Following the conclusion of fisheries negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the U.K. Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has provided details on proposed changes relating to European sea bass catches in U.K. waters.
Revised measures on vessels catching European sea bass are to be introduced on 30 July, 2021, changing bycatch limits and introducing short-based netting of bycatch.
MMO advises that vessels and commercial fisheries from shore will not be permitted to fish in ICES divisions 4b and 4c, and in ICES subarea 7. Retention, transshipment, relocation, or landing of sea bass caught in that area is also prohibited.
The rule does not apply to bycatch using inshore-based fixed gillnets that are not set from a vessel of up to:
- Twenty-six nets in relation to the NWIFCA district
- Five nets in relation to the NEIFCA district
- One net in relation to the D&SIFCA district
- Up to 50 nets in the Welsh zone
A derogation continues to apply regarding vessels in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 7d, 7e, 7f, and 7h. In waters within 12 nautical miles from baselines, in ICES divisions 7a and 7g, vessels may fish for European seabass, and retain, transship, relocate, or land fish caught in that area with the following gear and within the following limits:
- Using demersal trawls, for unavoidable bycatches not exceeding 380 kilograms per month, and 5 percent of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by that vessel per fishing trip.
- Using seines, for unavoidable bycatches not exceeding 380 kilograms per month, and 5 percent of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by that vessel per fishing trip.
- Using hooks and lines, not exceeding 5.7 metric tons (MT) per vessel per year
- Using fixed gillnets, for bycatches not exceeding 1.4 MT per vessel per year
Only those vessels with an existing authorization to fish for European sea bass are permitted to do so, subject to the revised limits, the MMO said.
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