Explanatory note

These Regulations make amendments to assimilated law in the field of sea fisheries. They also make a transitional provision.

Regulation 2 makes amendments to Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing acts as a measure to prevent illegally caught seafood entering the UK market.

Regulation 2(2) amends Article 14 to introduce a new requirement for the submission of a non-manipulation document.

Regulation 2(3) amends Article 14 to provide that a processing statement is required where fish are processed after landing, including if the fish were processed in the same country as the flag state of the catching vessel.

Regulation 2(4) amends Article 16 to provide that relevant catch documentation must be uploaded onto the UK’s digital system by UK importers.

Regulation 2(5) replaces Annex II with an updated catch certificate template.

Regulation 2(6) replaces Annex IV with a updated processing statement template.

Regulation 2(7) inserts a new Annex V which provides a non-manipulation document template.

Regulation 3 makes a transitional provision under which any catch certificates and any other related documents that have been validated, endorsed or signed in accordance with the relevant provisions under Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, as applicable at the time of their validation, endorsement or signature, are valid until 10 January 2028.

Regulation 4 amends Commission Regulation (EU) No 468/2010 establishing the EU list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to replace the table set out in Part B of the Annex which provides the United Kingdom list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that have been listed by regional fisheries management organisations. This replacement includes both the addition and removal of vessels.

Regulation 5 amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2239 specifying details of the landing obligation for certain demersal fisheries in North-Western waters for the period 2020-2021 increases gear selectivity and aims to reduce unwanted catches in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and West of Scotland, by omitting the entirety of Article 10.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the public, private or voluntary sector is foreseen.