Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1778 of 25 June 2015 establishing fisheries conservation measures to protect reef zones in waters under the sovereignty of Denmark in the Baltic Sea and Kattegat
Date: 2015-06-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Baltic Sea, Denmark, EU waters, common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, conservation of resources, fishing area, fishing rights, ship's flag




L_2015259EN.01000501.xml










6.10.2015   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 259/5








            COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2015/1778
of 25 June 2015
         
establishing fisheries conservation measures to protect reef zones in waters under the sovereignty of Denmark in the Baltic Sea and Kattegat


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (1), and in particular Article 11 thereof,


Having regard to joint recommendation by Denmark, Germany and Sweden,

Whereas:







(1)


Pursuant to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, Member States are empowered to adopt fisheries conservation measures in their waters that are necessary for the purpose of complying with their obligations under Union environmental legislation, including Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC (2).












(2)


Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC requires Member States to establish the necessary conservation measures for Special Areas of Conservation that correspond to the ecological requirements of natural habitat types and species present on the sites. It also requires Member States to take appropriate steps to avoid, in the special areas of conservation, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as significant disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated.












(3)


Denmark considers that, for the purpose of complying with Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC, conservation measures need to be adopted in certain areas under its sovereignty in the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. If necessary fisheries conservation measures affect the fishery of other Member States, the Member States may submit these measures in joint recommendations to the Commission.












(4)


Germany and Sweden have a direct management interest in the fishery to be affected by such measures. In accordance with Article 11(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, Denmark provided Germany and Sweden with relevant information on the measures required, including their rationale, scientific evidence in support and details on their practical implementation and enforcement.












(5)


On 13 March 2015 Denmark, Germany and Sweden submitted to the Commission two joint recommendations for fisheries conservation measures to protect reef structures in Danish Natura 2000 sites. Those recommendations were submitted after having consulted stakeholders, the Baltic Sea Advisory Council and North Sea Advisory Council












(6)


The recommended measures concern seven Natura 2000 sites in the Baltic Sea and three sites in the Kattegat. They comprise the prohibition of fishing activities with mobile bottom contacting gear in reef zones and the prohibition of all fishing activities in bubbling reef zones.












(7)


In its scientific advice, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (‘STECF’) (3) states that the conservation objectives within the special areas referred to in the joint recommendations cannot be fully achieved without appropriate measures to prevent fishing activity in the areas.












(8)


Bottom fishing activity with mobile bottom contacting gear has a negative impact on reef habitats, as such activity affects both the reef structures and the biodiversity found at the reefs. Therefore the prohibition to fish with such gears in the relevant reef areas, as set out in the joint recommendations, should be included in this Regulation.












(9)


Bubbling reefs are especially fragile structures and any physical impact is a threat to their conservation status. Accordingly, the prohibition of all fishing activities in the relevant bubbling reef areas, as set out in the joint recommendations, should be included in this Regulation.












(10)


STECF identifies some concerns as regards the control and enforcement of the conservation measures and considers that additional control measures may be appropriate. In accordance with Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 (4). Member States are required to adopt appropriate measures, allocate adequate resources and set up the structures necessary for ensuring control, inspection and enforcement of activities carried out within the scope of the common fisheries policy (CFP). This may include measures such as the requirement of submitting VMS positions with increased frequency by all vessels concerned or identifying the areas as high risk in the national control system based on risk management, addressing the concerns of STECF.












(11)


It is appropriate to ensure the assessment of the measures established by this Regulation, in particular as regards the control of compliance with fishing prohibitions.












(12)


The fisheries conservation measures established by this Regulation are without prejudice of any other existing or future management measures aiming at the conservation of the sites concerned, including fisheries conservation measures,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1

Subject matter and scope


1.   This Regulation establishes fisheries conservation measures necessary for compliance with obligations under Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC.


2.   This Regulation applies to fishing vessels flying the flag of Denmark, Germany and Sweden (‘the Member States concerned’) in waters under the sovereignty of Denmark in the Baltic Sea and Kattegat.



Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, in addition to those laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 (5), the following definitions shall apply:






(a)


‘bottom contacting gear’ means any of the following gear: bottom trawl, beam trawl, bottom otter trawl, otter twin trawl, bottom pair trawl, nephrops trawl, shrimp trawl, seine net, Danish anchor seine, Scottish seine, boat or vessel seine and dredge;










(b)


‘Areas 1’ mean the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the positions listed in Annex I to this Regulation, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system;










(c)


‘Areas 2’ mean the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the positions listed in Annex II to this Regulation, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system.






