This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Access to Member State documents on implementation of the landing obligation in 2016'.


Ref. Ares(2017)3197563 - 26/06/2017
Malta’s feedback for the Questionnaire to MS on the implementation of the landing 
obligation 
Steps taken by Member States and producer organisations to comply with the landing obligation 
 
No 
Question 
Input 
1. 
Have you initiated, supported, participated in or 
Yes. With regard to measures: Closure of nursery areas as per GFCM 
implemented any measures and/or studies 
Recommendation GFCM/40/2016/4 has been observed. 
relating to the avoidance of unwanted catches 
through spatial or temporal changes to fishing 
behaviour (for example, studies/pilots on real 
time closures)? Yes/No 
Please specify the measures taken or studies. 
 
2. 
Which fleet segments/fisheries do these measures  Otter Bottom Trawls 
and/or studies apply to? 
 

What has the uptake of these measures and/or 
All Vessels 
studies been in the fleet segments/fisheries to 
 
which they are applicable? Please provide the 
number and proportion of vessels in the 
segment/fishery. 
 
4. 
Have you initiated any changes to your quota 
Not Applicable 
management system to implement the landing 
obligation? Yes/No 
 
Please specify these changes. 
 
 
5. 
For stocks managed through catch limits, have 
Not Applicable 
you conducted a quantitative analysis to 

 

identify potential national choke issues? Yes/No 
Please give details. 
 
6. 
Have you pursued any exemptions to the landing  Yes. Malta has the possibility of applying exemptions under the ‘De 
obligation (either for high survival or de 
Minimis’ for the Lampara fishery as per Regulation (EU) 1392/2014. 
minimis) in the development of regional joint 
However it should be noted that in this fishery it has been noted that no 
recommendations? Yes/No 
undersized fish are normally caught and that the primary destination of the 
 
products are for feed in tuna farms, i.e., non-human consumption. 
Please give details of each exemption pursued. 
 
 
 
 
 
7. 
What studies or evidence have you collected or 
Evidence has been based on observations and records collected by 
produced in order to support such a request. 
observers on board. 
 
8. 
What steps have you taken to ensure the amount 
Monitoring of logbooks and landings made in the presence of inspectors. 
discarded under granted de minimis exemptions 
does not exceed the permitted volume in the 
delegated act? 
 
9. 
What has been the utilisation of any granted de 
No discards were recorded. The majority of catches are used as feed for 
minimis exemptions in the fleet segment/flshery 
Tuna farms. 
to which the exemption applies? Please provide 
the total weight and proportion of catch 
discarded under this exemption for each fleet 
segment/fishery to which an exemption applies. 
 
10.  Have any of your vessels utilised the provision to  The provision to discard damaged fish has not been utilised. 
discard fish which shows damage caused by 
 
predators? Yes/No 
 

 

 
 
Please provide the total weight of catch of each 
Not Applicable 
species discarded for each fleet 
segment/fishery concerned. 
 
11. 
For stocks managed by catch limits, did you 
Not Applicable 
make use of the provisions for inter-annual or 
inter-species flexibility? Yes/No 
 
Please identify which flexibility (or flexibilities) 
was used, and the corresponding reallocation of 
fishing opportunities for the stocks concerned. 
 
12. 
In the development of joint recommendations, 
Yes, Malta has participated in meetings with MEDAC in view of the 
has consultation with Advisory Councils 
Landing Obligation. 
and other relevant stakeholders taken place? 
 
Yes/No 
Meetings with stakeholders were carried out through MEDAC where 
 
fishermen were invited to air their views and deliver advice according to 
Please outline the process of consultation with 
their experience at sea. 
Advisory Councils. 
 
Please outline the process of consultation with 
other stakeholders, if relevant. 
 
13. 
Following the adoption of the delegated act for a  YES. A letter explaining the landing obligation was sent to each licence 
discard plan, have steps been taken to 
holder authorised for the lampara fishery.  
ensure adequate understanding among 
stakeholders of their obligations under the 
provisions of the act? Yes/No 
 
Please outline the process of ensuring 
stakeholders understand the obligations that will 

 

apply to them. 
 
14. 
Are there any other steps not covered by the 
No. 
questions above that you have carried out to 
effect compliance with the provisions of the 
landing obligation? Yes/No 
 
Please specify the measures taken. 
 
15 
Which fleet segments/fisheries do these 
Not Applicable 
studies/pilots apply to? 
 
16. 
What has the uptake been of these measures in 
100% of the Lampara Fleet. 
the fleet segments/fisheries to which they 
are applicable? Please provide the number and 
proportion of vessels in the segment/fishery. 
 
17. 
Has information been provided by Member 
Fishermen have been advised that landings of the Lampara Fishery have to 
States administrations and control agencies to 
be carried out  in the presence of an Officer from the fisheries competent 
fishermen? Yes/no 
authority for accurate recording of the catches landed. 
 
In what format has this information taken: 
• Initiatives directed to fishermen to improve 
compliance 
• Guidelines on the application of the landing 
obligation, accurate recording of 
catches, etc. 
• Other 
 
18. 
Have guidelines been provided by Member 
Yes – 100% of landings and a number of outlets involving the reference 
States administrations and control agencies 
species were inspected and the cases were followed up accordingly. 
for inspectors? Yes/no 
 

 

 
Landing obligations are outlined regularly during briefing meetings. 
In what format has this information taken: 
• Delivery of guidelines for inspectors on the 
effective and uniform application of 
the landing obligation. 
 
Seminars and trainings organised for presenting 
the guidelines to inspectors at national and 
regional level. 
19. 
Have new control and monitoring tools been 
No 
used by Member States? Yes/no 
Please supply information on: 
 
• Control tools used in the context of landing 
obligation, i.e. REM, traditional 
systems (aerial surveillance, inspections at sea), 
reference fleets, etc. 
 
