Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218
of 6 February 2017
on the Union fishing fleet register

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 Regulation (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, and in particular Article 24(4) thereof,
OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22.
Whereas:
(1) The Union fishing fleet register is a necessary tool for implementing the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. That register should contain all Union fishing vessels.
(2) Currently the rules governing the national fishing fleet registers and the Union fishing fleet register are laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 26/2004.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 of 30 December 2003 on the Community fishing fleet register (OJ L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 25).
(3) Member States should record the information on ownership, on vessel and gear characteristics and on the activity of Union fishing vessels flying their flag and submit to the Commission such information in accordance with Article 24(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. The Commission should maintain a Union fishing fleet register containing the information received from the Member States.
(4) The Member States are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in the national fishing fleet register. To this end the Members States should constantly monitor the quality of such information and ensure that it is regularly updated and can be checked at any time by the Commission through specific queries.
(5) The processing by the Member States' competent authorities of personal data included in the national fishing fleet registers is subject to Union law rules on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, in particular Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, and to the relevant national implementing legislation. The characteristics and external marking recorded in the register kept by each Member State should be specified in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.
Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31).
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86 of 22 September 1986 defining characteristics for fishing vessels (OJ L 274, 25.9.1986, p. 1).
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).
(6) In order to monitor the activities of vessels between Member States and to ensure an unequivocal link between the information contained in the Union fishing fleet register and the data from other information systems relating to fishing activities, a unique identification number should be allocated to each Union fishing vessel, which under no circumstances may be reassigned or altered.
(7) To ensure the effective application of this Regulation it is appropriate to introduce new tools and procedures in order to simplify further data management between Member States and the European Commission and to guarantee access to updated data more frequently.
(8) For the management of the capacity of fishing fleets and their activity, the Union fishing fleet register should be made available to Member States in its entirety and to the public in a limited version. This limited version should exclude personal data in order to protect such data but include fishing vessels identifiers for the purposes of strengthening access to and transparency of information for the public.
(9) Processing of personal data in the framework of this Regulation by the Union institutions and bodies and access by the Member States to the information in the Union fishing fleet register is subject to Union law on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, in particular Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council in particular as regards the requirements of confidentiality and security of processing, the transfer of personal data from the national systems of Member States to the Commission, the lawfulness of processing, and the rights of data subjects to information, access to and rectification of their personal data.
Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1).
(10) The new tool for data exchanges developed by the Commission should be used for all electronic data exchanges.
(11) As Article 24(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 provides that Member States send to the Commission the information on ownership and on vessel and gear characteristics of Union fishing vessels flying their flag, those data should also be included in this Regulation.
(12) Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 should be repealed.
(13) Sufficient time should be given to Member States to adapt their national registers to the new data requirements laid down in this Regulation.
(14) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 Subject matter
 This Regulation determines the minimum information on vessel characteristics and activity which must appear in the United Kingdom fishing fleet register.
Art. 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 2 Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:
(a) ‘fishing vessel’ means any vessel as defined in the Article 4 paragraph 1(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
(b) ...
Art. 2(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(c) ...
Art. 2(c) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(d) ‘aquaculture vessel’ means a vessel equipped exclusively for harvesting, transport, handling and/or landing of aquaculture products;
(e) ‘event’ means any entry to or exit from the fleet of a vessel or change in one of its characteristics as listed in Annex I;
(f) ...
Art. 2(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(g) ...
Art. 2(g) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(h) ...
Art. 2(h) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(i) ...
Art. 2(i) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(j) ‘legal owner’ means any natural or legal person that appears on the vessel's registration documents as having the legal title of ownership of the vessel;
(k) ‘operator’ means a natural or legal person as defined in Article 4(19) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;
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).
(l) ‘United Kingdom fleet register (UKFR) number’ means the unique identification number of the vessel in the United Kingdom fleet;
Art. 2(l) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(m) ‘personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person as defined in Article 2(a) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001;
(n) ...
Art. 2(n) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(o) ‘United Kingdom fishing fleet register’ means the register, kept by the Secretary of State, containing information on all United Kingdom fishing vessels.
Words in Art. 2(o) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(d)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 2(o) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(3)(d)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 3 Scope
This Regulation shall apply to all United Kingdom fishing vessels except aquaculture vessels and blue fin tuna traps.
Words in Art. 3 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 4 Use of the United Kingdom fishing fleet register
The data from the United Kingdom fishing register shall be used for the application of Fisheries Rules.
Words in Art. 4 heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(5)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 4 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(5)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 4 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(5)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 5 Data collection for the United Kingdom fishing fleet register
 A fisheries administration must, jointly with the other fisheries administrations, collect and validate without delay the data referred to in Annex I to enable the Secretary of State to record the same data in the United Kingdom fishing fleet register.
Art. 5 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(6); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 6 Data submission
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Art. 6 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 7 Snapshots
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Art. 7 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 8 United Kingdom fleet register number
(1.  The Secretary of State must assign a United Kingdom fleet register (UKFR) number to any fishing vessel which enters in the United Kingdom fleet for the first time.
(2. The UKFR number must not be altered during the period in which the fishing vessel belongs to the United Kingdom fleet.
(3. The UKFR number must not be reassigned to another vessel. If a fishing vessel is exported outside the United Kingdom and re-imported back into the United Kingdom, the fishing vessel must be reassigned the same UKFR number.
Art. 8 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(8); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 9 Standards for data exchange between the Commission and the Member States
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Art. 9 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 10 Access to vessel data
(1.  The Secretary of State must publish, in such manner as the Secretary of State sees fit, a limited version of the United Kingdom fishing fleet register which does not contain personal data.
(2. The limited version of the register published under paragraph 1 must be updated at least once a month to update any event of which the Secretary of State is aware.
Art. 10 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(10); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 11 Personal data
The processing, management and use of data collected under this Regulation which contain personal data shall comply with data protection legislation.
Words in Art. 11 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 12 Repeal
Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 is repealed.

