Rules of Fishery and Conservation of Fish Resources within the Economic Zone of the Republic of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea

DATA BASE Record N° 001809 The Rules are confirmed by the order of Environmental Protection Department of the Republic of Lithuanian dated May 1st, 1992 Rules of Fishery and Conservation of Fish Resources within the Economic Zone of the Republic of Lithuanian in the Baltic Sea I. General l.The Rules of Fishery and Conservation of Fish Resources Within the Economic Zone of the Republic of Lithuanian, hereinafter referred to as the Rules, shall apply to the waters of the economic zone of the Republic of Lithuanian, hereinafter referred to as the Economic Zone. The boundaries of the Economic Zone are determined by agreements with neighbouring states. The Economic Zone is located in Sub-division 26(according to the division accepted by the International Counci 1 for the Exploration of the Sea ICES) and is divided into fishery zones and rectangles. 2.The present. Rules regulate the utilization of fish resources and resources of other fauna species. hereinafter referred to as the fishery, by legal entities and natural persons. hereinafter referred to as the utilizers of fish resources. 3.The Environmental ProtectioQ Department of the Republic of Li thuanian shall annually determine the catch quotas and regulate fishery. After a determined quota for a certain fish species has been used up, specialized fishery for the said species shall cease and the by-catch of the said species in specialized fishery for other species shall not exceed 5% by weight of the total catch. . 4.The Fishery Management and Pisciculture Agency of the Environmental' Protection Department of the Republic of Lithuanian shall preserve the fish resource~ and shall issue fishing licences. 5.Fishery shall be considered specialized when landed fish of a certain species make up over 50% by weight of the total catch. 6.The utilizers of fish resources shall: 6.1. Not exceed the quotas, determined to the utilizer for• individual fish species and fishing areas; 6.2. Mark the fishing gear so that it can be identified; 6.3.Conduct accounting on fish landing and reception according to species and shall indicate the proportions of species by weight within catches and the fishing area (zone and rectangle) and shall also provide required data to the Fishery Management and Pisciculture Agency (see Appendix 1) as follows: 2 sha II have Inspectors. the harbou r. a vo i d o r re du ce ne ga t i v e of t h e Environmental P r o t e c t ion their o wn expense. est i mat e the of their econ om ic act ivi t y on shall p r o v i d e appropr iate 6. L i t h u a n i n u t i I iz e rs not l a t e r than the 10 th da y o f ev ery mon t h fo r the per i o d f rom the b e g i n n ing of the ye ar to the l as t da y of the pre v i ou s month: fo reig n u t i I i z e r s not l at e r t han 15 da)'s a ft e r the mo n t h e x p i r e s o r upon cessation of f i s hi n g thnt year f o r the per i od fr om the beg in n ing o f the y e a r : At t h e req uest o f e n vi r o nme n t inspe ct ors. provide a ll k inds o f data rel a t ed with f ish ing i n the Econ omic Zo n e : 6.5. At th e reque st De pa r t me n t. at poss ible i mpac t environment and d ocumentation; 6.6 . Implement mea s ure s so a s t o impact o n enVirol1ment; 6.7. Shou Id d a n ge r to e nv i ronrnent become i mmi n e n t , t a e measures s o as to avoid the d s n ge r o r , s ho u l d n~gative consequences arise. immediate ly take measure s t o e lim inate them and i nf o r m competent env ironment off icia ls and inst llut o ns : 6 .8 . Fulfil l l e g i tima t e demand s of authorized e n v i r nnme n t i n s t i t u t i o n s and officia ls. 7.The masters and mates on duty o f vesse ls conducting fi sh in • cat c h processing or transportat ion sha ll: .1 . At the req uest of environment inspectors a c cept the m aboard. shift them to other ve ssels within the same area. permit to i n s p e c t all the r o o ms of the vessel. p r e s e n t for checking the cat ch and fish ing gear , the d o c ume nt a t i o n o f the vessel and assist i n the course of i n s pec t i o n : 7 . 