Title, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Haddock, Saithe, etc (Specified Sea Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1996 and shall come into force on 24th December 1996.

(2) In this Order-

"British fishing boat" means a fishing boat which is registered in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands or which, not being so registered, is British-owned;

"length", in relation to a boat, means the length calculated in accordance with the rules specified in Article 2(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2930/86 defining characteristics for fishing vessels(2) as amended(3);

"sea area" means a statistical division or sub-area of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea(4) or the area known as CECAF Division 34.1.1 (EC Zone) specified in the Schedule hereto.

Prohibition and Exception

2.-(1) Fishing:

(a)by any British fishing boat registered in the United Kingdom within any part of a sea area; or

(b)by any other British fishing boat within any part of a sea area which lies within British fishery limits(5)

• for:

  (i)

  haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas IV, VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Divisions IIa and Vb; or

  (ii)

  saithe (Pollachius virens) in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas III, IV, VII, VIII, IX, X and CECAF 34.1.1. (EC Zone) and ICES Statistical Division IIa; or

  (iii)

  anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Division Vb; or

  (iv)

  sole (Solea solea) in sea areas ICES Statistical Division VIIe; or

  (v)

  mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas VI, VII, VIII, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Division Vb

  is prohibited during the period beginning with the date of coming into force of this Order and ending immediately before 1st January 1997.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) below, fishing:

(a)by any British fishing boat registered in the United Kingdom within any part of a sea area; or

(b)by any other British fishing boat within any part of a sea area which lies within British fishery limits

• for:

  (i)

  hake (Merluccius merluccius) in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Area IV and ICES Statistical Division IIa; or

  (ii)

  sole (Solea solea) in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Divisions Vb and VIIh, j and k; or

  (iii)

  plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in sea areas ICES Statistical Divisions VIIh, j and k;

  is prohibited during the period beginning with the date of coming into force of this Order and ending immediately before 1st January 1997.

(3) The prohibition in paragraph (2) above shall not apply to any boat whose length exceeds 10 metres, except in the case of any boat when used for the purpose of conveying persons wishing to fish for pleasure.

Powers of British sea-fishery officers in relation to fishing boats

3.-(1) For the purpose of the enforcement of this Order a British sea-fishery officer may exercise the powers conferred by paragraphs (2) to (4) below-

(a)anywhere in relation to any British fishing boat registered in the United Kingdom, and

(b)in any waters adjacent to the United Kingdom and within British fishery limits in relation to any other British fishing boat.

(2) He may go on board the boat, with or without persons assigned to assist him in his duties, and for that purpose may require the boat to stop and do anything else which will facilitate the boarding of the boat.

(3) He may require the attendance of the master and other persons on board the boat and may make any examination and inquiry which appears to him to be necessary for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (1) above and, in particular-

(a)may examine any fish on the boat and the equipment of the boat, including the fishing gear, and require persons on board the boat to do anything which appears to him to be necessary for facilitating the examination;

(b)may require any person on board the boat to produce any document relating to the boat, to its fishing operations or other operations ancillary thereto or to the persons on board which is in his custody or possession and may take copies of any such document;

(c)for the purpose of ascertaining whether the master, owner or charterer of the boat has committed an offence under section 5(1) or (6) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967(6) as read with this Order, may search the boat for any such document and may require any person on board the boat to do anything which appears to him to be necessary for facilitating the search; and

(d)where the boat is one in relation to which he has reason to suspect that such an offence has been committed, may seize and detain any such document produced to him or found on board for the purpose of enabling the document to be used as evidence in proceedings for the offence;

but nothing in sub-paragraph (d) above shall permit any document required by law to be carried on board the boat to be seized and detained except while the boat is detained in a port.

(4) Where it appears to a British sea-fishery officer that a contravention of this Order has at any time taken place within British fishery limits, he may-

(a)require the master of the boat in relation to which the contravention took place to take, or may himself take, the boat and its crew to the port which appears to him to be the nearest convenient port; and

(b)detain or require the master to detain the boat in port;

and where such an officer detains or requires the detention of a boat he shall serve on the master notice in writing stating that the boat will be or is required to be detained until the notice is withdrawn by the service on the master of a further notice in writing signed by a British sea-fishery officer.

