Prohibition of Fishing with Multiple Trawls Order 2001 (S.I. No. 650 of 2001).

The Order prohibits fishing with any trawl other than a single trawl. The prohibition in this Order is not anymore confined to Norway Lobsters. The prohibition applies to a relevant British fishing boat wherever it may be and to any Scottish fishing boat, which is within relevant British fishery limits (art. 3(1)). The Order introduces a definition of single trawl (art. 2(1)). The prohibition does not apply to beam trawlers, to fishing in certain areas with a trawl having a specified mesh size of not less than 80 millimetres or to fishing in any area with a trawl having a mesh size of 100 millimetres or more (art. 3(2)). An area termed the Fladen Ground was excepted from the prohibition in the Norway Lobsters (Prohibition of Method of Fishing) Order 1993. This Order applies the exception to an extended area termed the Fladen area and to three other specified areas (art. 2(1)). Within these areas to which this exception applies multiple trawls may be used provided they have a minimum mesh size of 80 millimetres (art. 3(2)(b)). British Sea Fishery officers are given certain powers for the purpose of the enforcement of the Order (art. 4). Offences are prescribed by sections 5(1) and (6) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (c. 84) and penalties by section 11 of that Act, as amended by section 24(1) of the Fisheries Act 1981 (c. 29). The Order does not form part of the law of Scotland. It does not apply to fishing activities within the territorial sea of Wales. This Order is made in reliance on Art. 46 of Council Regulation (EC) 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms, which authorizes Member States to take certain national measures for the conservation and management of stocks.