2 . Provi d e an opportun ity to environment Ins pe c t o r s to make ex t r a c t s from fishing logs. l o g - bo o k s and other d o c ume n t s related with fishing or , at the i n s p e c t o r' s d e ma n d . present su ch extracts prepared in ad Vance; 7 .J . Transmit, f r e e of charge. through the vesse l 's rad i o s t a t i o n official r a di o g r a ms and c o mmu ni c a ti o n s of environment inspectors; 7. 4. En s u r e the presence of d ist in c t registrat io n n umbers ( o r names) on the sides of fish in vesse ls; 7 . 5. The masters o f vessels belonging to foreign companies shal l send to the Kl a i pe d a Marine Inspection of the f ishery Management and Piscicu lture Agency Reports on Entering and Leav ing the Economic lone i n due form Isee Appendix 2 1. 3 .Th e masters and. in their absence. the mates a bo a r d and. at the request of e nv i ronment prese nt. both i n the fishing grounds and i n the f ol l ow i n g s : 8 .1. A fishing I i c e n c e : masters of L i t h u a n i a' s v e s s e l s also an appropriate va lid f ishing ticket; 8.2. A fishing and technological log, fil led according to the rU les regulat ing f illing of the said logs. J The fi s hin g l o g s of f o r ei g n vesse ls fishing i n the Econom i c Zo ne , s ha I I be fil led in and d a t a in t hem s ha ll be presented a c c ord ing to the r c c o rn me nd a t io ns o f t he t n t e r n a t ional Ba l t i c Se a fi she r y Co mmi s s io n (IBSfC) . I See Appen d i x 3 I. 8. J . The receip s of fish d e l i v e r i e s or conf irmed co p i e s of t he re ceipt s. Th e co p i e s o f r e c e o t ion-de livery r ece i p t s c o n f i rmed by t he ma s t e r s ha ll be kep t a board f o r a mo nt tI and f i s hin g 10 s fo r ewe I v e mo n t hs t r om t he date o f t he La st entr y. 9.T tle Fishe r y Mana gemen t and pi sci culture Agen cy of th e Environmen tal Protection Department s ha l L be enti tled to: 9.1. TemporariL y prohibit or restrict fi shing i n certain are a s of t h e Economic Zo n e ; 9. 2. Du e to h ydrometeorological cond iti on s to announce t he close d season up t o 15 days e a r Li e r o r Later ( e x c e p t t he cLosed season s determined b)' t he IBSFCl; the overa ll duration of the closed season , however, shall remain unchanged. f is hi n is pro h ibited on both the fir st and the last d ay of t h e closed season; 9.3. f o r fish breed ing and sc i e n tif i c p urposes a llow fi sh ing us ing gear and me t ho d s not spe c ified i n the present Rules and, upon approval o f the Environmenta . Protect ion Department. determ ine the amount and types of f is h ing vessels and gear to be allowed i n the Econorn i c Zone . 9. 4 . Upo n a p p r cv a l of the ne pa r t men t o f En v i r o nme n t determ ine the procedure for est imat ine fish resources and the terms for ut ilizing the fish resources ( al l o t me n t of financ ial r e s o u r c es for fi sh- breeding and o t h e r measures directed at preservation o f the resources and reproduction) . II. Prohibitions Genera l Prohibitions IO . Wi t hi n the Economi c Zone it is proh ibited: lO.I.When receiving (or delivering) the catch to change the names of f ish or not to indicate their species; IO.2.When est imating the catches and presenting report s about them to wr o n g l y indicate the amounts l a nd e d . the fishing area and the method o f fishing: 10 .J .To use for f ishing purposes vessels larger than 3 2 In in length or hav ing en i ne s more powerfu l than 600h.p . IO.4.To have aboard gear ready for fishing the usage of wh ich i n that area or at that time i s prohibited. Traw ls shal l be considered not ready fo r use i f: the trawL boards are made fast to the outer or i n n e r s ide of the bulwark or the al lows: sweep 1 i n e s or wraps are uns hack l e d from the trawl boards or weights. from ca tc h. in 4 8o nCe t heo f l e ast fishery Man ag eme n t and use f i sh i n g ge ar of e ss e n ti a l ly new f i sh i riK t h e t o a nd det er i o r a t i o n be c he cked a t u nd er a l a s he d cov e r : are ke p t in c losed boxes . gear s ha l l be ke pt separated Pu r s e r s e i n c s ha l l be c o n s i d e red not read y f or use if the bo tt o m wire i s un shackled fr o m the seine. Gea r f or Sa lm o n fi sh i ng sha ll be con s ide r ed no t r eady f o r u s e i f : the ne ts a r e st owed t he l ine s an d hook s Th e a l l o wed re s er v e the ge a r i n u s e; I D . S . To u s e fi s h i ng g e n r wi tho u t ma rk i ng i t with mar ks o f a st a n d a r d t y pe. IO .6 .To co nduc t fi she r y f o r i ndus t r ia l p u rp o se s a n d a n i mal fodde r . I n cer t ai n cases ( when part o f t h e c atch is of infer ior qu a lit y no t s u i t abl e f o r huma n c on s ump t ion . f or f e edi ng animal s of t h e Sec-Muse um. t he Zo o. e t c v ) no t mo r e t ha n 10% fr om t h e to t a l ca tc h of Herring a nd Sp rat ca n be use d f o r th e sa id p u rposes . In orde r t o avo id flo a t l ns g e a r s ho u I d hou r s . IO.i . wi tho u t a pp r ova l o f Pisc icu lt u re Age n c y e s s e n t i e l l v ne w d e s (gn me t ho d s; 10. 