Article 1(2)

SCHEDULESEA AREAS IN RESPECT OF WHICH PROHIBITION OF FISHING APPLIES

ICES Statisical Divisions IIa (Norwegian Sea)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point on the coast of Norway in 62°00' north latitude; thence due west to 4°00' west longitude; thence due north to 63°00' north latitude; thence due west to 11°00' west longitude; thence due north to 73°30' north latitude, thence due east to 30°00' east longitude; thence due south to 72°00' north latitude; thence due west to 26°00' east longitude; thence due south to the coast of Norway; thence in a westerly and south-westerly direction along the coast of Norway to the point of beginning.

Sub-Area III (Skagerrak, Kattegat, Sound, Belt Sea and Baltic Sea)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point on the coast of Norway in 7°00' east longitude; thence due south to 57°30' north latitude; thence due east to 8°00' east longitude; thence due south to 57°00' north latitude; thence due east to the coast of Denmark; thence along the north-west and east coasts of Jutland to Hals; thence across the eastern entrance of the Limfjord to Egensekloster Point; thence in a southerly direction along the coast of Jutland to the eastern terminus of the boundary of Denmark with the Federal Republic of Germany; thence along the coast of the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, the western coast of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the coast of Finland, Sweden and Norway to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area IV (North Sea)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point of the coast of Norway in 62°00' north latitude; thence due west to 4°00' west longitude; thence due south to the coast of Scotland; thence in an easterly and southerly direction along the coasts of Scotland and England to a point 51°00' north latitude; thence due east to the coast of France; thence in a north-easterly direction along the coasts of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany to the western terminus of its boundary with Denmark; thence along the west coast of Jutland to Thyboron; thence in a southerly and easterly direction along the south coast of the Limfjord to Egensekloster Point; thence across the eastern entrance of the Limfjord to Hals; thence in a westerly direction along the north coast of Limfjord to the southernmost point of Agger Tange; thence in a northerly direction along the west coast of Jutland to a point in 57°00' north latitude; thence west to 8°00' east longitude; thence due north to 57°30' north latitude; thence due west to 7°00' east longitude; thence due north to the coast of Norway; thence in a north-westerly direction along the coast of Norway to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Division Vb (Faroes Grounds)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point in 63°00' north latitude, 4°00' west longitude; thence due west to 15°00' west longitude; thence due south to 60°00' north latitude; thence due east to 5°00' west longitude; thence due north to 60°30' north latitude; thence due east to 4°00' west longitude; thence due north to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area VI (Rockall and West of Scotland)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point on the north coast of Scotland in 4°00' west longitude; thence due north to 60°30' north latitude; thence due west to 5°00' west longitude; thence due south to 60°00' north latitude; thence due west to 18°00' west longitude; thence due south to 54°30' north latitude; thence due east to the coast of the Republic of Ireland; thence in a northerly and easterly direction along the coasts of the Republic of Ireland and of Northern Ireland to a point on the east coast of Northern Ireland in 55°00' north latitude; thence due east to the coast of Scotland; thence in a northerly direction along the west coast of Scotland to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area VII (Irish Sea, West of Ireland and Porcupine Bank, South Coast of Ireland, Bristol Channel and English Channel)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland in 54°30' north latitude; thence due west to 18°00' west longitude; thence due south to 48°00' north latitude; thence due east to the coast of France; thence in a northerly and north-easterly direction along the coast of France to a point in 51°00' north latitude; thence due west to the south-east coast of England; thence in a westerly and northerly direction along the coasts of England, Wales and Scotland to a point on the west coast of Scotland in 55°00' north latitude; thence due west to the coast of Northern Ireland; thence in a northerly and westerly direction along the coasts of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Division VIIe (Western English Channel)

