Breadcrumbs

European Union vessels can operate in the high seas and in waters not managed by RMFOs. These operations shall be authorized by the flag Member State after validation of European Commission.

The Regulation (EU) N.º 2017/2403, in article 5, sets out the eligibility conditions:

  • A valid fishing license, in accordance with article 6 of the Control Regulation (Regulation (EC) N.º 1224/2009);
  • An IMO number, if required by the EU Law;
  • The fishing vessel is not on a list of IUU vessels adopted by a RFMO and/or the Union under the IUU Regulation;
  • Vessel monitoring system (VMS) installed and operational;
  • Electronic recording and reporting system installed and operational (ERS);
  • Valid certificates for navigation and compliance;

The following criteria must also be met:

  • Envisaged operations are in accordance with a scientific evaluation demonstrating their sustainability, issued or validated by a scientific institute of the flag Member State, or;
  • The activity integrates a research program and includes a data collection protocol, organized by a scientific body. The mandatory scientific research protocol shall be validated by a scientific institute of the flag Member State.

Additionally, vessels that operate with bottom gears in these areas need to comply with the requirements set out in Regulation N.º 734/2008; namely, a submission of a detailed fishing plan indicating the following elements:

  • Expected location of the activities;
  • Targeted species;
  • Type of gear to be deployed and bathymetric;
  • Configuration of the bathymetric profile of the seabed in the intended fishing grounds, if such information has not already been made available to the competent authorities of the flag State concerned.

The fishing authorization shall be issued if, as a result of an impact assessment carried out by the competent authority, it is concluded that there are no significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Vessels which obtain a fishing authorization under this Regulation shall be required to embark onboard a scientific observer during the whole duration of the fishing trip.