Technical Conservation and Landing Obligation rules and regulations 2022
Guidance on the technical conservation and landing obligation (discard ban) regulations for 2022. Including how the rules apply, selling undersize fish, reporting requirements and quota management.
Documents
Details
The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (2021/1429) brings into effect the 2022 exemption changes. Please note the measures and exemptions to the landing obligation rules detailed within the guidance below apply within UK waters.
Any new exemptions or changes will be brought into force via secondary legislation and will be subject to Parliamentary approval.
When operating in EU waters please refer to the EC rules on discarding
Changes in exemptions within UK waters
New Exemption in force from the 1st of January 2022
- A survivability exemption for sprat and horse mackerel caught in the UK fishery targeting pelagic species mostly not subject to quotas caught in non-Union ICES divisions VIIe and VIIf. There is a similar exemption currently applying to mackerel and herring, and the UK is extending it to also cover sprat and horse mackerel in the ring net fishery.
- A survivability exemption for sole caught within six nautical miles of the coast, but outside identified nursery areas in the under 10m otter trawl fishery in ICES divisions VIIa, VIId, VIIe, VIIf and VIIg. There is currently a sole exemption in VIId (and also in IVc), and we are extending it to these neighbouring ICES areas.
- A 7% de minimis exemption for monkfish caught in the beam trawl fishery in ICES divisions VIId – VIIj (applicable in UK waters only).
Discontinuation of Current Exemptions
The follow exemptions will no longer apply from 2022.
- The cod element, from the de minimis exemption for cod and whiting in ICES areas IVa and IVb. The whiting element of the exemption will continue unaffected.
- De minimis exemption for ling caught by vessels using bottom trawls in ICES area IV.
Last updated 13 April 2023 + show all updates
-
13 April 2023 update.
-
Addition of 'A review of existing and proposed exemptions from the Landing Obligation applicable in the UK waters of the North Sea and North Western Waters regions'
-
First published.