Statutory guidance

North sea landing obligation guidance

Updated 20 October 2015

1. Sea area

North Sea area covers EU waters within ICES areas IIa and IV.

2. Species covered

The species included in landing obligation in 2016 are:

  • haddock
  • hake
  • nephrops
  • northern prawn
  • plaice
  • saithe
  • sole

Whether you have to land a species or not will depend on the type of fishing gear you are using, the sea area you are in and potentially your fishing track record. See the table below to check if you are affected. Please check against all areas you fish in and gears you fish with.

All gear types in all areas have to land all catches of northern prawn.

Area Gear Species which must be landed Who it applies to Exemptions available
IIa and IV Trawls and seines ≥100mm Haddock and Plaice All using the specified gear No
IIa and IV Trawls and seines ≥100mm Saithe Those subject to a catch threshold No
IIa and IV Trawls and seines 80 to 99mm Nephrops and Sole All using the specified gear Undersize nephrops can be discarded
IIa and IV Beam trawls ≥120mm Plaice All using the specified gear No
IIa and IV Beam trawls 80 to 119mm Sole All using the specified gear Undersize sole can be discarded
IIa and IV Gillnets and trammel nets Sole All using the specified gear Undersize sole can be discarded
IIa and IV Hooks and lines Hake All using the specified gear No
IIa and IV Pots Nephrops All using the specified gear Unwanted catches can be discarded as there is a high rate of survival

3. Catch Thresholds

If you are affected by the saithe landing obligation you will be informed by the MMO by letter by the end of November. Contact your regional MMO office or your PO (if applicable) if you are concerned as they will hold a list of vessels subject to the landing obligation.

You will be subject to the saithe landing obligation if your annual average landings of saithe over 2012-2014 were ≥ 50% of your landings taken in the North Sea.

4. North Sea Exemptions

In addition to general exemptions there are fishery specific exemptions for the North Sea.

Survivability exemptions:

  1. Nephrops caught in pots in the North Sea can be discarded. Nephrops should be discarded swiftly and returned in the area where they were caught to maximise survivability.

De minimis exemptions:

  1. You are permitted to discard undersize sole less than 24cm in trammel nets or gillnets in the North Sea.
  2. You are permitted to discard sole of less than then 19cm caught in 80 to 90mm beam trawls in the North Sea south of 55/56°N.
  3. You are permitted to discard undersize nephrops less than 85mm caught in 80 to 99mm bottom trawls in the North Sea.
  4. You are permitted to discard undersize sole less than 24cm caught in 80 to 119mm beam trawls with increased selectivity in the North Sea.

Gears with increased selectivity have to be verified by the EU’s scientific committee (STECF). A large mesh (120mm mesh) in the extension section of the beam trawl has been approved as an effective method to reduce the capture of undersize sole.

You should notify Cefas if there are any additional gear modifications you would want approved.

For a vessel to utilise one of these exemptions it must meet the exemption criteria and abide by the recording requirements.

De minimis exemptions have been scientifically approved and were awarded where either:

  • scientific evidence shows further improvements in selectivity is difficult to achieve
  • there is disproportionate cost to fishermen in handling unwanted catches

The Government does not propose to ‘allocate’ discards under the de minimis provision. The MMO will monitor the level of discarding under these exemptions to ensure we remain within our national allowances.

If the national allowance is exceeded the exemption will be removed. You will have to land all catches and they will count against your quota.

5. Further Information

The North Sea discard plan agreed by the North Sea Member State regional group were submitted to the Commission. They contain more detail on the exemptions.