8 . To u s e e x p l os i ve. tox i c o r nar c ot i c s u bsta n ces f o r c a t Ch in g fi sh : 10.9.To d isca rd th e ca tc h . I ts pa r t o r offa l by t hrowin g over bo ar d . • Prohi b i tio rl period s a nd a r e as . I I . I t is pr ohi b ite d t o f i sh f o r a nd to re tain on b oa rd : 11.I.f l a t f is h - fr om I to 30 AP ril. T h e a llowed by- cat c h o f f l at fis h irl fi sh in g f o r Cod . t e ke n during the pe r iod when Ll s h l n g f o r f la tfis h is p r ohib ited, s h a l l b e dete rmi ne d b y t he f i s her y Re g u l ation an d f is h - Bree d ing Agen c y . ll.2. Tu r bot a nd Bril l - f rom 1 June to 3 1 Jul y . 12 . l'i ,shin g f o r s al mon and See Trout i n t he S e a ..... i t h d r i ft i n g ne t s Is pr o hi b ited from 15 J u n e to l5 September. a nd with dr i f t i ng lines and anchore d l i ne s fro m I April to 15 Nov e mbe r . P rohi bi t e d fi sh i n g gea r. re f ers t o ~i l l ne t s us ed 13 . l t i s pro h i b it e d t o use: lJ.I- Wh e n conducting special ized me sh open ing l e s s t h a n fi sheri e s li sted be 10""' : Cod -I 0 5mm T his minimum mes h- si z e a l s o in the Ba l t i c Co d f i s he r y . f l a t f i s h - I I Omm f i s he r y t r a w ls t hat s pe ci fi ed havi ng II f or t he 5 13.2.Drifting nets in Salmon fishery having a mesh opening less than indicated below: when the net is made of natural fibres - 165mm when the net is made of synthetic fibres -157mm To determine the mesh size durable ,a flat wedge shaped gauge 2mm thick is used, made of any durable material with a taper of 2cm in 8cm and with width inscribed on its face. The gauge shall be inserted into the mesh opening of a wet net in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the net and pushed with manual force until is stopped by the resistance of the mesh. The mesh size shall be determined by gauging the average of 20 consecutive meshes in the direction of the long axis of the net at least 10 meshes away (but not less than 50cm away) from lacings and the rear edge of the codend. 13.3.Trawls having the mesh spacing less than that specified below, in conducting specialized fishery for: Herring -18mm Sparling -16mm Sprat -10mm 13.4.Floating nets having the mesh spacing less than that specified below, in conducting specialized fishery for: Herring and Sparling -16mm Sprat -llmm The mesh spacing in the gear specified under Items 13.3 and 13.4 of the present Rules shall' be determined by measuring 11 knots of the net while wet gripped together and dividing the obtained value by 10. 14. It is prohibited to attach to fishing gear devices which may reduce the size of meshes. In order to prevent wear of trawl fabric it shall be allowed: to attach to the lower part of the codend canvas, netting, leather or other material; to use strengthening bags of the same or thicker material than the conical and cylindrical parts of the codend. having meshes at least twice as large as those of the codend but not less than 80mrn if the meshes of the codend are under 40mm. The strengthening bag may be attached along t he forward and rear edges of the codend ,laced circumferentially to the codend or laced longitudinally along the codend. It is also allowed to use in trawls and Danish seines a flapper with meshes less than those of the codend, attached either inside the codend or in front of the codend. The distance from the point of forward attachment of the flapper to the rear end of the codend shall be at least three times the length of the flapper. 