Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2943 of 17 September 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/117 as regards fisheries conservation measures in the Baltic Sea areas of Fehmarnbelt, Kadetrinne, Westliche Rönnebank, Adlergrund and Pommersche Bucht mit Oderbank

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC [^ntr1-L_202402943EN.000101-E0001], and in particular Article 11(2) thereof,

Whereas:

• (1) Pursuant to Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, Member States are empowered to adopt fisheries conservation measures in their waters that are necessary to comply with their obligations under Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC [^ntr2-L_202402943EN.000101-E0002] (‘Habitats Directive’), Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [^ntr3-L_202402943EN.000101-E0003] (‘Birds Directive’) and Article 13(4) of Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [^ntr4-L_202402943EN.000101-E0004] (‘Marine Strategy Framework Directive’).

• (2) Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC requires Member States to establish the necessary conservation measures for special areas of conservation that correspond to the ecological requirements of those natural habitat types and species present on the sites as listed in the Annexes of that Directive.

• (3) Pursuant to Article 13(4) of Directive 2008/56/EC, Member States are to adopt programmes of measures, including spatial protection measures to achieve or maintain good environmental status that contribute to coherent and representative networks of marine protected areas, and adequately cover the diversity of the constituent ecosystems, such as special areas of conservation pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC, special protection areas pursuant to the Birds Directive and marine protected areas as agreed by the Union or Member States concerned in the framework of international or regional agreements to which they are parties.

• (4) Pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, where a Member State considers that measures need to be adopted to comply with its obligations under Union environmental legislation and other Member States have a direct management interest in the fishery to be affected by such measures, the Commission is empowered to adopt such measures by means of delegated acts upon a joint recommendation submitted by the concerned Member States.

• (5) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/117 [^ntr5-L_202402943EN.000101-E0005] establishes fisheries conservation measures in certain marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea.

• (6) On 7 September 2022, after having consulted the Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC), Germany (initiating Member State) together with Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden (the Baltic Sea Member States ‘BALTFISH’) submitted to the Commission a joint recommendation regarding fisheries conservation measures in five Special Areas of Conservation: Fehmarnbelt, Kadetrinne, Westliche Rönnebank, Adlergrund and Pommersche Bucht mit Oderbank, in the German Exclusive Economic Zone in the Baltic Sea.

• (7) The joint recommendation proposed fisheries conservation measures to protect sandbanks (habitat type 1110) and reefs (habitat type 1170) from the impact of mobile bottom contacting gears in part of Fehmarnbelt, Kadetrinne and Pommersche Bucht mit Oderbank, and the entire sites of Westliche Rönnebank and Adlergrund. The joint recommendation acknowledges that the collective pressure of human activities is too high and contributes to the unfavourable environmental status of species and biotopes in the Baltic Sea. To contribute to achieve good environmental status and Marine Strategy Framework Directive targets, the impacts of fisheries on specific ecosystem components need to be reduced.

• (8) The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) assessed the joint recommendation in its Plenary 14–18 November 2022 and concluded [^ntr6-L_202402943EN.000101-E0006] that the measures represent a positive initiative that will provide enhanced protection for the reefs and sandbanks in the areas concerned. According to the STECF, if implemented and enforced as intended, they will contribute to minimising the impacts on the seabed structures (reefs and sandbanks) in the specified areas of the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) concerned and which they are designed to protect.

• (9) The Commission therefore agrees that the measures proposed in the joint recommendation submitted by BALTFISH should be included in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/117.

• (10) In February 2023, the Commission contacted the BALTFISH Member States suggesting modifications to harmonise control provisions related to the application of Article 50 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 [^ntr7-L_202402943EN.000101-E0007] across restricted areas in the Baltic Sea. BALTFISH agreed to these amendments on 23 February 2023.

• (11) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/117 should therefore be amended accordingly.

• (12) This Delegated Regulation is without prejudice to the need for additional conservation measures necessary to comply with Article 13(4) of Directive 2008/56/EC, Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC or Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC and the Commission’s position regarding compliance by the interested Member States with their obligations under the relevant Union environmental legislation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/117 is amended as follows:

• (1) Article 2 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply in addition to those laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011[^ntr*1-L_202402943EN.000101-E0008]:

• (a) “mobile bottom contacting gear” means any of the following gear: bottom trawl (TB), beam trawl (TBB), bottom otter trawl (OTB), otter twin trawl (OTT), bottom pair trawl (PTB), nephrops trawl (TBN), shrimp trawl (TBS), seine nets (SX), Danish anchor seine (SDN), Scottish seine (SSC), boat or vessel seine (SV), boat dredge (DRB), beach seine (SB), pair seine (SPR), hand dredges used on board a vessel (DRH) and mechanised dredges including suction dredges (HMD);

• (b) “Areas 1” means the restricted areas that correspond to the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the positions listed in Annex I to this Regulation, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system.

• (c) “Areas 2” means the restricted areas that correspond to the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the positions listed in Annex II to this Regulation, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system.

• (d) “Alert zone” means a 4 nautical-mile surrounding area established for the purpose of warning the competent authorities about fishing vessels approaching restricted areas classified in the previous paragraph as “Areas 2”.

[^ntr*1-L_202402943EN.000101-E0008]: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L 112, 30.4.2011, p. 1).’;"

• (2) In Article 3, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.   It shall be prohibited to carry out any fishing activity with mobile bottom contacting gears:

• (a) In Areas 1, the following gears shall be prohibited: bottom trawl (TB), beam trawl (TBB), bottom otter trawl (OTB), otter twin trawl (OTT), bottom pair trawl (PTB), nephrops trawl (TBN), shrimp trawl (TBS), seine nets (SX), Danish anchor seine (SDN), Scottish seine (SSC), boat or vessel seine (SV), boat dredge (DRB).

