Marine and fisheries compliance: submission of paper logbooks and declarations

EU Recording and Reporting Requirements

The EU requires the recording and reporting of data relating to fishing activity undertaken by EU vessels (and in EU waters) and to the landing and first sale of fishery products in the EU. These requirements are currently set out in various pieces of EU legislation: Council Regulations 2847/93, 1006/2008 and 1224/2009, and Commission Regulations 1077/2008 and 201/2010. Any contravention of these requirements is a criminal offence by virtue of the Sea Fishing (EU Recording and Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2010 (SSI 2010/334). The EU requires those who meet certain criteria to record and report data by electronic means. Those who are not subject to an electronic recording and reporting requirement must record and report data in written/paper form. This guidance details the methods by which fisheries data, in written/paper form, must be submitted or sent to the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of article 3(2)(a) of SSI 2010/334.

Who must submit paper logbooks and declarations?

(1) Paper logbooks, transhipment declarations and landing declarations must be submitted by those who are not required by Articles 15, 22 and 24 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 to send logbook, transhipment and landing data by electronic means.

Electronic logbooks, transhipment declarations and landing declarations are required from vessels with an overall length of:

• 24 metres or more, as of 1 January 2010
• more than 15 metres, where they operate outside EU waters, as of 1 January 2011
• 15 metres or more, as of 1 July 2011, and
• 12 metres or more, as of 1 January 2012

(2) Paper sales notes and take-over declarations must be submitted by those registered fish buyers and sellers who are not required by Article 5(1) and (4) of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1077/2008 to transmit sales note or take-over declaration data by electronic means.

Electronic sales notes and take-over declarations are required from registered buyers and sellers with an annual financial turnover in first sales of fishery products in excess of 400,000 EUR.

(3) Copies of transport documents must be submitted by transporters of fishery products in accordance with Articles 9(5) and 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93.

Methods of submitting paper logbooks and declarations

Paper logbooks, transhipment and landing declarations, sales notes, take-over declarations and copy transport documents must be submitted to the Scottish Ministers by using one of the following methods:

(1) Handing them in at a local Fishery Office (contact details for local Fishery Offices are available online)

(2) Depositing them in a box marked for this purpose at the port of landing

(3) Handing them to a British Sea Fishery officer

Methods of giving prior notification by vessels not equipped with an electronic logbook software system

Those who do not operate an electronic logbook, and are not required by Article 17 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 to give electronic prior notification, must give prior notification (as required) to the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre by using one of the following methods:

(1) Telephone: +44 (0)131 271 9700

(2) E-mail: UKFMC@gov.scot

(3) Fax: +44 (0)131 244 6471

Fisheries Division
Marine Scotland
Area 1B South
Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