15. In special ized fishing for Salmon and Sea Trout it is prohibited: 6 15.l.To cast more than 600 drifting nets from a single vessel at a time and to use nets over 35m in length, measured in the headropej 15.2.To use at a time per vessel drifting lines and anchored lines the total number of hooks on which exceeds 2,000; 15.J.To keep aboard any individual fishing vessel over 100 reserve nets or over 200 reserve hooks for linesj 15.4.To use hooks having a gap (the minimum distance between the shaft and the point) less than 19mm. The Size of Fish to Be Taken 33 21 30 60 35 (a) (b) The total length of fish is determined by (a) measuring the fish from the tip of the snout (with mouth closed) to the base of the central rays of the tail fin, and (b) measuring the fish from the tip of the snout (with mouth closed) to the extreme end of the, tail fin. 16.It is prohibited to fish for, collect, process or store fish having, when fresh, a total length l e s s than specified below (in cm): Cod 30 Flounder and Plaice 18 Turbot and Brill 25 Salmon and Sea Trout 50 Herring 14 Sparling 10 Sprat 8 'Ee I , III. The By-Catch of the Undersized Fish 17.When fishing in the Economic Zone the following by-catches of undersized fish are allowed: 17.1. Cod - not more than 5% of the weight of the total catch, subsequent to each individual inspection, of fishing gear; 17.2.Herring and Sprat - not more than 15% from the total amount of fish of each speciesj If more than 15% of undersized fish of the said species are landed in a certain area, the officials of the Fishery Management and Pisciculture Agency must prohibit fishery in this area; 18.Should more undersized fish than allowed by the present Rules be accidentally caught, the Master shall immediately inform the Klaipeda Marine Inspection of the Fishery Management and Pisciculture Agency about it. The accidental catch shall be delivered according to the standard procedure. Responsibility for the Infringement of the Rules 19.The persons who infringed the present Rules shall answer as specified by the lows of the Republic of Lithuanian. actions wh ich Ru le s and in p revent s u c h speci fied by 7 20.ln cas e of repeated or flagr ant i nf ri nge men t o f the Rules. the of ric ill Is of the Env i r u nrne n t a l Protect i o n Department may se ize the fishI ng tIC e t or t he fis h i ng l icence. t n f r i n g eme n t sha ll b e consi dered r e p e at ed if committ ed a s e c o nd ti me within a y ear from t he fi rst i n Lr i ng eme n t . fis hery usi n g proh ibited ear a n d me t hods. fi sher y in the prohib it ion a reas a nd du r ing t he proh ibition per iods. fis he ry for f ish species fish in g f o r wh i ch is p r o hi b it e d . f i s he r y wi tho u t a l i c e n c e and qu o t a . as we l l e s o the r infringemen t of f i s h e r )' r u les t h a t ha s b r o u g h t abo u t g rea t d a m ge to fish r e s ou r c e s sha ll be co nsid e red fl a g r a n t infringement. 2 l , Of fic i a Ls who gave i nst r u c ti on s o r pe rf o r med r e s u l t e d i n the i n f r i n g e ee n r of t he p resent d ue t ime did not t a ' e measures to i n f ri n ge me n t s shal l be made answerable as competent a u tho rit ies, 22.A t the r e q u e s t of fin o fficial of the EnvIro nmen ta l Pro tec tio n Depart me n t the i n f rin g er sha l l r e mo v e fro m wa te r the fis hing ear use d i n v i ol ation of t h e present Ru l es a t his own expe nse. convey s uch gea r a nd i ll e g i ti m te ly cau gh t f ish or inver tebra tes. or ob t a ine d produce t o II p l a c e i ndicat ed by th e o f fic ial , o r e l s e it sha l l be done a t t h e i n fr in~e r 's e x pen se. 23. The infr i n g e r s s ha l I r e i mbu r s e t he damag e do ne wh e n i l Le g i t Ima t e l y fi sh i ng, e x t ermin a ting or Ob t ai ning fi sh i n the Economic Zo ne as s pe ci f ied b y t he Rates (see Appe nd i x 4 1 . Th e damages s hal l b e paid i n favour of t h e Env i ro nment fund, • 24 . T he fis h ca ught i n vio l ation of t h e pr ese nt Rules . regardless of wh e re t he )' were di scovered. s ha l I be se ized and de livered to f i s h re cep t i o n stations Or s hops a t wholesa le prices •. Th e money f or t he sold fish sha ll be t rans f e rred into t he En v iro nme n t Fun d . 