EU
EU Common Fisheries Policies' Landing Obligation Rules
Summary Description
Limits overfishing.
Topics
Species
Fish
Jurisdiction
EU
Sub-Jurisdiction
N/A
Type of Act
Legislation
Status
In force
Legal Value
Binding
Date Enacted
2013
Date Updated
June, 2023
Official Citation
Article 15, Regulation 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22–61 (EU)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- All catches of species regulated through catch limits or minimum size should be landed and counted against the fishers' quotas.
- Undersized fish caught and landed should not be used (sold) for direct human consumption, but for products such as pet food, fish meal, pharmaceuticals, and food supplements.
- Producer organizations have a duty to help their members find adequate outlets for undersized catches, without promoting the creation of a market for them.
- EU countries also have the obligation to assist fishers by facilitating the storage of undersize fish and finding possible outlets.
Weaknesses
- Exemptions include fisheries in which more than one species is present and where different species are likely to be caught in the same fishing operation ('mixed fisheries').
- Administrative rules provide some flexibility as regards the landing obligation, for example where unwanted catches are difficult to avoid, lead to disproportionate costs, or have a high survivability rate.
- Aside from high survivability and de minimis exemptions, predator damaged and prohibited species are also exempted from the landing obligation.
Related Laws/Policies
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