Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) harmonizing various technical measures in Mediterranean fisheries
Date: 1992-12-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Mediterranean Sea, conservation of fish stocks, fishery resources, fishing net, fishing regulations, fishing vessel

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

.. i.a 

COM(92) 533 final 

Brussels,  11 December  1992 

Proposal  for a 

milNPJL REGIII AT10N  (EEC) 

harmonizing various technical neasures in 

Mediterranean fisheries 

(presented  by  the Commission) 

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JO.-

Explanatory  Memorandum 

Background 

At  its  meeting  of  20  November  1990  the  Council  acknowledged  the  need  to 
establish  a  common  system  for  the  management  and  conservation  of  fishery 
resources which  was  specially  suited  to the  Mediterranean.  This  statement 
was made in response to the Commission's  Discussion  Paper entitled  "Outline 
of  a  Common  Fisheries  System  in  the  Mediterranean"(*).  In  this  context, 
the  Council  invited  the  Commission  to  examine  the  areas  of  research  on 
species,  the  problems 
and 
harmonization  of  the  rules  applied  by  the Member  States with  Mediterranean 
coastlines. 

specialized 

fisheries 

certain 

facing 

The  Commission's  communication  on  the  progress  of  this  work(^)  has  been 
discussed  at  different  levels  within  the  Council,  culminating  with  the 
Fisheries  Council  meeting  on  9  June  1992.  The  latter  found  the 
communication  to  be  a  sound  basis  on  which  the  Commission  could  continue 
its  work  and  suggested  in  particular  that  it  should  commence  the 
harmonization  of  the  laws  of  the Mediterranean  Member  States  so that  fish 
stocks  can  be  better  managed  and  conserved  in  compliance  with  the 
principles and aims of the CFP. 

The  attached  proposal  for  a  Council  Regulation  harmonizing  various 
technical  measures  in Mediterranean  fisheries  deals with  these  concerns  in 
so far as a common  approach  for the entire  region has emerged  from  scrutiny 
of the national  rules and the results of scientific  and  legal research.  It 
should  be emphasized  that  adoption  of this text  will  not  be the  final  step 
in  introducing  the  common  policy  on  conservation  and  management  in  the 
Mediterranean,  but  rather  the first practical  step  in that  direction: other 
measures  will  have  to  be  added  as  we  gain  increased  understanding  of  the 
complexities  of this area and the need  for Community  intervention. 

Methodology 

On the basis of some 400 legal texts communicated  by the  four Mediterranean 
Member  States,  Commission  staff  carried  out  a  comparative  study  on  the 
provisions  applied  to Mediterranean  fisheries  with  a view  to distilling  an 
essential body of rules to be  implemented  at Community  level. 

To  support  this work  and  to enable  the Council  to draw up, on the basis of 
the available  scientific  advice, the conservation measures  needed  to attain 
the objectives  laid  down  in Article  1 of  Regulation  (EEC) No  170/83(3)f  as 
Article 2 of that  Regulation  requires it to do, Council Regulation  (EEC) No 
3499/91(4)  provides  for  the  Community  to  contribute  to  the  financing  of 
studies  and pilot  projects  in the  field  in question.  These  studies  add  to 
the  body  of  knowledge  already  available  concerning  biological  and 
socioeconomic  aspects  and  in time will  allow  the Community's  action  in the 
region to be further  refined. 

(1)  SEC(90) 1136 final. 
(2)  SEC(92)  183 final. 
(3)  0J No L 24, 27.1.1983, p. 1. 
(4)  OJ No L 331, 3.12.1991, p. 1 

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The  contributions  of  both  the  national  and  regional  authorities  and  the 
professional  organizations  in the Member  States concerned  have been equally 
important.  This  collaboration  has enabled  the Commission  better  to  define 
the  scope  of  the  proposed  action  and  to  target  more  specifically  those 
aspects of the  fishing  industry which can easily be harmonized. 

The text 

Analysis  of  the  national  laws  of  the  four  Mediterranean  Member  States 
concerning  the  conservation  and  management  of  fishery  resources  in  the 
Mediterranean  has  identified  various  technical  provisions  which  can  be 
harmonized at Community  level. 