Article 3

Fishing prohibition


1.   It shall be prohibited to carry out any fishing activity with bottom contacting gears in Areas 1.


2.   It shall be prohibited to carry out any fishing activity in Areas 2.


3.   Fishing vessels carrying on board any bottom contacting gear may carry out fishing activities in Areas 1 with gears other than those gears and may transit across Areas 1, provided that the bottom contacting gears be lashed and stowed in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 47 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.


4.   Fishing vessels may transit across Areas 2, provided that any gear carried on board be lashed and stowed in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 47 of (EC) No 1224/2009.



Article 4

Assessment


1.   Member States concerned shall assess the implementation of the measures set out in Article 3 at latest 18 months after the entry into force of this Regulation, including the control of compliance with the fishing prohibitions provided for in Article 3.


2.   Member States concerned shall submit a summary report of the assessment to the Commission 19 months after the entry into force of this Regulation.



Article 5
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2016.




This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 25 June 2015.


For the Commission


The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER
            





(1)  
            OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22


(2)  Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7).

(3)  http://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/43805/991908/STECF-PLEN-15-01_JRCxxx.pdf

(4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1).

(5)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L 112, 30.4.2011, p. 1)




ANNEX I

Areas 1: Coordinates of stone reef protection zones

1.   Munkegrund








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


55°57.190′


10°51.690′




2S


55°57.465′


10°51.403′




3S


55°57.790′


10°51.477′




4S


55°57.976′


10°52.408′




5S


55°57.985′


10°54.231′




6S


55°58.092′


10°54.315′




7S


55°58.092′


10°57.432′




8S


55°57.920′


10°57.864′




9S


55°57.526′


10°57.861′




10S


55°56.895′


10°57.241′




11S


55°57.113′


10°53.418′




12S


55°57.050′


10°53.297′




13S


55°57.100′


10°52.721′




14S


55°57.275′


10°52.662′




15S


55°57.296′


10°52.435′




16S


55°57.399′


10°52.244′




17S


55°57.417′


10°52.116′




18S


55°57.251′


10°52.121′




19S


55°57.170′


10°51.919′




20S


55°57.190′


10°51.690′




2.   Hatterbarn








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


55°51.942′


10°49.294′




2S


55°52.186′


10°49.309′




3S


55°52.655′


10°49.509′




4S


55°52.676′


10°49.407′




5S


55°52.892′


10°49.269′




6S


55°52.974′


10°49.388′




7S


55°53.273′


10°49.620′




8S


55°53.492′


10°50.201′




9S


55°53.451′


10°50.956′




10S


55°53.576′


10°51.139′




11S


55°53.611′


10°51.737′




12S


55°53.481′


10°52.182′




13S


55°53.311′


10°52.458′




14S


55°53.013′


10°52.634′




15S


55°52.898′


10°52.622′




16S


55°52.778′


10°52.335′




17S


55°52.685′


10°52.539′




18S


55°52.605′


10°52.593′




19S


55°52.470′


10°52.586′




20S


55°52.373′


10°52.724′




21S


55°52.286′


10°52.733′




22S


55°52.129′


10°52.572′




23S


55°52.101′


10°52.360′




24S


55°52.191′


10°52.169′




25S


55°51.916′


10°51.824′




26S


55°51.881′


10°51.648′




27S


55°51.970′


10°51.316′




28S


55°51.976′


10°51.064′




29S


55°52.325′


10°50.609′




30S


55°52.647′


10°50.687′




31S


55°52.665′


10°50.519′




32S


55°52.091′


10°50.101′




33S


55°51.879′


10°50.104′




34S


55°51.810′


10°49.853′




35S


55°51.790′


10°49.482′




36S


55°51.942′


10°49.294′




3.   Ryggen








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


55°37.974′


11°44.258′




2S


55°37.942′


11°45.181′




3S


55°37.737′


11°45.462′




4S


55°37.147′


