogfish Chaceon spp. GER Deep sea red crabs Chaenocephalus aceratus SSI Blackfin icefish Champsocephalus gunnari ANI Mackerel icefish Channichthys rhinoceratus LIC Unicorn icefish Chionoecetes spp. PCR Snow crabs Clupea harengus HER Herring Coryphaenoides rupestris RNG Roundnose grenadier Dalatias licha SCK Kitefin shark Deania calcea DCA Birdbeak dogfish Dicentrarchus labrax BSS European seabass Dipturus batis (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) RJB Common skate complex Dissostichus eleginoides TOP Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni TOA Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus spp. TOT Toothfishes Engraulis encrasicolus ANE Anchovy Etmopterus princeps ETR Great lanternshark Etmopterus pusillus ETP Smooth lanternshark Euphausia superba KRI Krill Gadus morhua COD Cod Galeorhinus galeus GAG Tope shark Glyptocephalus cynoglossus WIT Witch flounder Hippoglossoides platessoides PLA American plaice Hoplostethus atlanticus ORY Orange roughy Illex illecebrosus SQI Shortfin squid Lamna nasus POR Porbeagle Lepidorhombus spp. LEZ Megrims Leucoraja naevus RJN Cuckoo ray Limanda ferruginea YEL Yellowtail flounder Lophiidae ANF Anglerfishes Macrourus spp. GRV Grenadiers Makaira nigricans BUM Blue marlin Mallotus villosus CAP Capelin Manta birostris RMB Giant manta ray Martialia hyadesi SQS Squid Melanogrammus aeglefinus HAD Haddock Merlangius merlangus WHG Whiting Merluccius merluccius HKE Hake Micromesistius poutassou WHB Blue whiting Microstomus kitt LEM Lemon sole Molva dypterygia BLI Blue ling Molva molva LIN Ling Nephrops norvegicus NEP Norway lobster Notothenia gibberifrons NOG Humped rockcod Notothenia rossii NOR Marbled rockcod Notothenia squamifrons NOS Grey rockcod Pandalus borealis PRA Northern prawn Paralomis spp. PAI Crabs Penaeus spp. PEN ‘Penaeus’ shrimps Pleuronectes platessa PLE Plaice Pleuronectiformes FLX Flatfishes Pollachius pollachius POL Pollack Pollachius virens POK Saithe Scophthalmus maximus TUR Turbot Pseudochaenichthys georgianus SGI South Georgia icefish Pseudopentaceros spp. EDW Pelagic armourheads Raja alba RJA White skate Raja brachyura RJH Blonde ray Raja circularis RJI Sandy ray Raja clavata RJC Thornback ray Raja fullonica RJF Shagreen ray Raja (Dipturus) nidarosiensis JAD Norwegian skate Raja microocellata RJE Small-eyed ray Raja montagui RJM Spotted ray Raja radiata RJR Starry ray Raja undulata RJU Undulate ray Rajiformes SRX Skates and rays Reinhardtius hippoglossoides GHL Greenland halibut Sardina pilchardus PIL Sardine Scomber scombrus MAC Mackerel Scophthalmus rhombus BLL Brill Sebastes spp. RED Redfishes Solea solea SOL Common sole Solea spp. SOO Sole Sprattus sprattus SPR Sprat Squalus acanthias DGS Picked dogfish Tetrapturus albidus WHM White marlin Thunnus alalunga ALB Albacore Thunnus maccoyii SBF Southern bluefin tuna Thunnus obesus BET Bigeye tuna Thunnus thynnus BFT Bluefin tuna Trachurus murphyi CJM Jack mackerel Trachurus spp. JAX Horse mackerel Trisopterus esmarkii NOP Norway pout Urophycis tenuis HKW White hake Xiphias gladius SWO Swordfish

The following comparative table of common names and scientific names of the species is provided exclusively for explanatory purposes:







