Council Regulation (EC) No. 1954/2003 on the management of the fishing effort relating to certain Community fishing areas and resources and modifying Regulation (EC) No. 2847/93 and repealing Regulations (EC) No. 685/95 and (EC) No. 2027/95.

This Regulation establishes the criteria and procedures for a system relating to the management of fishing effort in the ICES areas and CECAF divisions referred to in article 1. For the purposes of these provisions, fishing effort shall mean the product of the capacity and the activity of a fishing vessel; for a group of fishing vessels it shall mean the sum of fishing effort exerted by each vessel of that group. Chapter II sets forth a fishing effort management regime. Particular measures are laid down in respect of the catching of demersal species and certain molluscs and crustaceans (art. 3) and as regards fishing vessels equal to or less than 15 metres in length (art. 4). A specific effort regime shall apply to the biologically sensitive area defined by article 6. Member States are required to establish a list of fishing vessels flying their flags (art. 7). Chapter III of the Regulation establishes a control regime. Article 14 lays down particular amendments to Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93.