2S .The in fr i n g e r s. their vesse ls . ris hi ng gear and docume nts can be a rres t ed a nd ta ken to the har b ou r . To ensu re that the vesse l i s t a ke n to t h e ha r bou r . e nv i r onm e nt i ns pe c r o r s may s tay on its bo a r d , Th e Mini s t ry o f foreig n Affa ir s o f th e Re p u b lic o f Li thu a ni an s ha ll be i nfo rmed abo u t a rre s t e d f or e i gn na t ura l pe r sons o r f ore i gn ve s se l s . T he of ficia ls tak ing t h e in f r i n g e r ve s se l to t he harbo u r shal l i n f o r m a bo ut it the harbour mast e r : t h e l e tt e r s hall r e c e i ve it for c ustody, Th e harbour mast e r shal l i mmedi ately i n f o r I the o ff icials o f the En v i ro nme n ta l Protect io n Depar tment who a r r e s t e d ehe vessel a bou t a ny a t t e mp t s on t he vess e l's pa rt to l e a v e he harbo ur . Vess e ls a nd fi sh i n gea r ca n be confisca t ed as specif ied by th e laws o f the Re pu b l i c o f L it huan ian . Un c o n f i s c a t e d f i s h ing me a n s sha l l be retu rned to the owner u po n h is payme nt of a dm inis trative penalty and r e i bursement of t h e dam ages or upon submi tting a g uara n tee of payme n t in writ i ng. 8 Appendi x I ," Report on F ish Ca t ches in t he Ec o nomic Zo ne a l fo r f or ei g n f i s hin g compa ni es I I I I I r, F is h ing IType a nd IName of ICa l1 ITo t a l I [T y pe a nti 'Catc h (in t on l l s i an l numbe r o f I number o(a r e a I I 1 I r e gis ra- Ive s s e l I t i o No. lor ve s s e II I f i s he r y Ida ys I fi sh in g Igea r I i I I , I J ICod l s a t mon I He rr i ng [ S p r a t IF lat fish [o t he r lTota l .J 1 1 I I I I I I I ~ -------.l I blfo r f ishi ng compa ni es of Li thua n i a , I I Ii i , F ishi ng IT y pe, d i- I Amo unt INumber l Number o ( IF ls hi ng ICa tc h (I n tonI I area Ime nsio ns lor gea r [o f ve-I f i sh i ng le ff i cien c y ) I i I I I I I la nd mes h I l s s e l s l day s I [Cod IS a l mon l ue r r i ng l Sp r a t Ifla tflsh ISpa r - ITot al 1 l si z e 0 r I I t hat I I I I I I I II I ns I I 1( ls hl na I l co ndu c l ) I I I I I I I I l ge a r I [ t e d ( il I I I I I I I I I I I Ish i ng I I I I I I I I I r I I ~1 1 I 1 I • I I -----.l I , and kg . 9 AP pe nd i x 1 Re po r ts o n fo re ign fis h ing vessel's having a l ic en c e to fish in t he Economic ZO lle e n teri ng a nd le aving t he economic Zone Re po rt o n t he ves se l' s entering the Economic Zo ne l. f1ag - state of the v e s s e l , reg ist ration No. of t he vesse l. t he name of the ve ssel and cal l sign. 2 . The coordinates o f the point i n which the vessel entered t he Economic Zo ne . 3 . The year , mont h. day and ti me \G~T). 4. The amount of f i s h on board a c co r d i ng to spec i e s in kg prio r to enteri ng the Economic Zone. Re po r t o n the vesse l 's l e a v i ng the Economic Zone l. f l1lg -state of the vesse l. registra tion No. of the vesse l. the name o f the vesse l a nd the ca ll s ig n. 2 . The coordina tes o f t he po int i n wh i ch the ve s s e l l eft t he Economic Zone. 3. The ye a r . •on t h , day and t ime (G MT). 4. The amou nt of f ish l anded in the Economi c Zone i nev i t a b l e acc ide ntal by-catc~ according to species in 10 Appendix 3 Information which must be presented in the fishing logs of foreign fishing vessels I.The type, name and registration No. of the vessel. 2.Flag-state and home port. 3.The year, month and day. 4.The coordinates of the point in which the vessel entered the Economic Zone of Lithuanian. S.The coordinates of the place where fishing gear was cast. 6.The time when the fishing gear was cast. 7.The description of fishing gear: a) type; b) the material of which the gear is made; c) the size of mesh. 8.The composition of the catch according to species and the percentage of each species within the cat~h. 9.The catch according to species in 24 hours. lO.The weight of fish according to species meant for: a) food; b) industrial purposes. Ll vDa t a on the fish shifted to another vessel or taken from another vessel for processing. I2.The amount of fish landed in t~e Economic Zone during each entrance into the Economic Zone from !the beginning of fishery. . 11 'e. Appendix 4 Rates for estimating the reimbursement for the damage- done when illegitimately fishing, exterminating or obtaining fish in the Economic Zone I Fish species IThe size of damages per landed or lexterminated fish,irrespective of its Iweight and size (in roubles) I Salmon, Sea Trout I 500 Cod, Flatfish, I Turbot and Eel I 40 Herring I 20 Sprat and Sparlingl 4 I Note: l.Foreign legal entities and natural persons shall pay the damages in hard currency according to ~he official exchange rate. 2.An index can be applied to the above rates, depending on the level of prices as determined by the Environmental Protection Department.