Common name Alpha-3 code Scientific name Albacore ALB Thunnus alalunga Alfonsinos ALF Beryx spp. American plaice PLA Hippoglossoides platessoides Anchovy ANE Engraulis encrasicolus Anglerfishes ANF Lophiidae Antarctic toothfish TOA Dissostichus mawsoni Bigeye tuna BET Thunnus obesus Birdbeak dogfish DCA Deania calcea Blackfin icefish SSI Chaenocephalus aceratus Blonde ray RJH Raja brachyura Blue ling BLI Molva dypterygia Blue marlin BUM Makaira nigricans Blue whiting WHB Micromesistius poutassou Bluefin tuna BFT Thunnus thynnus Boarfishes BOR Caproidae Brill BLL Scophthalmus rhombus Capelin CAP Mallotus villosus Cod COD Gadus morhua Common skate complex RJB Dipturus batis (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) Common sole SOL Solea solea Crabs PAI Paralomis spp. Cuckoo ray RJN Leucoraja naevus Deep sea red crabs GER Chaceon spp. European seabass BSS Dicentrarchus labrax Flatfishes FLX Pleuronectiformes Giant manta ray RMB Manta birostris Great lanternshark ETR Etmopterus princeps Greater silver smelt ARU Argentina silus Greenland halibut GHL Reinhardtius hippoglossoides Grenadiers GRV Macrourus spp. Grey rockcod NOS Notothenia squamifrons Haddock HAD Melanogrammus aeglefinus Hake HKE Merluccius merluccius Herring HER Clupea harengus Horse mackerel JAX Trachurus spp. Humped rockcod NOG Notothenia gibberifrons Jack mackerel CJM Trachurus murphyi Kitefin shark SCK Dalatias licha Krill KRI Euphausia superba Leafscale gulper shark GUQ Centrophorus squamosus Lemon sole LEM Microstomus kitt Ling LIN Molva molva Mackerel MAC Scomber scombrus Mackerel icefish ANI Champsocephalus gunnari Marbled rockcod NOR Notothenia rossii Megrims LEZ Lepidorhombus spp. Northern prawn PRA Pandalus borealis Norway lobster NEP Nephrops norvegicus Norway pout NOP Trisopterus esmarkii Norwegian skate JAD Raja (Dipturus) nidarosiensis Orange roughy ORY Hoplostethus atlanticus Patagonian toothfish TOP Dissostichus eleginoides Pelagic armourheads EDW Pseudopentaceros spp. ‘Penaeus’ shrimps PEN Penaeus spp. Picked dogfish DGS Squalus acanthias Plaice PLE Pleuronectes platessa Pollack POL Pollachius pollachius Porbeagle POR Lamna nasus Portuguese dogfish CYO Centroscymnus coelolepis Redfishes RED Sebastes spp. Roundnose grenadier RNG Coryphaenoides rupestris Saithe POK Pollachius virens Sandeels SAN Ammodytes spp. Sandy ray RJI Raja circularis Sardine PIL Sardina pilchardus Shagreen ray RJF Raja fullonica Shortfin squid SQI Illex illecebrosus Skates and rays SRX Rajiformes Small-eyed ray RJE Raja microocellata Smooth lanternshark ETP Etmopterus pusillus Snow crabs PCR Chionoecetes spp. Sole SOO Solea spp. South Georgia icefish SGI Pseudochaenichthys georgianus Southern bluefin tuna SBF Thunnus maccoyii Spotted ray RJM Raja montagui Sprat SPR Sprattus sprattus Squid SQS Martialia hyadesi Starry ray RJR Raja radiata Swordfish SWO Xiphias gladius Thornback ray RJC Raja clavata Toothfishes TOT Dissostichus spp. Tope shark GAG Galeorhinus galeus Turbot TUR Scophthalmus maximus Tusk USK Brosme brosme Undulate ray RJU Raja undulata Unicorn icefish LIC Channichthys rhinoceratus White hake HKW Urophycis tenuis White marlin WHM Tetrapturus albidus White skate RJA Raja alba Whiting WHG Merlangius merlangus Witch flounder WIT Glyptocephalus cynoglossus Yellowtail flounder YEL Limanda ferruginea









