Conservation of fishery resources: passive gear (17th amend. Regul. 3094/86/EEC)

The proposal for a regulation seeks on the one hand to institute technical measures for passive gear and, on the other, to introduce a provision banning the use of vessels whose engine power exceeds that which is authorized in the flatfish protected area. In practical terms the proposal seeks: - to improve the selectivity of nets for target species or species groups, by laying down suitable minimum mesh sizes which guarantee selectivity and by setting a minimum percentage for these species or species groups which are the object of the fisheries; - to impose a formal ban on the use of vessels whose engine power exceeds 221 kW (300 h.p.) in the flatfish protected area, in order to ensure that offences are effectively prosecuted and thus to help generate respect for the Community regulations. �