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European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
General publications

Synthesis of the landing obligation measures and discard rates

Final report

Details

Identification
ISBN: 978-92-9460-565-8, doi: 10.2826/176808
Publication date
18 August 2021 (Last updated on: 18 August 2021)
Author
European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

Description

Article 15 of the reformed European Union (EU) Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) came into force on 1 January 2015. It introduced a phased implementation of a discard ban: a prohibition on discarding catch, generally described as the Landing Obligation (LO).

The introduction of the LO was essentially a change from a 'landing' to a 'catch quota' system. In January 2019, the phased implementation was completed and the LO was fully implemented, covering all quota stocks in EU waters and those with Minimum Sizes in the Mediterranean.

However, the transition towards a fully implemented catch quota regime has proved very challenging for some fisheries. The ultimate objective of the landing obligation is to reduce the wasteful practice of discarding, to create incentive to fish more selectively and avoid unwanted catches.

Member States undertook several initiatives and voluntary measures to facilitate the LO. Most were related to selective gear trials. Stakeholder interviews and questionnaires conducted in this study showed that the process for approving newly developed gear is long and severely delayed implementation of these measures.

Synthesis of the landing obligation measures and discard rates (cover).2

Files

18 AUGUST 2021
Synthesis of the landing obligation measures and discard rates (final report)
English
(28.21 MB - PDF)
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