• Steps towards implementation of new tools, 
including electronic monitoring means dedicated 
to implementation of landing obligation, haul-by-
haul recording, etc. 
 
20. 
Have the Member state administrations and 
Yes 
control authorities monitored below Minimum 
 
Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) catches at    
and after landing (traceability)? Yes/No 
 
 
 
 
Please supply information on: 
Inspections at landing. 
 

 

 
No catches below the minimum conservation reference size of a species 
subject to the landing obligation were registered 
• Total number of discards (by fishery, fleet 
 
segment) from 2013 to 2016 
 
 
 
Inspections at the markets. 
• Initiatives taken to prevent under MCRS 
catches from reaching the commercial 
channels (pre-notification of landings of under 
MCRS catches, etc.). 
 
• Measures taken to monitor landings at fish 
markets/auctions adopted. 
 
21. 
Has control and monitoring been based on risk 
No  
assessment? Yes/no 
 
 
 
Please supply information on the risk assessment   
tools used and the results obtained, 
100% inspections of landings from Lampara and Trawlers 
including those implemented by the regional 
Control Expert Groups in cooperation with 
EFCA. 
 
22.  Has the “last observed haul” approach elaborated  No 
by EFCA as a tool for monitoring the 
implementation of the landing obligation and to 
derive potential targets for inspection 
been used? Yes/No 

 

 
Please give details of the fisheries covered and 
the extent of sampling. 
 
23. 
Using the most appropriate indicators defined 
None to date. 
below, provide information on the 
socioeconomics 
impacts on: 
 
• The catching sector 
 
• Upstream businesses 
 
• Processors 
 
• Consumption and markets 
 
• Costs for Member States 
 
24. 
Have there been any reported incidents of 
No 
overloading of vessels causing stability 
problems? Yes/No 
 
Please specify the number and nature of such 
incidents. 
 
Can you quantify these in terms of: 
 
• Number of deaths or serious injuries 
 
• No of vessels involved as a % of the specific 
fleet segment 

 

 
25. 
Have there been any reported incidents of 
No 
overloading of vessels forcing them to return 
 
to port early? Yes/No 
 
 
 
Please specify the number and nature of such 
No 
incidents. 
 
26. 
Have there been any reported incidents or 
No 
accidents on board vessels that can be 
 
attributable to excessive workload? Yes/No 
 
 
 
Please specify the number and nature of such 
Not Applicable 
incidents or accidents. 
 
27. 
Has any national legislation relating to safety on 
No 
board fishing vessels arising from the 
landing obligation been amended or introduced? 
Yes/No 
 
Please provide details of this legislation. 
 
28. 
Have you provided or received any funding 
No 
under Article 32 (Health and safety) of 
EMFF or Article 3 (Eligible operations on safety) 
and Article 6 (Eligible operations on 
working conditions) of Commission Delegated 
Regulation (EU) 2015/531 to mitigate against 
potential safety issues caused by the landing 
obligation? Yes/No 
 
If yes, please specify the number of projects 

 

involved and the nature of the measures 
taken. 
 
If no, have any measures been taken which have 
not been funded under the EMFF? 
 
29. 
What have been the main reported uses and 
Not Applicable 
destinations for catches below mcrs? 
 
 
 
Can you quantify these catches by species in 
No 
terms of volumes, price per tonne and 
associated costs for the different outlets such 
catches have been sent? 
 
30.  Have you carried out any studies or pilot projects  No 
considering the potential uses for such 
catches? Yes/No 
 
Please provide details of such studies or pilot 
projects. 
 
 
31. 
Have you provided funding under Article 38 of 
No 
the EMFF for modifications on board 
vessels for the handling of catches on board? 
Yes/No 
 
Please specify the number, nature and total 

 

amount invested in such projects. 
32.  Have you provide funding under Article 43 of the  Yes – request for funds still in progress 
EMFF for investment in the 
infrastructure of fishing ports, auction halls and 
 
shelters for the handling of unwanted 
Cold Storage Facilities for the conservation of seized undersized fish. 
catches? Yes/No 
 
 
 
Please specify the number, nature and total 
EU Funds 
amount invested in such projects. 
 
 
Name of Project: The Construction and Finishing of an Office on the Fish 
Landing Site in the Marsaxlokk Designated Port
 
 
Funding: EMFF Funds 
Budget: E 249,950 exc vat (Public Eligible) 
 
 
33. 
Have you provide funding under Articles 68 and  No 
69 of the EMFF for investment in 
marketing measures and the processing of fishery 
and aquaculture products? Yes/No 
 
Please specify the number, nature and total 
amount invested in such projects. 
 
34. 
Please provide information on the following: 
None as discards have been few at the moment. 
Operational difficulties, such as: 
 
• Avoidance and/or selectivity insufficient to 
avoid unwanted catches 
 
10 
 

• Handling, storage and processing of unwanted 
catches 
 
• Lack of funding to adapt fishing gears, vessels 
or port infrastructure 
 
Difficulties relating to monitoring, control and 
enforcement, such as: 
• Lack of understanding or awareness of the rules 
 
• Difficulties implementing and monitoring de 
minimis or high survivability Exemptions 
 
• Implementation problems with regard to 
control/monitoring processes or 
infrastructure (e.g. adaptation of ERS systems) 
 
• Refusal to carry observers 
 
Difficulties in fully utilising fishing 
opportunities, such as: 
 
• Problems re-allocating quota to cover catches 
previously not landed 
 
• Problems with the timing or availability of 
quota swaps 
 
• Fisheries being forced to close early due to 
choke problems 
 
 
 
 
11 
 

 
12