Council Regulation (EC) No. 973/2001 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of certain stocks of highly migratory species.

This Regulation lays down technical conservation measures applicable to Community fishing vessels with regard to the capture and landing of the stocks of the highly migratory species referred to in Annex I. For the purposes of this Regulation, the maritime waters shall be divided into three different Areas (Area 1, 2 and 3), specifically defined under article 2. Titles II, III and IV establish technical measures to be applied to Area 1, Area 2 and Area 3 respectively. Such technical measures include restrictions on the use of certain types of fishing vessels and fishing gear, restrictions on the number of vessels that may be used, minimum sizes under which fishes may not be harvested. Further provisions regard the information to be periodically reported by Member States to the Commission. As a general rule, the encircling of schools or groups of marine mammals with purse seines shall be prohibited (except in the case of the vessels referred to in Article 14). Annex II regards the assignment of observers with a view to guaranteeing the enforcement of these provisions. Annex III deals with the length of vessels. Annex IV specifies the minimum size for certain fish species.