The proposal was circulated for review in the period from 28 February 2022 to 1 June 2022. A total of 11 consultative statements came in, whereof 2 included comments to the proposal.
Entry into force
The amendments enter into force on 1 July 2022.
Details of the proposal
Amendments to the trade area Bank fishing I.
Based on comments from the Norwegian Fishermen's Association and input from several fishing vessel companies, the NMA has laid down some minor amendments to the coordinates of the trade area Bank fishing I.
In the Tade Area Regulations section 23 first paragraph, coordinate No. 26 is deleted and the following sentence is amended to:
and the Skagerrak, in the waters withing the area bounded by a line between coordinate No. 25 to Hanstholm in Denmark and the Skaw in Denmark to Tistlarna in Sweden.
By deleting coordinate No. 26, there will be a straigth line from coordinate No. 25 to Hanstholm in Denmark.
The amendment is illustrated below:
The trade area Bank fishing I has been amended several times. It is the NMA's assessment that the regulatory amendments now laid down will not lead to any change in the risk scenario for fishing vessels certified to operate in Bank fishing I. The Norwegian Fishermen's Association has said that they support this proposal. It is the opinion of the Norwegian Envirionment Agency that the amendment will not affect the environment significantly beyond the current activity. However, they point to the significance of this area to sand eel in the North Sea.
Amendments to the Trade Area Regulations Annex I. Geographical limitations for trade areas. Completely sheltered waters
In Annex I, 6. Haugesund district (map No. 17 – 19 – 20 – 205 – 206), it is proposed to remove «Karsfjorden» from the list. The area north of the line drawn between Nedstrand lykt – Hebnes is within the existing limitation of trade area 1. It is the NMA's opinion that the further limitationis unnecessary.
See illustration in the map cutout below.
Administrative and financial implications
The laid down amendments will not have negative financial or administrative implications for the industry. No certificated will have to be changed because of the amendments.