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North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

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Measures 2008: Protection of Deep-water Corals

Recommendation from the 26th Annual Meeting
November 2007

RECOMMENDATION BY THE NORTH EAST ATLANTIC FISHERIES COMMISSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 5 OF THE CONVENTION ON FUTURE MULTILATERAL COOPERATION IN NORTH-EAST ATLANTIC FISHERIES AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN NOVEMBER 2007 TO ADOPT CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES BY CLOSING CERTAIN AREAS IN THE REGULATORY AREA IN ORDER TO PROTECT DEEP-WATER CORALS

Becomes Binding: 9th January 2008
Enters into force: 8th February 2008

PDF Version

The Contracting Parties recommend the following measures:

Bottom trawling and fishing with static gear, including bottom set gillnets and long-lines should be prohibited within the NEAFC Regulatory Area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following positions:

On the Hatton Bank, in addition to the existing closure, within the area delimited by the following co-ordinates:

- 58°30'N, 18°45'W,

- 57°45'N, 19°15'W,

- 57°55'N, 17°30'W,

- 58°03'N, 17°30'W,

- 58°03'N, 18°22'W,

- 58°30'N, 18°22'W

On the Rockall Bank in the parts of the following areas that fall within the NEAFC Regulatory Area:

North-West Rockall (adjusted boundaries of existing closure)

- 57°00'N, 14°53'W

- 57°37'N, 14°42'W

- 57°55'N, 14°24'W

- 58°15'N, 13°50'W

- 57°57'N, 13°09'W

- 57°50'N, 13°14'W

- 57°57'N, 13°45'W

- 57°49'N, 14°06'W

- 57°29'N, 14°19'W

- 57°22'N, 14°19'W

- 57°00'N, 14°34'W,

- 56°56'N, 14°36'W

- 56°56'N, 14°51'W

South-West Rockall (Empress of Britain Bank)

- 56°24'N, 15°37'W

- 56°21'N, 14°58'W

- 56°04'N, 15°10'W

- 55°51'N, 15°37'W

- 56°10'N, 15°52'W

The boundaries of these areas may be adjusted in the light of more precise scientific evidence on the distribution of deep-water corals.

Appropriate measures shall be taken to detect any diversion of fishing effort to other, previously unknown areas of deepwater corals.

PECCOE shall review the control implications of this measure and where appropriate come forward with proposals to ensure that vessels in the vicinity of the closed areas are monitored effectively. PECCOE and PECMAS shall examine the implications of including the following area in the prohibition:

- 57°13'N, 14°49'W

- 57°12'N, 14°40'W

- 57°06'N, 14°39'W

- 56°56'N, 14°51'W

- 57°00'N, 14°53'W

This measure shall be in force for the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009.