They can be grouped  into the following  categories: 

Provisions defining  fishing zones, 

1.  Provisions prohibiting  certain methods and gear, 
2. 
3.  Provisions describing  the technical characteristics  of gear, 
4. 
5.  Provisions  fixing minimum  catching/harvesting  sizes. 

Provisions  fixing minimum mesh sizes, 

1.  The  first  category  includes  fishing  methods  which  entail  the 
destruction  of a disproportionately  large number  of juveniles, such as 
the use  of  poisons, explosives  and  shore  seines, which  generally  have 
small-meshed  nets. 

2. 

It  is  felt  to  be  appropriate  to  adopt  at  Community  level  the 
restrictions  which  are  common  to  all  four  Member  States  in  certain 
fishing  zones,  particularly  in  zones  where  trawling  and  dredging  are 
by  the 
permitted, 
biogeographical  characteristics  of  the  Mediterranean.  The  proposal 
indicates  the  minimum  restrictions  to  be  adopted  at  Community  level 
for the types  of  fishing  concerned,  but  does  not  exclude  the  adoption 
of  further restrictions  at a later date. 

because  their  parameters 

are  determined 

The only  reason which can  justify the localized  suspension  of  fishing, 
whether  temporary  (periodical  or  otherwise)  or  permanent,  is  the 
protection  of  zones  with  high  concentrations  of  juveniles.  The 
closure  of  reproduction  zones during  the  spawning  season  is  justified 
only on the basis of objective biological  facts. 

3.  Although  all  four Member  States  apply  restrictive  measures  concerning 
the  technical  characteristics  of  fishing  gear,  it  is  proposed  that 
these should  be kept to a minimum  in this Regulation. 

In  view  of  the  variety  of  types  of  trailing  gear  (bottom-set 
longlines,  drifting  longlines,  baskets,  gillnets,  drift  nets,  etc.), 
it  is  unquestionably  preferable  to  introduce  a  non-exhaustive  rule 
which  harmonizes  the  logic  of  minimum  restrictions  on  technical 
characteristics  (sizes, number  of  hooks, etc.)  at  European  level  and 
allows  the  Member  States  to  adapt  those  restrictions  to  the 
characteristics  of the activities of their nationals  as  required. 

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In  the  case  of  towed  gear,  particularly  dredges,  and  types  used  for 
small-scale  fisheries  and  coral  fishing,  the variety  of gear  used  and 
types  of  fishing  make  it  difficult  to  identify  which  restrictions  on 
technical  characteristics  can  usefully  be  harmonized  at  Community 
level. 

4.  Above  all  else,  it  is  important  to  ensure  that  methods  of  measuring 
mesh sizes are standardized  (inner dimensions of stretched  meshes). 

The  minimum  mesh  size  for  codends  should  be  no  greater  than  that 
recommended  by  the General  Council  for  Fisheries  in the  Mediterranean 
. (GCFM)-?- i.e. —40 mm-  -Once  the  Community  has  become  a  member  of  this 
body,  it  should  insist  that  this  recommendation  be  made  compulsory, 
and therefore binding  throughout the Mediterranean. 

In view  of  the great  variety  of  types  found,  it  is preferable  not  to 
propose  minimum  mesh  sizes  for  other  towed  gear  (such  as dredges  for 
shellfish,  bull  trawls,  etc.),  but  rather  to  emphasize  minimum 
catching or harvesting  sizes, particularly  for  shellfish. 

In  the  case  of  gillnets, whether  drifting  or  set,  it  is  proposed  to 
adopt  minimum  mesh  sizes which  are  consistent  with  those  for codends, 
i.e. mesh  sizes which  allow the same percentages of  fish of equivalent 
sizes to escape. 

Lastly,  in  the  case  of  encircling  nets, minimum  mesh  sizes  have  been 
chosen on the basis of the commercial  sizes to be  imposed  for anchovy, 
which  is the  only  small  pelagic  species  covered  which  is  sufficiently 
fished  to  justify  technical  protection measures. 

5. 