11°44.956′




5S


55°36.985′


11°45.019′




6S


55°36.828′


11°44.681′




7S


55°36.521′


11°44.658′




8S


55°36.527′


11°43.575′




9S


55°37.163′


11°43.663′




10S


55°37.334′


11°43.889′




11S


55°37.974′


11°44.258′




4.   Broen








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


55°11.953′


11°0.089′




2S


55°12.194′


11°0.717′




3S


55°12.316′


11°0.782′




4S


55°12.570′


11°1.739′




5S


55°12.743′


11°1.917′




6S


55°12.911′


11°2.291′




7S


55°12.748′


11°2.851′




8S


55°12.487′


11°3.188′




9S


55°12.291′


11°3.088′




10S


55°12.274′


11°3.108′




11S


55°12.336′


11°3.441′




12S


55°12.023′


11°3.705′




13S


55°11.751′


11°2.984′




14S


55°11.513′


11°2.659′




15S


55°11.390′


11°2.269′




16S


55°11.375′


11°2.072′




17S


55°11.172′


11°1.714′




18S


55°11.069′


11°0.935′




19S


55°11.099′


11°0.764′




20S


55°11.256′


11°0.588′




21S


55°11.337′


11°0.483′




22S


55°11.582′


11°0.251′




23S


55°11.603′


11°0.254′




24S


55°11.841′


11°0.033′




25S


55°11.953′


11°0.089′




5.   Ertholmene








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


55°19.496′


15°9.290′




2S


55°20.441′


15°9.931′




3S


55°20.490′


15°10.135′




4S


55°20.284′


15°10.690′




5S


55°20.216′


15°10.690′




6S


55°20.004′


15°11.187′




7S


55°19.866′


15°11.185′




8S


55°19.596′


15°11.730′




9S


55°19.820′


15°12.157′




10S


55°19.638′


15°12.539′




11S


55°19.131′


15°12.678′




12S


55°18.804′


15°11.892′




13S


55°18.847′


15°10.967′




14S


55°19.445′


15°9.885′




15S


55°19.387′


15°9.717′




16S


55°19.496′


15°9.290′




6.   Davids Banke








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


55°20.167′


14°41.386′




2S


55°20.354′


14°40.754′




3S


55°21.180′


14°39.936′




4S


55°22.000′


14°39.864′




5S


55°22.331′


14°39.741′




6S


55°22.449′


14°39.579′




7S


55°23.150′


14°39.572′




8S


55°23.299′


14°39.890′




9S


55°23.287′


14°40.793′




10S


55°23.011′


14°41.201′




11S


55°22.744′


14°41.206′




12S


55°22.738′


14°41.775′




13S


55°22.628′


14°42.111′




14S


55°22.203′


14°42.439′




15S


55°22.050′


14°42.316′




16S


55°21.981′


14°41.605′




17S


55°21.050′


14°41.818′




18S


55°20.301′


14°41.676′




19S


55°20.167′


14°41.386′




7.   Bakkebrædt & Bakkegrund








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


54°57.955′


14°44.869′




2S


54°58.651′


14°41.755′




3S


54°59.234′


14°41.844′




4S


54°59.458′


14°43.025′




5S


54°59.124′


14°44.441′




6S


54°59.034′


14°44.429′




7S


54°58.781′


14°45.240′




8S


54°58.298′


14°45.479′




9S


54°58.134′


14°45.406′




10S


54°57.955′


14°44.869′




8.   Herthas Flak








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


57°39.422′


10°49.118′




2S


57°39.508′


10°49.602′




3S


57°39.476′


10°49.672′




4S


57°39.680′


10°50.132′




5S


57°39.312′


10°50.813′




6S


57°39.301′


10°51.290′




7S


57°38.793′


10°52.365′




8S


57°38.334′


10°53.201′




9S


57°38.150′


10°52.931′




10S


57°38.253′


10°52.640′




11S


57°37.897′


10°51.936′




12S


57°38.284′


10°51.115′




13S


57°38.253′


10°50.952′




14S


57°38.631′


10°50.129′




15S


57°39.142′


10°49.201′




16S


57°39.301′


10°49.052′




17S


57°39.422′


10°49.118′




9.   Læsø Trindel & Tønneberg Banke








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


57°25.045′


11°6.757′




2S


57°26.362′


11°6.858′




3S


57°27.224′


11°9.239′




4S


57°26.934′


11°10.026′




5S


57°27.611′


11°10.938′




6S


57°28.053′


11°11.000′




7S


57°28.184′


11°11.547′




8S


57°28.064′


11°11.808′




9S


57°28.843′


11°13.844′




10S


57°29.158′


11°15.252′




11S


57°29.164′


11°16.861′




12S


57°29.017′


11°17.266′




13S


57°29.080′


11°17.597′




14S


57°28.729′


11°18.494′




15S


57°28.486′


11°18.037′




16S


57°28.258′


11°18.269′




