Council Regulation (EC) No 40/2008Show full title

13. Interim measures for the protection of vulnerable deep-sea habitats

13.1 It shall be prohibited to conduct bottom trawling and fishing with static gear, including bottom set gill-nets and long-lines, within the areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following positions, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

• The Hecate Seamounts:

  • 52^o 21.2866' N, 31^o 09.2688' W

  • 52^o 20.8167' N, 30^o 51.5258' W

  • 52^o 12.0777' N, 30^o 54.3824' W

  • 52^o 12.4144' N, 31^o 14.8168' W

  • 52^o 21.2866' N, 31^o 09.2688' W

• The Faraday Seamounts:

  • 50^o 01.7968' N, 29^o 37.8077' W

  • 49^o 59.1490' N, 29^o 29.4580' W

  • 49^o 52.6429' N, 29^o 30.2820' W

  • 49^o 44.3831' N, 29^o 02.8711' W

  • 49^o 44.4186' N, 28^o 52.4340' W

  • 49^o 36.4557' N, 28^o 39.4703' W

  • 49^o 29.9701' N, 28^o 45.0183' W

  • 49^o 49.4197' N, 29^o 42.0923' W

  • 50^o 01.7968' N, 29^o 37.8077' W

• Part of the Reykjanes Ridge:

  • 55^o 04.5327' N, 36^o 49.0135' W

  • 55^o 05.4804' N, 35^o 58.9784' W

  • 54^o 58.9914' N, 34^o 41.3634' W

  • 54^o 41.1841' N, 34^o 00.0514' W

  • 54^o 00.0'N, 34^o 00.0' W

  • 53^o 54.6406' N, 34^o 49.9842' W

  • 53^o 58.9668' N, 36^o 39.1260' W

  • 55^o 04.5327' N, 36^o 49.0135' W

• The Altair Seamounts:

  • 44^o 50.4953' N, 34^o 26.9128' W

  • 44^o 47.2611' N, 33^o 48.5158' W

  • 44^o 31.2006' N, 33^o 50.1636' W

  • 44^o 38.0481' N, 34^o 11.9715' W

  • 44^o 38.9470' N, 34^o 27.6819' W

  • 44^o 50.4953' N, 34^o 26.9128' W

• The Antialtair Seamounts:

  • 43^o 43.1307' N, 22^o 44.1174' W

  • 43^o 39.5557' N, 22^o 19.2335' W

  • 43^o 31.2802' N, 22^o 08.7964' W

  • 43^o 27.7335' N, 22^o 14.6192' W

  • 43^o 30.9616' N, 22^o 32.0325' W

  • 43^o 40.6286' N, 22^o 47.0288' W

  • 43^o 43.1307' N, 22^o 44.1174' W

• Hatton Bank:

  • 59^o 26' N, 14^o 30' W

  • 59^o 12' N, 15^o 08' W

  • 59^o 01' N, 17^o 00' W

  • 58^o 50' N, 17^o 38' W

  • 58^o 30' N, 17^o 52' W

  • 58^o 30' N, 18^o 45' W

  • 58^o 47' N, 18^o 37' W

  • 59^o 05' N, 17^o 32' W

  • 59^o 16' N, 17^o 20' W

  • 59^o 22' N, 16^o 50' W

  • 59^o 21' N, 15^o 40' W

  • 58^o 30' N, 18^o 45' W

  • 57^o 45' N, 19^o 15' W

  • 57^o 55' N, 17^o 30' W

  • 58^o 03' N, 17^o 30' W

  • 58^o 03' N, 18^o 22' W

  • 58^o 30' N, 18^o 22' W

• North West Rockall:

  • 57^o 00' N, 14^o 53' W

  • 57^o 37' N, 14^o 42' W

  • 57^o 55' N, 14^o 24' W

  • 58^o 15' N, 13^o 50' W

  • 57^o 57' N, 13^o 09' W

  • 57^o 50' N, 13^o 14' W

  • 57^o 57' N, 13^o 45' W

  • 57^o 49' N, 14^o 06' W

  • 57^o 29' N, 14^o 19' W

  • 57^o 22' N, 14^o 19' W

  • 57^o 00' N, 14^o 34' W

  • 56^o 56' N, 14^o 36' W

  • 56^o 56' N, 14^o 51' W

• South-West Rockall (Empress of Britain Bank)

