DEFRA/SEERAD Days at Sea Observer Derogation Programme

The 2007 Annex IIa arrangements gave vessels using either whitefish or nephrops gear the opportunity to receive additional days at sea if they have an observer on board who confirms that the vessels’ catch of cod, sole and plaice represented less than 5% of the total catch during each trip. Under the new derogation, if a whitefish vessel completes a fishing trip in the North Sea with an observer on board throughout, who confirms that the vessel caught less than 5% cod, sole and plaice during the trip, then the days at sea would not count against its annual allowance.

MRAG supplied fully trained and equiped observers to DEFRA and SEERAD, initially for a pilot project, to cover 10 trips with a view to expanding it in the future.