Council Regulation 1224/2009 requires fishing vessels to record and report catch data electronically. This began in January 2010 for vessels of 24 metres and greater length and the rest of the fleet will follow according to the timetable below (as set out in 1224/2009):
- As from 1 January 2010 vessels of 24 metres overall
- As from 1 January 2011 vessels over 15 metres overall to 24 metres overall operating in Third Country Waters
- As from 1 July 2011 vessels of 15 metres overall to 24 metres overall
- As from 1 January 2012 vessels of 12 metres to 15 metres
10-12 Metres and Electronic Logbooks
Article 24(6) of 1224/2009 permits Member States to allow 10-12 metre vessels to record and report logbook data electronically. There are many benefits from having one system rather than a two-tiered paper and Electronic Logbook system. Marine Scotland is considering the merits of extending electronic reporting to the 10-12 metre sector and will discuss further with industry representatives.
External Waters
All EU registered vessels are obligated to have Electronic Logbooks. Scottish vessels operating in distant waters are expected to comply with this requirement and arrangements should be made to have an Electronic Logbook system fitted as soon as practicable.
Any vessels that are experiencing logistical difficulties should contact Marine Scotland on 0131 244 4980 as this will have implications for the licence conditions set out in their External Waters Licence.
Approved Suppliers
To meet this new EU obligation, the UK Fisheries Administrations have undertaken a process for validating and accrediting electronic logbook reporting software system and the first of a number of software systems have been accredited. Only systems that have been approved by the UK Fisheries Authorities are guaranteed to comply with our information requirements and you are therefore advised only to purchase software systems from the approved list. As other software systems become accredited we will notify you.
Grant Aided Scheme
Marine Scotland will be using money available through the Scottish Fleet Resilience Fund and the EU New Technologies for Fisheries Control to support Scottish vessels meet this new obligation.
Funding is available for all vessels over 12 metres however, the offer of funding is time limited and vessels will have until 31 March 2011 to apply for funding of up to £2,000 towards costs of purchasing software required to comply with Electronics Logbook regulations. This gives vessels from 12-<24 metres the option to adopt Electronic Logbooks early and to benefit from Government funding.
Vessels will be able to apply retrospectively for the funding once an order has been placed with an approved supplier.
Electronic Sales Notes
Articles 63 and 67 require registered buyers and sellers, who are responsible for the first marketing of fishery products and have an annual financial turnover in first sales of fishery products of €200,000 or more, to record and report sales note and take-over declaration data electronically.
Marine Scotland are working on a system to facilitate the delivery of electronic salesnotes and will contact registered buyers and sellers shortly who may be affected by this legislation.
In the meantime, if you wish to register to use the system please contact John Mills on 0300 244 9167 or e-mail john.mills@scotland.gsi.gov.uk