In  the  case  of  demersal  species  of  considerable  commercial  interest, 
it  is  proposed  to  adopt  minimum  catching  sizes  which  will  produce  a 
synergistic  effect  in conjunction  with  the provisions  on minimum  mesh 
sizes.  In  the 
facilitate 
implementation  and  control,  these minimum  sizes  have  been  extended  to 
cover  all  types  of  fishing.  The  same  approach  has  been  taken  with 
crustaceans,  restricted  to  the  Norway  lobster,  and  molluscs, 
restricted  to the genera Venus and Venerupis. 

interests  of  consistency 

and  to 

The  anchovy  is  the  only  small  pelagic  species  covered  which  is 
sufficiently  fished  to  justify  the  introduction  of  a minimum  catching 
size.  Catches  will  therefore  be  limited  to  individuals  which  have 
reached  maturity,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Atlantic  fisheries.  The 
Regulation  also  seeks  to align  the minimum  catching  size  for mackerel 
on that  laid down  for Atlantic  fisheries. 

In view of the Community's  application  for membership  of the ICCAT, it 
is  recommended  that  the  minimum  sizes  adopted  for  large  pelagic 
species should be those stipulated  by this  international  body which is 
responsible  for managing  tuna  in the Mediterranean.  Thus, the minimum 
weight  adopted  for  the  bluefin  tuna  is  6.4  kg,  which  is  biologically 
justified  for the Mediterranean. 

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The  minimum  size  recommended  for  swordfish  is  100 cm,  which  will 
increase the protection of juveniles  (age categories 0 and 1 ). 

In the case  of  molluscs, the  Regulation  harmonizes  the minimum  sizes 
for  scallops  in  the  Mediterranean  with  those  in  the  Atlantic.  The 
minimum  sizes  proposed  for  bivalve  molluscs  of  the  genera  Venerupis 
and Venus are based on requests  from one Member State. 

Lastly,  echinoderms,  ascidia,  corals  and  sponges  have  been  given  a 
token entry  in the annex  defining minimum  sizes; although  it  is still 
too  early  to  lay  down  specific  parameters  for  a  more  rational 
exploitation  of  these  resources,  action  at  Community  level  will 
certainly  be  needed  in  the  medium  term,  and  the  proposed  Regulation 
provides  for  this  possibility  through  the  management  committee 
procedure. 

This  proposal  is  based  on  the  best  available  scientific  advice,-  as 
reflected  in the rules currently  in  force  in the region.  It also  includes 
the  relevant  recommendations  of  the  Scientific and  Technical  Committee  on 
Fisheries  contained  in  its  19th  report  dated  27  May 
1991  i'^')-'.-

(5)  SEC(91) 1651. 

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Proposal  for 

COUNCIL REGULATION  (EEC) No 

/.. 

of 

harmonizing  various technical measures in 

Mediterranean  fisheries 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Economic 

Community,  and  in particular Article 43 thereof, 

Having regard  to the proposal  from the Commission(*•), 

Having  regard  to the opinion of the European  Parliament(2)/ 

Having  regard  to the opinion of the Economic  and Social  Committee(^), 

Whereas  there  has  been  no  regulation  at  Community  level  of  the 

conservation  and  management  of  fishery  resources  in  the  Mediterranean 

during  the  first  ten  years  of  the  common  fisheries  policy  because  the 

particular  circumstances  there  lend  themselves  less  easily  to  the 

application  of  rules  analogous  to  those  applying  in  the  Atlantic  and 

North Sea since 1983; 

Whereas,  however,  the  time  has  now  come  to  remedy  the  problems 

currently  affecting  resources  in  the  Mediterranean  by  introducing  a 

harmonized  management  system  suited  to  the  circumstances  there,  while 

taking  into  account  existing  national  regulations  and  making 

adjustments to the latter as required  to protect  stocks; 

(1)  OJ No C 
(2)  OJ No C 
(3)  OJ No C 

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Whereas  gear  which,  when  used  in  the  Mediterranean,  contributes 

excessively  to  the  degradation  of  the  marine  environment  or  to  the 

running-down  of  certain  stocks  should  be  prohibited;  whereas  the 

coastal  zone  should  be  reserved  for  the  most  selective  gears  used  by 

small-scale  fishermen; whereas,  notwithstanding  the  geographical  scope 

of  Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  3094/86<4),  Articles  9  and  9a  of  that 

Regulation  concerning  drifting  gillnets  and  purse  seines  are  already 

applicable  in the Mediterranean; 