• (b) In Areas 2, all mobile bottom contacting gears shall be prohibited. Areas 2 shall be surrounded by an alert zone of 4 nautical miles where fishing shall be permitted.’

• (3) Article 4 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 4

Transit

1. The provisions laid down in Article 50 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009[^ntr*2-L_202402943EN.000101-E0009] concerning the control of fisheries restricted areas, shall apply in Areas 1 and 2.

1. Fishing vessels carrying on board any mobile bottom contacting gear may transit across the restricted areas, provided that the mobile bottom contacting gears be lashed and stowed in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 47 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

[^ntr*2-L_202402943EN.000101-E0009]: Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1).’;"

• (4) The following Article (4a) is inserted:

‘Article 4a

Automatic identification system (AIS), vessel monitoring system (VMS) and other control systems approved by the competent authorities

1. Fishing vessels of 12 metres’ length overall or more carrying on board mobile bottom contacting gears shall record both the fishing gear carried on board and the fishing gears used as indicated in the electronic logbook.

1. Fishing vessels with a length overall below 12 metres carrying on board mobile bottom contacting gears and operating in Areas 2 or the alert zone shall be fitted with:

— a vessel monitoring system (VMS) as referred to in Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, or

— an Automatic Identification System (AIS) as referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, or

— any other device or system approved by the competent authority of the flag Member State, such as a mobile application, allowing the vessel to transmit, where applicable, the position with a frequency of transmission of at least 10 minutes, date and time, course, speed and external identification mark of the fishing vessel.

The flag Member State shall inform the coastal Member State of the system or device used on board of fishing vessels below 12 metres length within 3 months after the entry into force of this Regulation.

1. The VMS referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 are subject to the rules established in Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

1. Flag Member States shall not grant the exemptions referred to in Article 9(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 to fishing vessels of 12 metres length overall or more and less than 15 metres’ length overall carrying on board mobile bottom contacting gears entering in Areas 2 and the alert zone.

1. The frequency of VMS data transmissions shall be of at least once every 10 minutes when a fishing vessel carrying on board mobile bottom contacting gears enters Areas 2 and the alert zone.’

• (5) The Annex is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 17 September 2024.

For the Commission

The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN

[^ntr1-L_202402943EN.000101-E0001]: OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22.

[^ntr2-L_202402943EN.000101-E0002]: Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7).

[^ntr3-L_202402943EN.000101-E0003]: Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds. (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7).

[^ntr4-L_202402943EN.000101-E0004]: Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19).

[^ntr5-L_202402943EN.000101-E0005]: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/117 of 5 September 2016 establishing fisheries conservation measures for the protection of the marine environment in the Baltic Sea and repealing Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1778 (OJ L 19, 25.1.2017, p. 1).

[^ntr6-L_202402943EN.000101-E0006]: Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – 71st Plenary report (STECF-PLEN-22-03). Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2023, doi:10.2760/016673, JRC132078.

[^ntr7-L_202402943EN.000101-E0007]: Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1).

ANNEX

AREAS 1

1. Natura 2000 site Munkegrund (DK00VA304)

2. Natura 2000 site Hatterbarn (DK00VA255)

3. Natura 2000 site Ryggen (DK00VA253)

4. Natura 2000 site Broen (DK00VA256)

5. Natura 2000 site Ertholmene (DK007X079)

6. Natura 2000 site Davids Banke(DK00VA308)

7. Natura 2000 site Bakkebrædt & Bakkegrund (DK00VA310)

8. Natura 2000 site Adler Grund og Rønne Banke (DK00VA261)

9. Natura 2000 site Centrale Storebælt og Vresen (DK008X190)

10. Natura 2000 site Flensborg Fjord, Bredgrund og farvandet omkring Als (DK00VA254)

AREAS 2

1. Western and central part of the Natura 2000 site Fehmarnbelt (DE1332301)

The geographical area enclosed by:

• (a) rhumb line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

• (b) seaward separation line between the German and Danish Exclusive Economic Zones from 54,546361 °N 10,731861 °E to 54,625930 °N 11,133333 °E;

• (c) rhumb line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

• (d) seaward delimitation line of the German territorial sea from 54,575883 °N 11,133333 °E to 54,512787 °N 10,731861 °E.

2. Natura 2000 site Kadetrinne (DE1339301)

The geographical area enclosed by:

• (a) rhumb line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

• (b) seaward delimitation line of the German territorial sea from 54,412881 °N 12,205213 °E to 54,599754 °N 12,379799 °E;

• (c) rhumb line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

• (d) seaward separation line between the German and Danish Exclusive Economic Zones from 54,611935 °N 12,351535 °E to 54,438427 °N 12,144198 °E.

3. Natura 2000 site Westliche Rönnebank (DE1249301).

The geographical area enclosed by:

• (a) rhumb line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

• (b) seaward delimitation line of the German territorial sea from 54,647584 °N 13,991417 °E to 54,719193 °N 13,901025 °E.

4. Natura 2000 site Adlergrund (DE1251301).

The geographical area enclosed by:

• (a) rhumb line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

• (b) seaward separation line between the German and Danish Exclusive Economic Zones from 54,657727 °N 14,413062 °E to 54,811946 °N 14,239196 °E;

5. Natura 2000 site Pommersche Bucht mit Oderbank (DE1652301).

The geographical area enclosed by:

• (a) rhumb line sequentially joining the following coordinates:

• (b) seaward separation line between the German and Polish Exclusive Economic Zones from 54,216185 °N 14,406401 °E to 54,420515 °N 14,647539 °E.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2024/2943/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)