ANNEX IA

SKAGERRAK, KATTEGAT, ICES SUBAREAS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 AND 14, UNION WATERS OF CECAF, FRENCH GUIANA WATERS

▼M2







Species: Sandeels and associated by-catches Ammodytes spp. Zone: Union waters of 2a, 3a and 4(1) Denmark 95 295 (2) (3) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Germany 146 (2) (3) Sweden 3 499 (2) (3) Union 98 940 (2) United Kingdom pm (2) (3) TAC pm (2) (1) Excluding waters within six nautical miles of the UK baselines at Shetland, Fair Isle and Foula. (2) In management areas 1r and 2r the TAC may only be fished as monitoring TAC with an associated sampling protocol for the fishery. (3) Up to 2 % of the quota may consist of by-catches of whiting and mackerel (OT1/*2A3A4X). By-catches of whiting and mackerel counted against the quota pursuant to this provision and by-catches of species counted against the quota pursuant to Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall, together, not exceed 9 % of the quota.

Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following sandeel management areas, as defined in Annex III:

Zone: Union waters of sandeel management areas







1r 2r 3r 4 5r 6 7r (SAN/234_1R) (SAN/234_2R) (SAN/234_3R) (SAN/234_4) (SAN/234_5R) (SAN/234_6) (SAN/234_7R) Denmark 5 154 4 717 12 175 73 117 0 132 0 Germany 8 7 19 112 0 0 0 Sweden 189 173 447 2 685 0 5 0 Union 5 351 4 897 12 641 75 914 0 137 0 United Kingdom pm pm pm pm 0 pm 0 Total pm pm pm pm 0 pm 0







Species: Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Zone: Union and international waters of 1 and 2 (ARU/1/2.) Germany 9 Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 3 Netherlands 8 Union 20 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Zone: Union waters of 3a and 4 (ARU/3A4-C) Denmark 418 Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Germany 4 France 3 Ireland 3 Netherlands 20 Sweden 16 Union 464 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Zone: Union and international waters of 5, 6 and 7 (ARU/567.) Germany 165 Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 3 Ireland 153 Netherlands 1 725 Union 2 046 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Tusk Brosme brosme Zone: Union and international waters of 1, 2 and 14 (USK/1214EI) Germany pm (1) Precautionary TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies France pm (1) Others pm (1) (2) Union pm (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota. (2) Catches to be counted against this shared quota shall be reported separately (USK/1214EI_AMS).







Species: Tusk Brosme brosme Zone: Union waters of 4 (USK/04-C.) Denmark 40 Precautionary TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Germany 12 France 27 Sweden 4 Others 4 (1) Union 87 United Kingdom pm TAC pm (1) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota. Catches to be counted against this shared quota shall be reported separately (USK/04-C_AMS).







Species: Tusk Brosme brosme Zone: Union and international waters of 5, 6 and 7 (USK/567EI.) Germany 35 Precautionary TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Spain 121 France 1 441 Ireland 139 Others 35 (1) Union 1 771 Norway 0 (2) (3) (4) (5) United Kingdom pm TAC pm (1) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota. Catches to be counted against this shared quota shall be reported separately (USK/567EI_AMS). (2) To be fished in Union waters of 2a, 4, 5b, 6 and 7 (USK/*24X7C). (3) Special condition: of which an incidental catch of other species of 25 % per vessel, at any moment, is authorised in 5b, 6 and 7. However, this percentage may be exceeded in the first 24 hours following the beginning of the fishing on a specific ground. The total incidental catch of other species in 5b, 6 and 7 shall not exceed the amount below in tonnes (OTH/*5B67-). By-catch of cod under this provision in area 6a may not be more than 5 %. 3 000 (4) Including ling. The following quotas for Norway shall only be fished with long-lines in 5b, 6 and 7: Ling (LIN/*5B67-) 0 Tusk (USK/*5B67-) 0 (5) The tusk and ling quotas for Norway are interchangeable up to the following amount, in tonnes: pm







