Guide to 2017 discard ban
16th January 2017
The MMO has issued the following guide for fishermen to the landings obligation/discard ban requirements in 2017, as more species are phased in.
1 North Sea
The Demersal Landing Obligation 2017 covers:
● cod; haddock; hake; Nephrops; northern prawn; plaice; saithe; sole; whiting
Whether you have to land a species or not depends on:
● the type of fishing gear you’re using
● the sea area you’re in
● and potentially your fishing track record
Use table 1 (right) to find out what gear and species the landing obligation applies to in the North Sea.
1.1 North Sea exemptions
In addition to general exemptions, there are fishery-specific exemptions for the North Sea. For a vessel to use one of these exemptions it must meet the exemption criteria and follow the recording requirements.
1.2 Survivability exemptions
You can discard certain fish using these survivability exemptions:
● 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. Nephrops
should only be released whole.
● Nephrops caught using bottom trawls with a mesh size of at least 80mm and equipped with a Netgrid selectivity device can be discarded. Nephrops should be discarded promptly and returned in the area where they were caught to maximise survivability. Nephrops should only be released whole.
A ‘Netgrid selectivity device’ means a device consisting of a four panel section inserted into a two-panel trawl, with an inclined sheet of diamond mesh netting with a mesh size of at least 200mm, leading to an escape hole in the top of the trawl.
You’re permitted to discard undersized sole (less than 24cm) if they’re caught:
● by trawls with a mesh size of 80 to 99mm
● within 6nm of the coast in ICES area IVc (meaning south of 53° 30’N)
● by vessels equal to or under 10m, with an engine power below 180kW
● when fishing in waters of less than 15m depth with tow times up to 1.5 hours
You should release undersized sole immediately.
1.3 De minimis exemptions
You’re permitted to discard:
● undersize Nephrops less than 85mm caught using bottom trawls of mesh size 80-99mm
● unwanted sole caught with trammel and gill nets
● undersized sole (less than 24cm) caught with beam trawls of mesh size 80-119mm, with selective trawls in which all meshes in front of the codend are at least 120mm
The MMO will monitor the level of discarding under these exemptions to ensure it stays within its 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.
1.4 Catch thresholds
The MMO wrote in November, 2016, to vessel owners affected by the saithe landing obligation. Contact your regional MMO office or your PO if you want to know if your vessel is subject to the landing obligation.
You’ll be subject to the saithe landing obligation if your annual average landings of saithe from 2013 to 2015 were more than 50% of your landings taken in the North Sea.
Vessels subject to the saithe landing obligation in 2016 will automatically remain subject to the landing obligation in 2017.
2 North Western Waters
The Demersal Landing Obligation 2017 covers these species:
● haddock ● megrim ● plaice ● Nephrops ● hake ● pollack ● sole ● whiting
Whether you have to land a species or not will depend on:
● the type of fishing gear you’re using
● the sea area you’re in
● and potentially your fishing track record
Use table 2 to find out what gear and species the landing obligation applies to in North Western Waters:
3 Exemptions
In addition to general exemptions, there are fishery-specific exemptions for the North Western Waters. For a vessel to use one of these exemptions it must meet the exemption criteria and follow the recording requirements.
3.1 Survivability exemptions
You can discard certain fish using these survivability exemptions:
● Nephrops caught in pots in areas VIa and VII can be discarded. Nephrops should be discarded promptly and returned in the area where they were caught to maximise survivability.
● Undersize sole caught by under-10m vessels operating within 6nm of the coast with a maximum engine power of 180 kW, caught in depths of less than 15 metres with a towing time not exceeding one and a half hours can be discarded.
3.2 De minimis exemptions
You’re permitted to discard undersize:
● sole less than 24cm caught in trammel nets or gill nets in areas VIIb to k
● whiting less than 27cm caught in bottom trawls in areas VIIb to j
● Nephrops less than 70mm caught by trawls and seines in areas VIa and VII
● sole less than 24cm caught with beam trawls where no mesh in front of the codend is less than 120mm in areas VII b-k
The MMO will monitor the level of discarding under these exemptions to ensure it remains within its 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.
3.3 Catch thresholds
Vessel owners affected by the landing obligation as a result of meeting a catch threshold were informed by the MMO in November, 2016. Contact your regional MMO office or your PO if you’re concerned as they will hold a list of vessels subject to the landing obligation.
The MMO uses vessel track records from 2015 and 2016 to calculate whether you meet a catch threshold. If you’re already included in the landing obligation in 2016 then this will continue in 2017 regardless of your track record in 2015 and 2016.
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