Decree No. 881 of 1994 relative to mesh size, bycatch, minimum size and other matters in relation with the fishing in the Fish Protection Zone of Svalbard.

Chapter I outlines the application sphere of the Decree: it applies to Norwegian and foreign vessels of any type which carry out commercial fishing or assist in commercial fishing including experimental fishing (sect. 1). Chapter II specifies allowed mesh size for trawl and purse seine and specifies requirements with respect to the installation of gear. Section 8 provides for the measurement of the size of mesh. Use of certain gear is prohibited by the remaining sections of Chapter II. Chapter III prohibits the use of pelagic trawls for the fishing of cod, Norway haddock, and coalfish and gives a definition of pelagic trawl. Maximum allowed bycatch of various fish and crustacean species are listed in Chapter IV. Chapter V specifies minimum allowed sizes of various fish species a and prescribes the method of measurement of fish. It is forbidden to dump specified species and to process cod, haddock and coalfish into fishmeal (Chap. VI). Chapter VII prohibits fishing in certain areas. Amendments introduced by Decree No. 774 of 1997: section 12, to which a new comma is added, forms part of Chapter II which specifies allowed mesh size for trawl and purse seine and specifies requirements with respect to the installation of gear. This new comma empowers the Director of Fisheries to regulate the participation in fishing by purse seine vessels which have installed purses with square meshes in areas which are normally closed pursuant to Decree No. 6 of 1977 establishing fisheries protection zones around Svalbard.