This Recommendation lays down rules for establishing a multiannual management plan for bottom trawl fisheries exploiting demersal stocks, including European hake and deep-water rose shrimp, in the Strait of Sicily, in consistency with the precautionary approach to fisheries management. This recommendation shall apply to bottom trawlers above 10 metres length overall. The multiannual management plan shall be designed to ensure that exploitation levels of European hake and deep-water rose shrimp are at MSY by 2020 at the latest; protect nursery areas and essential fish habitats that are important for the stocks of European hake and deep-water rose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily; gradually eliminate discards, by avoiding and reducing, as far as possible, unwanted catches, and by gradually ensuring that all catches are landed; and provide for measures to adjust the fishing capacity of the fleets to levels of fishing mortality consistent with maximum sustainable yield, with a view to having economically viable fleets and without overexploiting marine biological resources. Fisheries restricted areas (FRAs) shall be established for the conservation and management of the demersal stocks, including European hake and deep-water rose shrimp, in the three areas of the Strait of Sicily as defined in Annex 2. Bottom trawlers exploiting demersal stocks including European hake and deep-water rose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily shall only be allowed to carry out specific fishing activities if these are indicated in a valid fishing authorization issued by the competent authorities and specifying the technical conditions under which such activities shall be carried out. Such vessels shall be equipped with a vessel monitoring system and the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties shall maintain and keep up-to-date a register of the above-mentioned fishing authorizations.
2018-01-01