The landing obligation in 2019
As in previous years there are a number of exemptions to the landing obligation, based on survival or de minimis exemptions. These exemptions are set out in Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2018/2034. However there are some key points:
- Species which are subject to specific prohibitions should be released unharmed and as quickly as possible.
- If you fish with traps, pots or creels there is a general survival exemption. You can continue to discard fish and shellfish immediately on capture.
General guidance on the landing obligation is provided below, however guidance for specific fisheries and areas have been produced in conjunction with the other UK devolved fishery administrations. For the Irish Sea these are
There are additional area specific guidance documents for fisheries around the UK available at landing-obligation-2019-rules-and-regulations.
The Department has produced the following guidance for the landing and subsequent handling of catches in Ports and Markets.