The waters bounded by a line beginning on the south coast of England in 2°00' west longitude; thence in a southerly and westerly direction along the coast of England to a point on the south-west coast in 50°00' north latitude; thence due west to 7°00' west longitude; thence due south to 49°30' north latitude; thence due east to 5°00' west longitude; thence due south to 48°00' north latitude; thence due east to the coast of France; thence in a northerly and north-easterly direction along the coast of France to Cape de la Hague; thence in a northerly direction to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Division VIIh (Little Sole Bank)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point in 50°00' north latitude and 7°00' west longitude; thence due west to 9°00' west longitude; thence due south to 48°00' north latitude; thence due east to 5°00', west longitude; thence due north to 49°30' north latitude; thence due west to 7°00' west longitude; thence due north to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Division VIIj (Great Sole Bank)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point in 52°30' north latitude on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland; thence due west to 12°00' west longitude; thence due south to 48°00' north latitude; thence due east to 9°00' west longitude; thence due north to the south coast of the Republic of Ireland; thence in a westerly and northerly direction along the coast of the Republic of Ireland to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Division VIIk (West of Great Sole Bank)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point in 52°30' north latitude and 12°00' west longitude; thence due west to 18°00' west longitude; thence due south to 48°00' north latitude; thence due east to 12°00' west longitude; thence due north to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area VIII (Bay of Biscay)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point on the coast of France in 48°00' north latitude; thence due west to 18°00' west longitude; thence due south to 43°00' north latitude; thence due east to the coast of Spain; thence in a northerly direction along the coasts of Spain and France to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area IX (Portuguese Waters)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point on the coast of Spain in 43°00' north latitude; thence due west to 18°00' west longitude; thence due south to 36°00' north latitude; thence due east to a point on the coast of Spain (Punta Marroqui isthmus) in 5°36' west longitude; thence in a north-westerly direction along the south-west coast of Spain, the coast of Portugal, and the north-west coast of Spain to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area X (Azores Grounds)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point in 48°00' north latitude and 18°00' west longitude; thence due west to 42°00' west longitude; thence due south to 36°00' north latitude; thence due east to 18°00' west longitude; thence due north to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area XII (North of Azores)

The waters bounded by a line beginning at a point in 62°00' north latitude and 15°00' west longitude; thence due west to 27°00' west longitude; thence due south to 59°00' north latitude; thence due west to 42°00' west longitude; thence due south to 48°00' north latitude; thence due east to 18°00' west longitude; thence due north to 60°00' north latitude; thence due east to 15°00' west longitude; thence due north to the point of beginning.

ICES Statistical Sub-Area XIV (East Greenland)

The waters bounded by a line from the geographic North Pole along the meridian of 40°00' west longitude to the north coast of Greenland; thence in an easterly and southerly direction along the coast of Greenland to a point in 44°00' west longitude; thence due south to 59°00' north latitude; thence due east to 27°00' west longitude; thence due north to 68°00' north latitude; thence due east to 11°00' west longitude; thence due north to the geographic North Pole.

CECAF Division 34.1.1 (EC Zone)

The waters commonly known as the Moroccan coast bounded by a line drawn from a position on the coast of Spain in 36°00' north latitude and 5°36' west longitude (isthmus of Punta Marroqui); thence due west to 13°00' west longitude; thence due south to 29°00' north latitude; thence in a southerly and westerly direction to a position in 26°00' north latitude and 16°00' west longitude; thence due east to a point on the coast of the continent of Africa in 26°00' north latitude; thence in a northerly and easterly direction along the coast of the continent of Africa to a point in 5°36' west longitude; thence due north to the point of commencement.

Explanatory Note

(This note is part of the Order)

This Order prohibits:

1. fishing for-

(a)haddock in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas IV, VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Divisions IIa and Vb;

(b)saithe in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas III, IV, VII, VIII, IX, X and CECAF 34.1.1 (EC Zone) and ICES Statistical Division IIa;

(c)anglerfish in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Division Vb;

(d)sole in sea area ICES Statistical Division VIIe;

(e)mackerel in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas VI, VII, VIII, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Division Vb

by any British fishing boat, and

2. fishing for-

(a)hake in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Area IV and ICES Statistical Division IIa;

(b)sole in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Divisions Vb and VIIh, j and k;

(c)plaice in sea areas ICES Statistical Divisions VIIh, j and k;

by any British fishing boat which does not exceed 10 metres in length or which is used wholly for the purposes of conveying persons wishing to fish for pleasure.

The prohibitions of fishing set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 above shall apply:

(a)within any part of a sea area specified in the Schedule to the Order if the boat is registered in the United Kingdom, or

(b)within any part of such a sea area which lies within British fishery limits if the boat is registered in the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands or, not being registered, is British-owned,

during the period beginning with the date of coming into force of the Order and ending immediately before 1st January 1997 (article 2).

By virtue of section 5(6) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (as amended by section 22(2) of the Fisheries Act 1981), where, in the course of any fishing operations conducted in any of the above-mentioned sea areas, fish caught in contravention of this Order are taken on board a boat to which this Order applies, those fish shall (subject to section 9 of that Act) be returned to the sea forthwith.

British sea-fishery officers are given certain enforcement powers for the purpose of the enforcement of the Order (article 3).