Whereas  it  is  appropriate  to  define  the  characteristics  of  the  main 

types of  fishing  gear  used  in the Mediterranean,  in particular  minimum 

mesh  sizes,  as  well  as  minimum  sizes  for  certain  species  of  fish, 

crustaceans,  molluscs  and  other  fishery  products  specific  to  the 

Mediterranean  in order to prevent their overexploitation; 

Whereas,  likewise,  in order to avoid  situations  in which  large  numbers 

of  undersized  individuals  are  caught,  it  is  necessary  to  protect 

certain  zones  where  juveniles  congregate,  taking  account  of  the  local 

biological conditions  in these various zones; whereas  it is  furthermore 

appropriate  that, when  regulating  fisheries  in the  Mediterranean,  both 

Community  and  national  legislation  should  take into account the  special 

needs  of  particular  species  and  environments  recognized  to  be  fragile 

or endangered; 

Whereas,  in  order  not  to  impede  scientific  research,  this  Regulation 

should  not  apply  to  any  operations  required  for  the  purposes  of  such 

research; 

Whereas national measures  supplementary  to, or going beyond  the minimum 

requirements  of,  the  system  established  by this  Regulation  or  measures 

regulating  the  relationships  between  those  engaged  in  fishing 

activities  should  remain  possible;  whereas  such  measures  may  be 

maintained  or  introduced,  subject  to  review  by  the  Commission  as 

regards  their  compatibility  with  Community  law  and  their  conformity 

with the common  fisheries policy; 

(4)  OJ No L 288, 11.10.1986, p. 1 

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Whereas  it  may  prove  necessary  to  introduce  detailed  rules  for 

implementing  this  Regulation;  whereas  such  detailed  rules  should  be 

adopted  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in  Article  14  of 

Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  . . . .  of  ....  establishing  a  Community 

system  for fisheries and  aquaculture^5); 

Whereas  the  Community  is  a  signatory  to  the  United  Nations  Convention 

on  the  Law  of  the  Sea,  which  contains  principles  and  rules  governing 

the conservation  and management  of marine biological resources, 

(5)  OJ No L 

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HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

1. This  Regulation  shall  apply  to  the  catching,  transhipment  and 

landing  of  fishery  resources  in  the  maritime  waters  of  the 

Mediterranean  under  the  sovereignty  or  jurisdiction  of  the  Member 

States.  This Regulation  shall also apply to such operations carried 

in the Mediterranean  out outside  those waters by vessels  flying  the 

flag or registered  in the port of a Member State. 

2. Member  States  with  a  Mediterranean  coastline  shall  continue  to 

legislate  in  the  areas  covered  by  paragraph  1 by  adopting  measures 

supplementary  to,  or  going  beyond  the minimum  requirements  of,  the 

system  established  by  this  Regulation,  provided  such  measures  are 

compatible  with  Community  law  and  in  conformity  with  the  common 

fisheries policy. 

3. The  Commission  must  be  informed  of  all  such measures  adopted  under 

the  conditions  described  in  paragraph 2  in  time  for  it  to  present 

its observations. 

If the Commission  so requests within one month of such notification, 

the Member State concerned  shall suspend the entry  into force of the 

measures  planned  until  three  months  have  elapsed  from  the  date  of 

the said notification, so that the Commission can decide within that 

period  whether  the  measures  in  question  comply  with  the  provisions 

of paragraph  2. 

Where  the  Commission  finds, by  a decision  which  it  shall  notify  to 

all  Member  States, that  a  planned  measure  does  not  comply  with  the 

provisions  of  paragraph  2, the Member  State concerned  may  not bring 

it into force without making the requisite amendments thereto. 

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The Member  State concerned  shall  immediately  inform the other Member 

States  and  the  Commission  of  the measures  adopted,  having  made  any 

amendments which may be necessary. 

4. Member  States  shall  provide  the  Commission,  on  request,  with  all 

particulars  necessary  for  an  assessment  of  whether  their  national 

technical measures comply with the provisions of paragraph 2. 