  • 56^o 24' N, 15^o 37' W

  • 56^o 21' N, 14^o 58' W

  • 56^o 04' N, 15^o 10' W

  • 55^o 51' N, 15^o 37' W

  • 56^o 10' N, 15^o 52' W

• Logachev Mound:

  • 55^o17' N 16^o10' W

  • 55^o33' N 16^o16' W

  • 55^o50' N 15^o15' W

  • 55^o58' N 15^o05' W

  • 55^o54' N 14^o55' W

  • 55^o45' N 15^o12' W

  • 55^o34' N 15^o07' W

• West Rockall Mound:

  • 57^o 20' N, 16^o 30' W

  • 57^o 05' N, 15^o 58' W

  • 56^o 21' N, 17^o 17' W

  • 56^o 40' N, 17^o 50' W

13.2. It shall be prohibited to conduct bottom trawling and fishing with static gear, including bottom set gill-nets and long-lines, within the areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following positions, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

• Belgica Mound Province:

  • 51^o29,4' N; 11^o51,6' W

  • 51^o32,4' N; 11^o41,4' W

  • 51^o15,6' N; 11^o 33' W

  • 51^o13,8' N; 11^o44,4' W

• Hovland Mound Province:

  • 52^o16,2' N; 13^o12,6' W

  • 52^o 24' N; 12^o58,2' W

  • 52^o16,8' N; 12^o 54' W

  • 52^o16,8' N; 12^o29,4' W

  • 52^o4,2' N; 12^o29,4' W

  • 52^o4,2' N; 12^o52,8' W

  • 52^o 9' N; 12^o56,4' W

  • 52^o 9' N; 13^o10,8' W

• North-West Porcupine Bank Area I

  • 53^o30,6' N; 14^o32,4' W

  • 53^o35,4' N; 14^o27,6' W

  • 53^o40,8' N; 14^o15,6' W

  • 53^o34,2' N; 14^o11,4' W

  • 53^o31,8' N; 14^o14,4' W

  • 53^o 24' N; 14^o28,8' W

• North-West Porcupine Bank Area II

  • 53^o43,2' N; 14^o10,8' W

  • 53^o51,6' N; 13^o53,4' W

  • 53^o45,6' N; 13^o49,8' W

  • 53^o36,6' N; 14^o7,2' W

• South-West Porcupine Bank:

  • 51^o54,6' N; 15^o7,2' W

  • 51^o54,6' N; 14^o55,2' W

  • 51^o 42' N; 14^o55,2' W

  • 51^o 42' N; 15^o10,2' W

  • 51^o49,2' N; 15^o 6' W"

13.3 All Pelagic Vessels fishing in the protected areas for corals set out in point 13.2 must be on an authorised list of vessels and be issued with a special fishing permit which must be held onboard. Such permits shall include all information required in Regulation (EC) No 1627/94 and must be notified following the rules defined in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2943/95 setting out detailed rules for applying Regulation (EC) No 1627/94. Vessels included in the authorised list shall carry on board exclusively pelagic gear.

13.4. Pelagic vessels intending to fish in a protected area for corals as set out in point 13.2 must give 4 hours advance notification of their intention to enter a protected area for corals to the Irish FMC. They shall at the same time notify quantities retained on board.

13.5. Pelagic vessels fishing in a protected area for corals as set out in point 13.2 must have an operational, fully functioning secure VMS which complies fully with Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003 when in a protected area for corals.

13.6. Pelagic vessels fishing in a protected area for corals as set out in point 13.2 must make VMS reports every hour.

13.7. Pelagic vessels who have concluded fishing in a protected area for corals as set out in point 13.2 must inform the Irish FMC on departure from the area. They shall at the same time notify quantities retained on board.

13.8. Fishing for pelagic species in a protected area for corals as set out in point 13.2 is restricted to having onboard or fishing with nets with a mesh size in the range of 16 mm to 31 mm or 32 mm to 54 mm.