1. Does the COM Delegated Regulation 2018/47
make it possible to use the new
new alternativeT90 gear?
Balfish Forum

2. T90 codend
I am just reminding you of how the T90 codend looks in the Regulation and the wording in point 3.

3. This is the T90 and shows you the circumference
T90 codend

4. Commission Delegated Regulation 2018/47, Article 4
Alternative specifications for the T90 trawl codend
1. The use of T90 trawls having a codend compliant with the following specifications
shall be authorised by way of derogation from Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005:
(a) the mesh size of the codend shall be at least 115 mm, by way of derogation
from footnote 2 to Annex II and point (b) of Appendix 2 to that Annex;
(b) the number of meshes in any circumference in the codend sensu strictu and the
extension piece, excluding joinings and selvedges, shall be 80 meshes round, by way
of derogation from point (e) of Appendix 2 to that Annex;
(c) the length of the codend shall be at least 9 m;
2. The codend shall meet all other specifications laid down in Appendix 2 to that Annex.
I refer to Article 4 of the Commission’s Delegated Regulation where it refers to alternative specifications of the T90 trawl codend

5. Where is the problem? Del. Reg. 2018/47 , Article 4
Alternative specifications for the T90 trawl codend
1. The use of T90 trawls having a codend compliant with the following specifications
shall be authorised by way of derogation from Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005:
(a) the mesh size of the codend shall be at least 115 mm, by way of derogation
from footnote 2 to Annex II and point (b) of Appendix 2 to that Annex;
(b) the number of meshes in any circumference in the codend sensu strictu and the
extension piece, excluding joinings and selvedges, shall be 80 meshes round, by way
of derogation from point (e) of Appendix 2 to that Annex;
(c) the length of the codend shall be at least 9 m;
2. The codend shall meet all other specifications laid down in Appendix 2 to that Annex (Regulation 2187/2005).
The problem is this point 2. It is not enough. We are missing the reference to the circumference and we need to make very clear that the meshes can be more than 50% of the last row.

6. What creates the problem in Regulation 2187/2005 ANNEX 2 , Appendix 2 , point (d)
3. At the point of attachment of the codend or extension piece to the tapered part of the trawl, the number of meshes in circumference of the codend or extension piece must be 50 % of the last row of meshes of the tapered part of the trawl.
This is what needs to be included and at the same time corrected. We need to add the words ”at least” to the 50%

7. The following slides give examples of what a demersal trawl would look like if we follow Delegated Regulation 2018/47, where we are missing the point 2 and the words ”at least”.
The trawl picture on the right side of slides reflects „Sweedish alternative gear”, the one on the left shows how that good idea can be spoiled by a not well-thought-out Regulation.

8. 100
100 50
50% 80
80%
REG 2187/2005:
EXP:

9. 160
100
80% 80
REG:
EXP: ?
EXP:

10. 160 80
50%
100 80
80%
Reg 2018/47
REG:
EXP: ?
EXP

11. Conclusion:
This type of gear is not acceptable. In order to comply the Regulation, half of the trawl has to be removed. This would affect most of the fishing vessels. So we need the point (d), which was the BSAC recommendation.
And I will explain why we need words ”at least” !!!!!

12. Delegated Regulation 2018/47 , Article 4
Alternative specifications for the T90 trawl codend
1. The use of T90 trawls having a codend compliant with the following specifications
shall be authorised by way of derogation from Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005:
(a) the mesh size of the codend shall be at least 115 mm, by way of derogation
from footnote 2 to Annex II and point (b) of Appendix 2 to that Annex;
(b) the number of meshes in any circumference in the codend sensu strictu and the
extension piece, excluding joinings and selvedges, shall be 80 meshes round, by way of derogation from point (e) of Appendix 2 to that Annex;
(c) the length of the codend shall be at least 9 m;
(d) at the point of attachment of the codend or extension piece to the tapered part of the trawl the number of meshes in circumference of the codend or extension piece must be at least 50% of the last row of meshes of tapered part of the trawl, by way of derogation from point (d) item 3 of Appendix 2 to that Annex.
2. The codend shall meet all other specifications laid down in Appendix 2 to that Annex.
So this is what needs to be included in the Delegated Regulation

13. Advantages of the the solution: you will get:
better water flow in the trawl and codend
less turbulence of water
higher catchability
universality- it can be complied with by different sizes of fishing vessels
no cost of the required trawl belly changes

14. Thank you

16. REPORT FROM THE COMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
on the selectivity in trawl fisheries for cod in the Baltic Sea
COM(2008) 870
… according to ICES conclusions , both BACOMA
windows and T90 codend give L50 of 38-40cm, which is equivalent to the MLS for cod of 38 cm. For T90, the preliminary analysis of the German and Polish data
give L50s of 41 cm and selection ranges of 4,8 to 6,5 cm.
Overall no difference in selectivity between
the two gears could be detected , but nethertheless,
it could not be excluded.