5. At  the  instigation  of  the  Commission,  or  at  the  request  of  any 

Member  State,  the  question  of  whether  a  national  technical  measure 

applied  by  a  Member  State  complies  with  paragraph  2  may  be  the 

subject  of  a  decision  taken  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid 

down  in Article  11.  Should  such a decision  be taken,  the third  and 

fourth  subparagraphs of paragraph  3 shall apply mutatis mutandis. 

Article 2 

1. The  use  for  fishing  purposes  of  toxic,  soporific  or  corrosive 

substances and of explosives shall be prohibited. 

2. The  use  of  Saint  Andrew's  crosses  and  similar  towed  gear  for 

harvesting  coral  and  the  use  of  hammers  or  other  percussive 

instruments  for  the  collection  of  lithophagous  molluscs  shall  be 

prohibited. 

3. The  use  of  encircling  and  towed  nets  set  from  a  boat  and  operated 

from  the  shore  (shore  seines)  shall  be  prohibited  as  from 

1 January 1997. 

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Article 3 

1. The use of  all  types of  towed  nets shall be prohibited within  three 

nautical  miles  of  the  coast  or within  the  100 m  isobath  where  that 

depth  is reached  at  a  shorter  distance,  irrespective  of  the method 

of  towing  or  haulage, except  where  a derogation  is provided  for  in 

national  legislation  adopted  in  the  framework  of  Article 1 (2)  in 

respect  of  a  throe-» -mile  coastal  zone  which  extends  beyond  the 

territorial waters of a Member State. 

2. It  shall  be  prohibited  to  set  any  type  of  encircling  net  less than 

300 m  from  the  coast  or  in  waters  which  are  less  than  30 m  deep, 

where that depth  is reached  at a shorter distance. 

3. It  is prohibited  to set  bottom  nets  at  a depth  of  less than  double 

the drop of the net. 

4. Restrictions on the setting of certain  types of gear are set out in 

Annex I. 

Article 4 

1. Member  States  shall  '!raw  up  a  list  of  protected  zones  in  which 

fishing activities are restricted  for biological  reasons specific to 

those zones. 

2. The  competent  authorities  of  the  Member  States  concerned  shall  fix 

the  list  of  fishing  gear  which  may  be  used  in  protected  zones,  as 

well  as  the  appropriate  technical  rules,  on  the  basis  of  the 

relevant  conservation  objectives. 

3. The particular-  refet •••. -1 to  in paragraphs 1 and  2 shall  be notified 

to the Commission, which  shall  communicate  them  to the other  Member 

States for information. 

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Article 5 

1. Member  States  shall  fix  restrictions  involving  the  technical 

characteristics  of  the  main  types  of  gear  in  accordance  with  the 

minimum  requirements  set out  in Annex II. 

2. Where  fishing  operations  involve drift  nets, the vessel must  remain 

attached  to the end of the net while fishing. 

3. National measures taken  in the field covered by paragraph 1 shall be 

notified  to  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid 

down  in Article  1 (2) to (5). 

The Commission  shrill rk-cide whether  such measures  are  in  conformity 

with  Community  lav; and  the  common  fisheries  policy  on  the  basis  of 

Annex  II,  in  particular  taking  account  of  the  nature  of  the 

fisheries activities which characterise the waters in question. 

Article 6 

1. Any trawl or similar  towed gear, gillnet or encircling net must  have 

a  mesh  size  which,  in  that  part  of  the  net  having  the  smallest 

meshes,  is  equal  to  or  greater  than  one  of  the  minimum  mesh  sizes 

listed  in Annex  III. 

2. Mesh sizes shall be determined  in accordance with the procedure laid 

down  in Commission  Regulation  (EEC) No  2108/84(6). 

3. The  length of  nets ••.hill be defined by the length of the float  line. 

The  drop  of  in 4 s  shall  be  defined  as  the  sum  of  the  height  of  the 

meshes when wet. and  stretched  perpendicular to the float  line. 

(6)  OJ No L 194, 24.7.1984, p. 22 

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Article 7 

Member  States  may  prohibit  landings  outside  places  specially  prepared 

or recognized as suitable for that purpose. 

Article 8 

1. A  fish,  crustacean,  mollusc  or  other  fishery  product  shall  be 

deemed  undersized  if  it  is smaller  than  the minimum  size  specified 

in Annex  IV for the relevant species. 