Species: Tusk Brosme brosme Zone: Norwegian waters of 4 (USK/04-N.) Belgium 0 Precautionary TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Denmark 75 Germany 0 France 0 Netherlands 0 Union 75 TAC Not relevant







Species: Boarfishes Caproidae Zone: Union and international waters of 6, 7 and 8 (BOR/678-) Denmark 2 740 Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Ireland 7 715 Union 10 455 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Herring (1) Clupea harengus Zone: 3a (HER/03A.) Denmark 9 080 (2) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Germany 145 (2) Sweden 9 498 (2) Union 18 723 (2) Norway 2 881 Faroe Islands pm pm TAC 21 604 (1) Catches of herring taken in fisheries using nets with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 32 mm. (2) Special condition: up to 50 % of this amount may be fished in Union waters of 4 (HER/*04-C.).







Species: Herring(1) Clupea harengus Zone: Union and Norwegian waters of 4 north of 53o30' N (HER/4AB.) Denmark 49 993 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Germany 33 852 France 18 838 Netherlands 46 381 Sweden 3 449 Union 152 513 Faroe Islands pm Norway 103 344 (2) United Kingdom 61 301 TAC 356 357 (1) Catches of herring taken in fisheries using nets with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 32 mm. (2) Catches taken within this quota are to be deducted from Norway's share of the TAC. Within the limit of this quota, no more than the quantity given below may be taken in Union waters of 4a and 4b (HER/*4AB-C). 3 000

Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken by the Union in Norwegian waters south of 62°N.

Norwegian waters south of 62oN (HER/*4N-S62)







Union 3 000







Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: Norwegian waters south of 62oN (HER/4N-S62) Sweden 878 (1) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Union 878 TAC 356 357 (1) By-catches of cod, haddock, pollack and whiting and saithe are to be counted against the quota for these species.







Species: Herring (1 ) Clupea harengus Zone: 3a (HER/03A-BC) Denmark 5 692 (2) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Germany 51 (2) Sweden 916 (2) Union 6 659 (2) TAC 6 659 (2) (1) Exclusively for catches of herring taken as by-catch in fisheries using nets with mesh sizes smaller than 32 mm. (2) Special condition: up to 50 % of this quota may be fished in Union waters of 4 (HER/*04-C-BC).







Species: Herring (1 ) Clupea harengus Zone: 4, 7d and Union waters of 2a (HER/2A47DX) Belgium 38 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Denmark 7 421 Germany 38 France 38 Netherlands 238 Sweden 36 Union 7 609 United Kingdom 141 TAC 7 750 (1) Exclusively for catches of herring taken as by-catch in fisheries using nets with mesh sizes smaller than 32 mm.







Species: Herring (1) Clupea harengus Zone: 4c, 7d(2) (HER/4CXB7D) Belgium 8 257 (3) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Denmark 668 (3) Germany 452 (3) France 9 274 (3) Netherlands 16 142 (3) Union 34 793 (3) United Kingdom pm (3) TAC 356 357 (1) Exclusively for catches of herring taken in fisheries using nets with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 32 mm. (2) Except Blackwater stock: reference is to the herring stock in the maritime region of the Thames estuary within a zone delimited by a rhumb line running due south from Landguard Point (51° 56' N, 1° 19,1' E) to latitude 51° 33' N and hence due west to a point on the coast of the United Kingdom. (3) Special condition: up to 50 % of this quota may be taken in 4b (HER/*04B.).







Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: Union and international waters of 5b, 6b and 6aN(1) (HER/5B6ANB) Germany 206 (2) Precautionary TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 39 (2) Ireland 278 (2) Netherlands 206 (2) Union 729 (2) United Kingdom pm (2) TAC pm (1) Reference is to the herring stock in the part of ICES zone 6a which lies east of the meridian of longitude 7oW and north of the parallel of latitude 55oN, or west of the meridian of longitude 7oW and north of the parallel of latitude 56oN, excluding the Clyde. (2) It shall be prohibited to target any herring in the part of the ICES zones subject to this TAC that lies between 56oN and 57o30' N, with the exception of a six nautical mile belt measured from the baseline of the United Kingdom's territorial sea.







Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: 6aS(1), 7b, 7c (HER/6AS7BC) Ireland 721 Precautionary TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Netherlands 72 Union 793 TAC 793 (1) Reference is to the herring stock in 6a south of 56o00' N and west of 07o00' W.







Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: 7a(1) (HER/07A/MM) Ireland 471 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Union 471 United Kingdom pm TAC pm (1) This zone is reduced by the area bounded: — to the north by latitude 52o30' N, — to the south by latitude 52o00' N, — to the west by the coast of Ireland, — to the east by the coast of the United Kingdom.







Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: 7e and 7f (HER/7EF.) France 271 Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Union 271 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Herring Clupea harengus Zone: 7g(1), 7h(1), 7j(1) and 7k(1) (HER/7G-K.) Germany 6 (2) Analytical TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 31 (2) Ireland 437 (2) Netherlands 31 (2) Union 505 (2) United Kingdom pm (2) TAC pm (2) (1) This zone is increased by the area bounded: — to the north by latitude 52o30' N, — to the south by latitude 52o00' N, — to the west by the coast of Ireland, — to the east by the coast of the United Kingdom. (2) This quota may only be allocated to vessels participating in the sentinel fishery to allow fisheries-based data collection for this stock as assessed by ICES. The Member States concerned shall communicate the name(s) of the vessel(s) to the Commission before allowing any catches.

▼B







Species: Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus Zone: 8 (ANE/08.) Spain 29 700 Analytical TAC France 3 300 Union 33 000 TAC 33 000







Species: Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus Zone: 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (ANE/9/3411) Spain 0 (1) Precautionary TAC Portugal 0 (1) Union 0 (1) TAC 0 (1) (1) The quota may only be fished from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

▼M2







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: Skagerrak (COD/03AN.) Belgium 5 Analytical TAC Denmark 1 515 Germany 38 Netherlands 9 Sweden 265 Union 1 832 TAC 1 893

▼B







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: Kattegat (COD/03AS.) Denmark 75 (1) Precautionary TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Germany 2 (1) Sweden 46 (1) Union 123 (1) TAC 123 (1) (1) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

▼M2







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: 4; Union waters of 2a; that part of 3a not covered by the Skagerrak and Kattegat (COD/2A3AX4) Belgium 347 (1) Analytical TAC Denmark 1 993 Germany 1 263 France 428 (1) Netherlands 1 126 (1) Sweden 13 Union 5 170 Norway 2 252 (2) United Kingdom 5 824 (1) TAC 13 246 (1) Special condition: of which up to 5 % may be fished in: 7d (COD/*07D.). (2) May be taken in Union waters. Catches taken within this quota are to be deducted from Norway's share of the TAC.

Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following zone:

Norwegian waters of 4 (COD/*04N-)







Union 4 494







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: Norwegian waters south of 62oN (COD/4N-S62) Sweden 382 (1) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Union 382 TAC Not relevant (1) By-catches of haddock, pollack and whiting and saithe are to be counted against the quota for these species.







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: 6b; Union and international waters of 5b west of 12o00' W and of 12 and 14 (COD/5W6-14) Belgium 0 Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Germany 0 France 1 Ireland 2 Union 3 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: 6a; Union and international waters of 5b east of 12o00' W (COD/5BE6A) Belgium 1 (1) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Article 9 of this Regulation applies Germany 7 (1) France 76 (1) Ireland 142 (1) Union 226 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) (1) Exclusively for by-catches of cod in fisheries for other species. No directed fisheries for cod are permitted under this quota.







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: 7a (COD/07A.) Belgium 1 (1) Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 3 (1) Ireland 49 (1) Netherlands 1 (1) Union 54 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) (1) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: 7b, 7c, 7e-k, 8, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (COD/7XAD34) Belgium 7 (1) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Article 9 of this Regulation applies France 114 (1) Ireland 166 (1) Netherlands 0 (1) Union 287 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) (1) Exclusively for by-catches of cod in fisheries for other species. No directed fisheries for cod are permitted under this quota.







