Participation in exploratory fisheries
Article 43
1. Fishing vessels flying the flag of, and registered in, Spain that have been notified to CCAMLR in accordance with the provisions of Articles 7 and 7a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 may participate in long-line exploratory fisheries for Dissostichus spp. in Subareas FAO 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in Divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3b) outside Areas of national jurisdiction. 2. No more than one fishing vessel shall fish in Division 58.4.3a) and 58.4.3b) at any one time. 3. With regard to Subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2, total catch and by-catch limits per Subarea and Division, and their distribution among Small Scale Research Units (SSRUs) within each of them shall be as set out in Annex X. Fishing in any SSRU shall cease when the reported catch reaches the specified catch limit, and that SSRU shall be closed to fishing for the remainder of the season. 4. Fishing shall take place over as large a geographical and bathymetric range as possible to obtain the information necessary to determine fishery potential and to avoid over-concentration of catch and fishing effort. However, fishing in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 shall be prohibited in depths less than 550 m.