# Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3440/84 of 6 December 1984 on the attachment of devices to trawls, Danish seines and similar nets, Article 5: Top-side chafer

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

1. The use of either of two types of top-side chafer designated type A and type B, is permitted.
2. A type A top-side chafer may be formed of any rectangular piece of netting which has a mesh size equal to at least that of the codend. Its width shall be at least one and a half times the width of the codend which is covered, such widths to be measured perpendicular to the long axis of the codend. It may be attached by its forward and lateral edges only to the upper half of the outside of the codend. If a lifting strap is fitted to the codend, the top-side chafer shall be fastened in such a manner that it does not extend more than four meshes forward of the rear lifting strap. If a lifting strap is not fitted the top-side chafer shall be fastened in such a manner that it does not cover more than the last rear third of the codend. In both cases the top-side chafer shall end not less than four meshes in front of the codline.
3. A type B top-side chafer may be formed of any rectangular piece of netting which must be made of twine which has the same diameter as that of which the codend is made and have a mesh size equal to twice that of the codend. It may completely cover the upper half of the codend sensu stricto; it shall be attached only its four edges in such a way that, at the points of attachment, the side of each mesh coincides with two sides of the meshes of the codend.
4. It is prohibited to use more than one top-side chafer at any time.
5. It is prohibited to use a top-side chafer together with strengthening bags except for trawls having a mesh size equal to or less than 60 millimetres.
6. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, in the Skagerrak and in the Kattegat it is prohibited to use a type A top-side chafer.
7. In the Skagerrak and the Kattegat it is prohibited to attach a top-side chafer to trawls having a mesh size larger than 70 millimetres.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/1984/3440/article/5 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1984-3440/article-5
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.