NORTHEAST ATLANTIC NORTH SEA REGION
NORTHEAST ATLANTIC FISHERIES ADVISORY REGIONS
ADVISORY KEY
TARGETING
The action of deliberately targeting a certain species.
CLOSED SEASON
A period when retaining is prohibited to protect a vulnerable species.
SIZE LIMIT
A min. or max. size at which a species cannot be retained. Local legislation may apply.
CATCH LIMIT
A limit on the quantity that can be retained and landed.
RETAINING
The act of keeping a species that has been caught. Chart colour denotes retaining.
RECORD SEPARATELY
The species must be recorded separately in the vessel’s logbook.
DISCARDING
Promptly and carefully returning a species to the sea.
TRANSHIPPING
The action of transferring catches between vessels at sea.
SELLING
Selling or offering for sale a species caught in this area.
Angelshark
Basking Shark
Birdbeak Dogfish
Black Dogfish
Blue Shark
Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
Deep-water Catsharks
Frilled Shark
Great Lanternshark
Greenland Shark
Gulper Shark
Kitefin Shark
Knifetooth Dogfish
Leafscale Gulper Shark
Longnose Velvet Dogfish
SHARKS SKATES AND RAYS
Mouse Catshark
Nursehound
Porbeagle
Portuguese Dogfish
Sailfin Roughshark
Shortfin Mako
Smallspotted Catshark
Smoothhound
Smooth Lanternshark
Starry Smoothhound
Spurdog
Big-eye Thesher
Thesher Shark
Tope
Velvet Belly Lanternshark
ADDITIONAL CONTENT
Atlantic Torpedo Ray
Black (Norwegian) Skate
Blonde Ray
Blue Skate
Common Stingray
Cuckoo Ray
Flapper Skate
Longnose Skate
Sandy Ray
Shagreen Ray
Small-eyed Ray
Spotted Ray
Starry Ray
Thornback Ray
Undulate Ray
White Skate
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
FISHERIES
Selling prohibited
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Selling prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
No legal catches
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding prohibited
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Centrophorus granulosus
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Oxynotus paradoxus
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit
Max 100 cm
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Except > 100 cm
Record separately
Discarding prohibited
Except > 100 cm
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Selling prohibited
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited when using longlines
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Retaining permitted, except when using longlines
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Catch limit not applicable Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Except IIa
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
NORTH SEA
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Except IIa
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Selling prohibited
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting permitted
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
FISHERIES ADVISORY
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable Outside 6NM
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Selling prohibited
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately if catch is > 50kg live weight
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
FISHERIES ADVISORY
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining prohibited
Record separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories enquiries@sharktrust.org
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable
Outside 6NM
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
No legal catches
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
>15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable Outside 6NM
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited >15M no more than 25% SKA
Closed season not applicable
Whole or gutted only
Catch limit
Retaining permitted
Record separately
Discarding permitted
Transhipping prohibited
Selling permitted
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories enquiries@sharktrust.org
Illustration © Marc Dando
Targeting prohibited
Closed season not applicable
Size limit not applicable Outside 6NM
Catch limit not applicable
Retaining prohibited
Record discards separately
Discarding required
Transhipping prohibited
Selling prohibited
www.sharktrust.org/fisheries-advisories
Illustration © Marc Dando
SHARK - HANDLING GUIDE
LARGE SHARK
Whenever possible, lift a shark to move it.
SMALLER SHARK
Hold or lift a shark under mid-body and base of the tail.
Illustration © Marc Dando
SKATE/RAY - HANDLING GUIDE
LARGE SKATE/RAY
Whenever possible, lift a skate/ray to move it.
SMALLER SKATE/RAY
Hold or lift a skate/ray under mid-body and base of the tail.
Illustration © Marc Dando
S
S.H.A.R.K. - BEST PRACTICE
SORT IMMEDIATELY
Remove catches from your gear as soon as possible.
H
HANDLE CAREFULLY
Pick up and move animals with care.
A R K
AVOID WASTE
Return unwanted animals immediately and alive.
RECORD DISCARDS
Record your discards. Help build up knowledge.
KEEP TO LIMITS
Fish within appropriate catch limits.
PRINCIPAL ACTS
LEGISLATION SUMMARY - EUROPEAN UNION
Council Regulation 1380/2013 Amending Common Fisheries Policy
PROHIBITIONS ON TARGETING AND RETAINING
Art. 21 Council Regulation 2025/202 (TACs & Quota Regulation)
Art. 29 Council Regulation 2025/202 (TACs & Quota Regulation - ICCAT)
Annex 1 A Council Regulation 2025/202 (TACs & Quota RegulationDeep-sea sharks)
PROHIBITIONS ON TARGETING, RETAINING AND SELLING
Annex 1 2019/1241 (Tech Con Regulation)
OBLIGATION TO RETURN TO THE SEA
Art. 21 (2) Council Regulation 2025/202 (TACs & Quota Regulation)
QUOTA RESTRICTIONS
Annex 1 Council Regulation 2025/202 (TACs & Quota Regulation)
LANDING OBLIGATION (LO) / CATCH REPORTING
Council Regulation (EU) 1224/2009
Council Regulation (EU) 2015/812
Exemption from LO for prohibited species - Art. 4 (a) Council Regulation (EU) 1380/2013
SHARK FINNING
Regulation (EU) No. 605/2013
MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM SIZES
Council Regulation 2025/202 (TACs & Quota Regulation)
TRANSHIPPING
Art. 20 Council Regulation 1224/2009 (Control Regulation)
SPECIES SPECIFIC
N/A