Scope
Article 1
1. This Regulation shall apply to Community fishing vessels carrying out fishing activities with bottom gears in the high seas. 2. This Regulation shall not apply to Community fishing vessels whose areas of operation lie within areas: (a) under the responsibility of a regional fisheries management organisation or arrangement with competence to regulate such fishing activities; (b) for which a process for the establishment of a regional fisheries management organisation is under way; where the participants in such process have agreed on interim measures to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems from destructive impacts resulting from the use of bottom gears.