Article 13 Entry into force
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Art. 13 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
...
Words in Signature omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Done at Brussels, 6 February 2017.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude Juncker

ANNEX I Definition of data and description of a registration
Name of data	Definition and comments		Compulsory (C)/Compulsory if (CIF)/Optional (O) Detailed rules are available in the Vessel Implementation Document on the Master Data Register (MDR) of the Commission Fisheries website: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/control/codes/index_en.htm
. . .	. . .		. . .
UKFR	Unique identification number of a fishing vessel in the United Kingdom fishing fleet register		C
UVI	Unique Vessel Identifier (IMO number) pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 404/2011		CIF
Event	Code Codes (or appropriate references) are listed on the Master Data Register (MDR) of the Commission Fisheries website: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/control/codes/index_en.htm identifying the type of event reported		C
Date of event In the case of a fleet census, this is 1.1.1989. For all other types of event, the date of the official document recording the event must be notified.	Date on which event occurred		C
Registration number	The registration number ...		O
External marking	Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 404/2011		CIF
Name of vessel	The registered name of the fishing vessel		C
Place of registration	Code identifying the place (mainly a port) where the vessel is registered		CIF
IRCS	International radio call sign		CIF
IRCS indicator	Vessel with an international radio on board — code		C
Licence indicator	Vessel with a fishing licence according to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 — code		CIF
VMS indicator	Vessel Monitoring System — code. Vessel with a satellite monitoring system in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Articles 18-28 of Regulation (EU) No 404/2011		CIF
ERS indicator	Vessel with an Electronic Reporting (logbook) System in in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Articles 29 and following of Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 — code		CIF
AIS indicator	Vessel with an Automatic Identification System in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 — code		CIF
MMSI	Maritime Mobile Service Identity		O
Vessel Type	In accordance with the International Standard Statistical Classification of Fishery Vessels (ISSCFV) — code		CIF
Main fishing gear Fishing gear considered to be the one most frequently used on board the vessel for a fishing period of a year or for a fishing campaign.	In accordance with the International Standard Statistical Classification of Fishing Gear (ISSCFCG) — code		C
Subsidiary fishing gear Up to five gears may be declared.	In accordance with the International Standard Statistical Classification of Fishing Gear (ISSCFCG) — code		C
LOA	Length Over All in metres, defined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1130		CIF
LBP	Length Between Perpendiculars in metres, defined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1130		CIF
Tonnage GT	In GT, defined in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1130		CIF
Other tonnage	In tonnes according to the Oslo Convention ...		CIF
GTs	In GT, an increase in tonnage permitted on ground of safety (historical data).		CIF
Power of main engine	In kW, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1130		C
Power of auxiliary engine	In kW. Includes all installed engine power not included under the heading ‘Power of main engine’		C
Hull material	Material of the hull — code		C
Date of entry into service	In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1130		C
Segment	Code		C
Country of importation/exportation	Code		CIF
Type of export	Code		CIF
Public aid	Code		CIF
Date of construction	Date when the construction has started.		CIF
For contacts/legal owner Up to five contacts may be registered.	Name	Natural person: name, first name Legal person: name	CIF
	Legal Person Indicator	‘Y’ for a legal person, ‘N’ for a natural person — code	O
	Street The address based on the street, PO box, city, post code and country must be sufficiently clear for the fleet contact to be contacted.	Street name and box	CIF
	PO box	Post-office box	O
	City	City name	O
	Post code	Post code	O
	Country	Country — code	O
	Phone number	International phone number	O
	Fax number	International fax number	O
	Email address	Email address	O
	Nationality	Nationality of the contact — code	O
	IMO company identifier	IMO unique company and registered legal owner Identification number	O
For contacts/operator	Name	Natural person: name, first name Legal person: name	CIF
	Legal Person Indicator	‘Y’ for a legal person, ‘N’ for a natural person — code	O
	Street	Street name and box	CIF
	PO box	Post-office box	O
	City	City name	O
	Post code	Post code	O
	Country	Country — code	O
	Phone number	International phone number	O
	Fax number	International fax number	O
	Email address	Email address	O
	Nationality	Nationality of the contact — code	O
	IMO company identifier	IMO unique company and registered legal owner Identification number	O
Words in Annex 1 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Annex 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(b)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Annex 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(b)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Word in Annex 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(g); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Annex 1 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Annex 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Annex 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Annex 1 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(13)(f); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

ANNEX II Date of census fixed by country
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Annex 2 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Common Fisheries Policy (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/739), regs. 1, 33(14); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)