Article 6 Strengthening bagF1

A strengthening bag is a cylindrical piece of netting completely surrounding the codend of a trawl and which may be attached to the codend at intervals. It shall have at least the same dimensions (length and width) as that part of the codend to which it is attached.

The provisions of paragraph 3 and 4 shall not apply in the Skagerrak and the Kattegat.

It is prohibited to use more than one strengthening bag except when attached to trawls having a mesh size equal to or less than 60 millimetres, for which two strengthening bags may be used.

The mesh size shall be equal to at least twice that of the codend. If a second strengthening bag is used, its minimum mesh size shall be 120 millimetres.

The provisions of paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 9 shall apply only in the Skagerrak and the Kattegat.

It is prohibited to attach a strengthening bag to trawls having a mesh size larger than 70 millimetres.

It is prohibited to use a strengthening bag and a top-side chafer simultaneously.

It is prohibited to use a strengthening bag of which the mesh size is less than 80 millimetres.

It is prohibited to use more than one strengthening bag except when attached to trawls having a mesh size of less than 16 millimetres, for which two strengthening bags may be used. Notwithstanding paragraph 8, the mesh size of one of these strengthening bags may be less than 80 millimetres but not less than 35 millimetres.

It is prohibited to use a strengthening bag which extends forward of the codend.

If a strengthening bag is constructed of sections of cylindrical netting, the sections may not overlap by more than four meshes at the points of attachment.

Strengthening bags attached to trawls having a mesh size greater than 60 millimetres shall not extend more than two metres in front of the rear lifting strap.

Notwithstanding paragraph 1, strengthening bags smaller than the dimensions of the codend may be attached to nets having a mesh size equal to or less than 60 millimetres.