Species: Cod Gadus morhua Zone: 7d (COD/07D.) Belgium 33 (1) Analytical TAC France 648 (1) Netherlands 19 (1) Union 700 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Special condition: of which up to 5 % may be fished in: 4; Union waters of 2a; that part of 3a not covered by the Skagerrak and Kattegat (COD/*2A3X4).







Species: Megrims Lepidorhombus spp. Zone: Union waters of 2a and 4 (LEZ/2AC4-C) Belgium 5 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Denmark 4 Germany 4 France 24 Netherlands 19 Union 56 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Megrims Lepidorhombus spp. Zone: Union and international waters of 5b; 6; international waters of 12 and 14 (LEZ/56-14) Spain 308 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 1 204 (1) Ireland 352 Union 1 864 United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Special condition: of which up to 5 % may be fished in: Union waters of 2a and 4 (LEZ/*2AC4C).







Species: Megrims Lepidorhombus spp. Zone: 7 (LEZ/07.) Belgium 274 (1) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Spain 3 045 (2) France 3 696 (2) Ireland 1 680 (2) Union 8 695 United Kingdom pm (2) TAC pm (1) 10 % of this quota may be used in 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (LEZ/*8ABDE) for by-catches in directed fisheries for sole. (2) 35 % of this quota may be fished in 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (LEZ/*8ABDE).







Species: Megrims Lepidorhombus spp. Zone: 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (LEZ/8ABDE.) Spain 585 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 472 Union 1 057 TAC 1 057

▼B







Species: Megrims Lepidorhombus spp. Zone: 8c, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (LEZ/8C3411) Spain 1 912 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies France 96 Portugal 64 Union 2 072 TAC 2 158

▼M2







Species: Anglerfishes Lophiidae Zone: Union waters of 2a and 4 (ANF/2AC4-C) Belgium 182 (1) Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Denmark 401 (1) Germany 196 (1) France 37 (1) Netherlands 138 (1) Sweden 5 (1) Union 959 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Special condition: of which up to 10 % may be fished in: 6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14 (ANF/*56-14).







Species: Anglerfishes Lophiidae Zone: Norwegian waters of 4 (ANF/04-N.) Belgium 37 Precautionary TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Denmark 935 Germany 15 Netherlands 13 Union 1 000 TAC Not relevant







Species: Anglerfishes Lophiidae Zone: 6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14 (ANF/56-14) Belgium 118 (1) Precautionary TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Germany 134 (1) Spain 126 France 1 449 (1) Ireland 328 Netherlands 113 (1) Union 2 268 United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Special condition: of which up to 5 % may be fished in: Union waters of 2a and 4 (ANF/*2AC4C).







Species: Anglerfishes Lophiidae Zone: 7 (ANF/07.) Belgium 2 046 (1) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Germany 228 (1) Spain 813 (1) France 13 129 (1) Ireland 1 678 (1) Netherlands 265 (1) Union 18 159 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Special condition: of which up to 10 % may be fished in 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (ANF/*8ABDE).







Species: Anglerfishes Lophiidae Zone: 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (ANF/8ABDE.) Spain 941 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 5 235 Union 6 176 TAC 6 176

▼B







Species: Anglerfishes Lophiidae Zone: 8c, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (ANF/8C3411) Spain 2 934 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies France 3 Portugal 584 Union 3 521 TAC 3 672

▼M2







Species: Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Zone: 3a (HAD/03A.) Belgium 12 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Denmark 2 120 Germany 135 Netherlands 2 Sweden 250 Union 2 519 TAC 2 630







Species: Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Zone: 4; Union waters of 2a (HAD/2AC4.) Belgium 287 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Denmark 1 970 Germany 1 254 France 2 185 Netherlands 215 Sweden 169 Union 6 080 Norway 9 841 United Kingdom 26 865 TAC 42 785

Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following zones:

Norwegian waters of 4 (HAD/*04N-)







Union 4 523







Species: Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Zone: Norwegian waters south of 62oN (HAD/4N-S62) Sweden 707 (1) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Union 707 TAC Not relevant (1) By-catches of cod, pollack, whiting and saithe are to be counted against the quota for these species.







Species: Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Zone: Union and international waters of 6b, 12 and 14 (HAD/6B1214) Belgium 7 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Germany 9 France 347 Ireland 247 Union 610 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Zone: Union and international waters of 5b and 6a (HAD/5BC6A.) Belgium 6 (1) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Germany 6 (1) France 264 (1) Ireland 650 (1) Union 925 United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Not more than 10 % of this quota may be fished in 4; Union waters of 2a (HAD/*2AC4.).







Species: Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Zone: 7b-k, 8, 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (HAD/7X7A34) Belgium 91 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 5 441 Ireland 1 814 Union 7 346 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Zone: 7a (HAD/07A.) Belgium 29 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 129 Ireland 771 Union 929 United Kingdom pm TAC pm







Species: Whiting Merlangius merlangus Zone: 3a (WHG/03A.) Denmark 271 Precautionary TAC Netherlands 1 Sweden 29 Union 301 TAC 929







Species: Whiting Merlangius merlangus Zone: 4; Union waters of 2a (WHG/2AC4.) Belgium 296 Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Denmark 1 281 Germany 333 France 1 925 Netherlands 740 Sweden 2 Union 4 575 Norway 2 131 (1) United Kingdom 12 506 TAC 21 306 (1) May be taken in Union waters. Catches taken within this quota are to be deducted from Norway's share of the TAC.

Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following zones:

Norwegian waters of 4 (WHG/*04N-)







Union 4 518







Species: Whiting Merlangius merlangus Zone: 6; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14 (WHG/56-14) Germany 1 (1) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Article 9 of this Regulation applies France 20 (1) Ireland 122 (1) Union 143 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) (1) Exclusively for by-catches of whiting in fisheries for other species. No directed fisheries for whiting are permitted under this quota.







Species: Whiting Merlangius merlangus Zone: 7a (WHG/07A.) Belgium 1 (1) Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Article 9 of this Regulation applies France 9 (1) Ireland 114 (1) Netherlands 0 (1) Union 124 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) (1) Exclusively for by-catches of whiting in fisheries for other species. No directed fisheries for whiting are permitted under this quota.







Species: Whiting Merlangius merlangus Zone: 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j and 7k (WHG/7X7A-C) Belgium 46 Analytical TAC Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies France 2 928 Ireland 2 324 Netherlands 25 Union 5 323 United Kingdom pm TAC pm

▼B







Species: Whiting Merlangius merlangus Zone: 8 (WHG/08.) Spain 880 Precautionary TAC France 1 321 Union 2 201 TAC 2 276

▼M2







Species: Whiting and pollack Merlangius merlangus and Pollachius pollachius Zone: Norwegian waters south of 62oN (W/P/4N-S62) Sweden 190 (1) Precautionary TAC Union 190 TAC Not relevant (1) By-catches of cod, haddock and saithe are to be counted against the quota for these species.







Species: Hake Merluccius merluccius Zone: 3a (HKE/03A.) Denmark 2 058 (1) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Sweden 175 (1) Union 2 233 TAC 2 233 (1) Transfers of this quota may be effected to Union waters of 2a and 4. However, such transfers shall be notified in advance to the Commission.







Species: Hake Merluccius merluccius Zone: Union waters of 2a and 4 (HKE/2AC4-C) Belgium 21 (1) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Denmark 865 (1) Germany 99 (1) France 191 (1) Netherlands 50 (1) Union 1 226 (1) United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Not more than 10 % of this quota may be used for by-catch in 3a (HKE/*03A.).







Species: Hake Merluccius merluccius Zone: 6 and 7; Union and international waters of 5b; international waters of 12 and 14 (HKE/571214) Belgium 290 (1) Analytical TAC Article 8(2) of this Regulation applies Article 7(1) of this Regulation applies Spain 9 311 France 14 379 (1) Ireland 1 742 Netherlands 187 (1) Union 25 909 United Kingdom pm (1) TAC pm (1) Tra