Statutory guidance

Rules on Cod in ICES area VIId

Updated 15 December 2021

1. Eligibility to fish with regulated gears ICES area VIId

1.1 A vessel will be eligible to carry and use regulated gears in area VIId where either:

• the vessel has a record of fishing activity with regulated gear in the years 2006 or 2007; or
• eligibility has been obtained via the transfer of a single licence (or the aggregation of two or more licences) where the originating vessel(s) has such a record of fishing.

1.2 Vessels with eligibility may use any of the following gears:

(a) bottom trawls and seines (OTB, OTT, PTB, SDN, SSC, SPR) of mesh: (i) equal to or larger than 100 mm; (TR1) (ii) equal to or larger than 70 mm and less than 100 mm; (TR2) (iii) equal to or larger than 16 mm and less than 32 mm; (TR3) (b) beam trawls (TBB) of mesh: (i) equal to or larger than 120 mm; (BT1) (ii) equal to or larger than 80 mm and less than 120 mm; (BT2) (c) gill nets, entangling nets (GN); (GN1) (d) trammel nets (GT); (GT1) (e) longlines (LL). (LL1)

2. Carrying regulated gears

Vessels may only transit through area VIId other than in accordance with these rules if they comply with the requirements set out in articles 29 (Exemptions) and 47(Fishing Gear) of Council Regulation (EC) 1224/2009.

3. Transferring eligibility to fish with regulated gear

3.1 Where a vessel owner wishes to transfer eligibility to the licence before a change of ownership of either vessel, licence, or both, they must notify the local MMO coastal office and provide written evidence confirming that this has been agreed by both parties.

3.2 In cases where a vessel with eligibility is sold without its licence and MMO has not been notified of any transfer of eligibility or documentary evidence has not been provided, it will be assumed that eligibility remains with the purchased vessel.

3.3 Where eligibility is obtained via the transfer and combination of two or more licences, each licence must hold eligibility to carry or use regulated gears within area VIId. Where eligibility is acquired through combining multiple licences, each of the licences contributing engine power must carry eligibility to fish within area VIId with regulated gear.

3.4 Where an eligible licence is split, each part of the licence carries the same eligibility as the original licence (unless the part of the licence does not carry engine power).

4. Changing administration

4.1 Changes in administration will only be considered in cases where there is a genuine operational transfer.

4.2 All requests for changes into English administration by vessels with eligibility to fish for cod in area VIId will take into consideration the current eligibility of the vessel and its contribution to the 2004 to 2006 effort baseline. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Appeals to such decisions can be made by contacting the MMO Fisheries Management Team.

4.3 Any vessel currently under English administration wishing to transfer to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must contact the administration it wishes to transfer to in order to ensure their eligibility is transferable.

4.4 Vessels entering English administration will not be eligible to fish in area VIId until MMO issues an authorisation in writing or by email.

Further information If you have any queries in relation to any aspect of these rules please contact the MMO Fisheries Management Team by: Telephone number: 0208 225 6947 or email effort@marinemanagement.org.uk