2. The  size  of  fish,  crustaceans  and  molluscs  shall  be  measured  in 

accordance  with  Article 5(2)  of  Regulation  (EEC) No 3094/86  unless 

otherwise  specified  in  Annex  IV.  If  more  than  one  «net hod  of 

measuring  size  is permitted,  the  fish, crustacean  or  mollusc  shall 

be  deemed  of  the  required  size  if  at  least  one  of  the  stipulated 

measurements  is greater than the relevant minimum  size. 

4. Undersized  fish,  crustaceans,  molluscs  or  other  fishery  products 

shall not be «old, displayed  or offered for sale. 

5- The  minimum  sizes  for  the  species  and  products  marked  with  an 

asterisk  in  Annex  IV  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the 

procedure laid down  in Article 43 of the Treaty* 

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Article 9 

This Regulation  shall  not apply.to  fishing  operations  conducted  solely 

for  the  purpose  of  scientific  research  which  are  carried  out  with  the 

permission  and under the authority of the Member  State or Member  States 

concerned,  and  of  which  the  Commission  and  the Member  State  or  Member 

States  in whose  waters  the  research  is  carried  out  have  been  informed 

in advance. 

Article 10 

When adopting measures  specifically  concerning  Mediterranean  fisheries, 

the Member  States shall  pay attention  to the conservation  of  fragile or 

endangered  species  and  environments,  in  particular  those  listed  in 

Annex V. 

Article 11 

Detailed  rules  for  the  application of  this  Regulation  shall  be  adopted 

by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in 

Article  14 of Regulation  fKEC) No 

Article 12 

When exercising  its powers under this Regulation,  and particularly  when 

proposing  to adopt  at  «"< - I.IM'IH i t y levl  measures  in areas already  covered 

by  agreements  conelude'l  bet v/oen  fishermen,  the  Commission  shall  take 

care to seek the opinion of  the organizations representing  them. 

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Article 13 

This Regulation  shall enter  into force on  [ 

] 

This  Regulation  shall  be  binding  in  its  entirety  and  directly 

applicable  in all Member States. 

For the Council 

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ANNEX  T - K••.•STRICTIONS ON THE SETTING OF FISHING GEAR 
(Article 3) 

ENCIRCLING  NETS  (SEINE'S AND LAMPARA  NETS) 
-  It  is prohibited  to  set  an  encircling  net  less  than  300 m  from  any 
other  encircling  or  fixed  net  or  less  than  one  nautical  mile  from 
extensive 
including 
aquacultural 
aquaculture. 

facilities, 

lagoons 

for 

BOTTOM-SET NETS AND DRIFT NETS  (GILLNETS AND ENTANGLING  NETS) 
-  Drift  nets must  be set with a minimum  interval between nets of 500 m 
in  the  case  of  nets  set  in  waters  less  deep  than  50 m  and  one 
nautical mile  in the case of nets set  in waters deeper than 50 m. 

BOTTOM-SET AND FLOATING LONGLINES 
-  A  minimum  distance  of  two  nautical  miles  must  be  kept  between  two 

floating longlines. 

CS/fv  (MED/REG/MES-TEC/en3) 

ANNEX  II  -  RESTRICTIONS  INVOLVING  THE  CHARACTERISTICS  OF 
THE  MAIN  TYPES  OF  FISHING  GEAR 
(Article  5) 

TRAWLS  (PELAGIC  AND  DEMERSAL) 

It  is  prohibited  to  use  any  device  to  cover  the  codend,  on  the 
inside  or  the  outside,  which  reduces  its  selectivity,  except  in  the 
case  of  protective  chafers  placed  underneath. 

DREDGES 
-  The maximum  breadth  of  dredges  is  3 m. 

ENCIRCLING  NETS  (SEINES  AND  LAMPARA  NETS) 
-  The  length  of  netting  is  restricted  to  600 m  and  the  depth  to  150 m, 

except  in  the  case  of  tuna  seines. 

BOTTOM-SET  NETS  (GILI.NETS  AND  ENTANGLING  NETS) 
-  It  is prohibited  to  net  more  than  20  000 m2  per  vessel, 

DRIFT NETS  (GILLNETS) 
-  The  maximum  drop  of  drift  nets  is  10 m. 