17S


57°27.950′


11°18.239′




18S


57°27.686′


11°18.665′




19S


57°27.577′


11°18.691′




20S


57°27.525′


11°18.808′




21S


57°27.452′


11°18.837′




22S


57°27.359′


11°18.818′




23S


57°26.793′


11°17.929′




24S


57°27.984′


11°15.500′




25S


57°27.676′


11°14.758′




26S


57°25.998′


11°17.309′




27S


57°25.946′


11°17.488′




28S


57°26.028′


11°17.555′




29S


57°26.060′


11°17.819′




30S


57°26.011′


11°18.360′




31S


57°25.874′


11°18.666′




32S


57°25.683′


11°18.646′




33S


57°25.417′


11°18.524′




34S


57°25.377′


11°18.408′




35S


57°25.330′


11°18.039′




36S


57°25.175′


11°17.481′




37S


57°24.928


11°17.579′




38S


57°24.828′


11°17.366′




39S


57°24.891′


11°17.049′




40S


57°25.128′


11°17.118′




41S


57°25.249′


11°16.721′




42S


57°25.211′


11°16.592′




43S


57°25.265′


11°16.162′




44S


57°25.170′


11°15.843′




45S


57°25.245′


11°15.562′




46S


57°25.208′


11°15.435′




47S


57°25.278′


11°15.083′




48S


57°25.462′


11°15.059′




49S


57°25.517′


11°15.007′




50S


57°25.441′


11°14.613′




51S


57°25.610′


11°14.340′




52S


57°25.630′


11°14.119′




53S


57°25.629′


11°13.827′




54S


57°25.738′


11°13.658′




55S


57°25.610′


11°13.392′




56S


57°25.625′


11°13.176′




57S


57°25.933′


11°12.379′




58S


57°25.846′


11°11.959′




59S


57°25.482′


11°12.956′




60S


57°25.389′


11°13.083′




61S


57°25.221′


11°13.212′




62S


57°25.134′


11°13.221′




63S


57°25.031′


11°13.077′




64S


57°25.075′


11°12.751′




65S


57°24.817′


11°12.907′




66S


57°24.747′


11°12.862′




67S


57°24.616′


11°13.229′




68S


57°24.549′


11°13.240′




69S


57°24.347′


11°13.093′




70S


57°24.256′


11°13.288′




71S


57°24.145′


11°13.306′




72S


57°24.051′


11°13.138′




73S


57°23.818′


11°13.360′




74S


57°23.649′


11°13.280′




75S


57°23.553′


11°13.260′




76S


57°23.432′


11°13.088′




77S


57°23.416′


11°12.861′




78S


57°23.984′


11°9.081′




79S


57°25.045′


11°6.757′




10.   Lysegrund








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1S


56°19.367′


11°46.017′




2S


56°18.794′


11°48.153′




3S


56°17.625′


11°48.541′




4S


56°17.424′


11°48.117′




5S


56°17.864′


11°47.554′




6S


56°17.828′


11°47.265′




7S


56°17.552′


11°47.523′




8S


56°17.316′


11°47.305′




9S


56°17.134′


11°47.260′




10S


56°16.787′


11°46.753′




11S


56°16.462′


11°46.085′




12S


56°16.455′


11°43.620′




13S


56°17.354′


11°42.671′




14S


56°18.492′


11°42.689′




15S


56°18.950′


11°41.823′




16S


56°19.263′


11°41.870′




17S


56°19.802′


11°40.939′




18S


56°19.989′


11°41.516′




19S


56°18.967′


11°43.600′




20S


56°19.460′


11°44.951′




21S


56°19.367′


11°46.017′









ANNEX II

Areas 2: Coordinates of bubbling reef protection zones

1.   Herthas Flak bubbling reef zone








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1B


57°38.334′


10°53.201′




2B


57°38.15′


10°52.931′




3B


57°38.253′


10°52.64′




4B


57°38.237′


10°52.15′




5B


57°38.32′


10°51.974′




6B


57°38.632′


10°51.82′




7B


57°38.839′


10°52.261′




8B


57°38.794′


10°52.36′




9B


57°38.334′


10°53.201′




2.   Lysegrund bubbling reef zone








Point


Latitude N


Longitude E




1B


57°27.496′


11°15.033′




2B


57°25.988′


11°17.323′




3B


57°25.946′


11°17.488′




4B


57°25.417′


11°18.524′




5B


57°25.377′


11°18.408′




6B


57°25.346′


11°18.172′




7B


57°25.330′


11°18.039′




8B


57°25.175′


11°17.481′




9B


57°24.928′


11°17.579′




10B


57°24.828′


11°17.366′




11B


57°24.891′


11°17.049′




12B


57°25.128′


11°17.118′




13B


57°25.249′


11°16.721′




14B


57°25.211′


11°16.592′




15B


57°25.263′


11°16.177′




16B


57°25.170′


11°15.843′




17B


57°25.240′


11°15.549′




18B


57°26.861′


11°15.517′




19B


57°26.883′


11°14.998′




20B


57°27.496′


11°15.033′