# Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005, Division 1.2: Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 1.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the North Western waters provided that:

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

(i)the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip; or
(ii)other selectivity modifications are used which have been authorised by a fisheries administration following scientific assessment and approval. Those selectivity modifications shall result in the same or better selectivity characteristics for cod, haddock and saithe as that of 120 mm, or 100 mm in ICES sub-area 7d-7k, respectively.
This is without prejudice to Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 494/2002.
At least 70 mm mesh size shall apply for single rig vessels in ICES division 7a.
This is without prejudice to Article 2(5) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 737/2012.
This provision shall not apply to ICES division 7d.
This provision shall not apply when directed fishing for whiting, mackerel and species not subject to catch limits in ICES divisions 7d and 7e.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 494/2002 of 19 March 2002 establishing additional technical measures for the recovery of the stock of hake in ICES sub-areas III, IV, V, VI and VII and ICES divisions VIII a, b, d, e (OJ L 77, 20.3.2002, p. 8).
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 737/2012 of 14 August 2012 on the protection of certain stocks in the Celtic Sea (OJ L 218, 15.8.2012, p. 8).
Mesh Size
Geographical Areas
Conditions
At least 80 mm
ICES sub-area 7
Directed fishing for hake, megrim and anglerfish, or directed fishing for whiting, mackerel and species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table, using bottom trawls. A square mesh panel of at least 120 mm shall be fitted
Directed fishing for sole and species not covered by catch limits, using otter trawls. A square mesh panel of at least 80 mm shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm
Whole area
Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). A square mesh panel of at least 120 mm or sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm or equivalent selectivity device shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm
ICES divisions 7a, ... 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h and 7j
Directed fishing for sole with beam trawls. A panel with a mesh size of at least 180 mm fitted in the upper half of the anterior part of the net shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm
ICES divisions 7d and 7e
Directed fishing for whiting, mackerel and species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table, using bottom trawls.
At least 40 mm
Whole area excluding waters within the English zone
Directed fishing for squid (Lolignidae, Ommastrephidae)
At least 16 mm
Whole area
Directed fishing for small pelagic species which are not covered elsewhere in the table.
Directed fishing for common and Aesop shrimps. A separator trawl or sorting grid must be fitted in accordance with nationally established rules
Less than 16 mm
Whole area
Directed fishing for sandeel
At least 100mm
ICES divisions 7d and 7e
Directed fishing for all species using flyseining gear

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/1241/annex/VI/part/B/division/1/division/1.2 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2019-1241/annex-VI/part-B/division-1/division-1.2
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.