TRAMMEL  NETS 
-  The maximum  drop  of  trammel  nets  is  3  m. 

It  is  prohibited  to  set  more  than  3  500 m  of  trammel  nets  per 
vessel. 

BOTTOM-SET  LONGLINE 

The  use  of  this  c-e.r  is  restricted  to  7 000  m  of  longline  and  3  000 
hooks  per  vessel. 

SURFACE-SET  LONG LINE  ( !•' !.( > AT INC. ) 
-  The  use  of  this  gear  is  restricted  to  60  km  of  longline  and  2  000 

hooks  per  vessel. 

-  Size  of  hooks  (included  for  completeness). 

C S /f V  ( M ED / R EG /M E S -Tfc C / e n J ) 

-13--?" 

!U  - MINIMUM MESH SIZES 

(Article 6) 

Towed nets  (bottom 
trawls, surface 
trawls(l), '.anchored 
seines, etc.) 

Encircling  nets 

40 mm 

14 mm 

Codend 

(1)  For  surface  trawling  of  sardine  and  anchovy,  the  minimum  mesh 
size is reduced  to 20 mm 'where these species account  for at least 
70% of the catch after  sorting. 

C S / fv 

(MED/REG/MES-TEf.\/en3 ) 

-  1«  -

ANNEX  IV - MINIMUM  LANDING  SIZES 
(Article 8) 

SPECIES 

FISH 

Dicentrarchus  labrax 
Diplodus spp. 
Engraulis encrasicolus 
Epinephelus  spp. 
Lophius spp. 
Merluccius merluce ins 
Mugil spp. 
Mullus spp. 
Pagellus  spp. 
Pagrus pagrus 
Polyprion americanus 
Scomber  scombrus 
Solea vulgaris 
Sparus aurata 
Thunnus thynnus 
Trachurus  spp. 
Xiphias gladius 

CRUSTACEANS 

Homarus gammarus 

Nephrops norvegicus 

Palinuridae 

MOLLUSCS 

Pecten  spp. 
Venerupis  spp. 
Venus spp. 

OTHER 

MINIMUM  SIZE 

2 5 cm 
15 cm 
10 cm(*) 
4 5 cm 
30 cm 
20 cm 
20 cm 
11 cm 
12 cm 
20 cm 
4 5 cm 
20 cm 
20 cm 
20 cm 
69 cm or 6.4 kg 
12 cm 

100 craf^) 

85 mm 
240 mm 
20 mm 
70 mm 
240 mm 

100 mm 
30 mm 
2 5 mm 

(*) 
Corallium rubrum  (coral) 
Echinidae  (urchins) 
(*) 
Microcosmus spp.  (sea squirts)  (*) 
(*) 
Spongiidae  (sponges) 

carapace 
total  length 
carapace 
total  length 
total  length 

(1)  Member  States  may  convert  the  minimum  size  into  numbers  of 

individuals of this species per kilogram. 

(2)  The  length  is m • isnred  along  a  straight  line  drawn  from  the  tip 

of  the  lower  jaw  to  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  shortest 
caudal ray. 
Minimum  size to ! .-• determined  (see Article 8 (4)). 

(*) 

CS/f» |10SD/REG/KES-TEr/t'--:i3} 

*•  1 5-

ANNEX V - FT>ACI!,E OR ENDAGERED SPECIES OR  ENVIRONMENTS 
(Article 10) 

SPECIES: 

All marine species of 

-  mammals  (cetaceans, pinipeds), 
-  birds, 
-  reptiles  (chelonids) 
-  fish 

present  in  the  Mediterranean  and  indicated  in Annexes  I and  II to  the 
Convention  on  the  Protection  of  Migratory  Species  of  Wild  Animals 
adopted  by  Council  Decision  82/461/EEC of  24 June  1982  or Annex  II to 
the  Convention  on  the  Conservation  of  European  Wildlife  and  Natural 
Habitats adopted  by Council  Decision 82/72/EEC of  3 December  1981. 

ENVIRONMENTS: 

-  lagoons, 
-  coastal wetlands, 
—  beds of marine phanerogams. 

CS/fv  (MED/REG/MES-TEC/en3) 

2D 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM (92) 533 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

03 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-92-552-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-50502-8 

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg