Esta es la versión HTML de un fichero adjunto a una solicitud de acceso a la información 'Access to information regarding total allowable catches (TACs) of EU fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic discussed and adopted on 17 and 18 December 2018, and exemptions from the landing obligation'.



 
Ref. Ares(2018)3458435 - 29/06/2018
Ref. Ares(2019)2387732 - 04/04/2019
 
 
High survival exemption for plaice caught by TR2 vessels 
using Trammel Nets in ICES areas VIId and VIIe 
 

Request under Article 15.4(b) of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 to exempt from the landing 
obligation plaice caught by trammel nets in ICES areas VIId and VIIe.
 
Summary 
Article 15.4(b) of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy states that 
the landing obligation shall not apply to: 
“species for which scientific evidence demonstrates high survival rates, taking into 
account the characteristics of the gear, of the fishing practises and of the 
ecosystem;” 
In response to industry’s view that Plaice has a high rate of survival, the Centre for 
Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) was commissioned to carry out a 
number studies on high survivability of Plaice. This study was undertaken by Cefas in the 
Eastern Channel trammel net fishery  
The North Western Waters regional group notes that scientific evidence demonstrates a 
survivability rate of 73% for plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) caught by TR2 vessels using 
trammel nets in area VIIe and recommends that catches of Plaice caught in areas VIId and 
VIIe should be exempt from the landing obligation on grounds of high survival rates, as 
provided for by Article 15.4(b) Regulation (EU) 1380/2013. This will reduce the risk of 
vessels being prevented from continuing to fish at sea due to their low Plaice quota.   
 
Key Information 
Exemption target:  Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) 
Exemption grounds: 
High survivability. 
Survivability rates: 
73%  
Vessels affected: 
87 
Discard rate: 
32% 
2018 UK TAC: 
3,014 

 
 


 
 
 
Fishery 
In 2017, 87 vessels registered in the UK caught plaice with Trammel Nets in area VIId and 
VIIe, with a total catch of 62 tonnes. The discard rate for the stock in area VIId and VIIe is 
currently at 32%. An estimated 19.8 tonnes will be discarded in 2018. The survival rate in 
the study is 64%, which would indicate that around 14.3 tonnes of the discarded Plaice will 
survive.  
Study 
The vessel used in this study was 9.8m in length, with a width of 3.8m, a draught of 1.8m 
and powered by a 147 horsepower diesel engine. The vessel operated out of Sovereign 
Harbour, near Eastbourne, fishing the Eastern Channel (see Figure 1). Plaice are caught 
as a bycatch species, mostly during targeted sole fishing. 
For this study fishing took place in the Pevensey Bay area of ICES Division VIId, with a 
fishing day lasting about 8 hours.  
 

 
 


 
 
 
 
Figure 1. The locations of the hauls observed in this study (Case 4) on plaice high survival in 
trammel nets.  

Data collection 
All plaice caught were recorded by length. Each individual fish was measured and scored 
using a predefined assessment protocol developed methods described in the ICES 
WKMEDS 2014 report and refined in the Cefas laboratory using aquarium kept plaice. 
Vitality was assess using a semi-quantitative assessment of activity and a quantitative 
reflex and injury scoring method. 
Vitality assessment 
A total of 1004 plaice were caught. Fish were held in captivity for 168-342h. Table 1 sets 
out the vitality assessment of the plaice catch, and its relevant high survival probability.  
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
Table 1: Survivability and catch profile of study by vitality assessment for plaice. 
 
Proportion of fish at each 
Survivability probability 
Vitality assessment 
vitality  
(%) 
Excellent 
0.68 
80.3 
Good 
0.29 
71 
Poor 
0.10 

Moribund 
0.20 

N.B. No plaice were categorised as Dead. Insufficient catches of Poor and Moribund plaice to 
investigate high survivability.  

 

 
 


 
 
 
 
 
Figure 2. Length frequencies of plaice in trammel net catches and held for observation 
 
Results 
From the extension models used in the study, because the rate of mortality had reduced 
within the observation time, the forecast survival estimate was comparable at 71.1-71.9% 
The study identified a number of potential stressors on the captive fish associated with the 
methodology in this study, which are likely to have resulted in experimental induced 
mortality and therefore underestimated survival. Specifically these stressors included: 
 
  Handling fish to conduct the vitality assessments, length measurements and to put 
fish into the on-board tanks  
  Captivity in the on-board tanks (movement caused by vessel movement; proximity 
with other fish; serial flow of water from top to bottom tank)  
  Stopping water flow to on-board tanks on approach to port until docked (reducing 
dO2)  
  Transfer of fish into tubs (handling of fish)  

 
 

 
 
 
  Carrying tubs off the vessel and transporting, by van, to onshore holding tanks 
(increased temperature, reduced dO2, movement)  
  Handling the fish to transfer into onshore tanks  
  Adjusting to salinity and temperature  
  Monitoring captive fish using tail grab 
 
Conclusion 

The UK believes that the fishing practices in this study resulting in survival rates of 72% for 
bycatches  of  Plaice  are  representative  of  general  fishing  practices  by  the  vessels  using 
trammel nets in ICES areas VIId & VIIe. 
 
On this basis we would like to request a high survival exemption for plaice caught by 
trammel nets in ICES Areas VIId & VIIe. 
 
Further information on this study can be found in Annex A under case study 4 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Table 5: Completed STECF table for high survivability proposal 
Country 
Exemption 
Species as 
Number of 
Landings (by  Estimated 
Estimated 
Discard Rate  Estimated 
applied for 
bycatch or 
vessels 
landing 
Discards 
Catch 
discard 
(species, area, 
target 
subject to 
obligation 
survival rate 
gear type) 
the landing 
subject 
from 
obligation  
vessels) 
provided 
studies 

UK 
Plaice  
By catch  
87 
62t 
33.3t 
104.16t 
32% 
73% 
Area VIId and 
VIIe 
TR2 vessels 
using Trammel 
nets 
 
 
 

 

Document Outline