Marine and fisheries: pingers

Advice and guidance regarding the user of acoustic detterent devices, commonly known as 'pingers', to reduce cetacean bycatch.


The attached documents outline the provisions of the following regulation:

Council Regulation (EC) No. 812/2004 - Laying Down Measures Concerning Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries and Amending Regulation (EC) No. 88/98 aim to reduce cetacean bycatch (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in ICES sub-area IV and divisions VII d, e, f , g, h and j with effect from 01 July 2013. 

August 2014 update

Specifications and Spacing

The device used must meet one of the following sets of signal and implementation characteristics or, if it does not, must be separately authorised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

One device (DDD-03L) has been separately authorised for use by Defra under the derogation contained in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No. 812/2004. This authorisation covers the period 01 July 2014 to 30 June 2016, and extends the previous two-year period of authorisation for this device. It is Defra’s intention to apply to re-extend the authorisation period in 2016.

You must use the DDD-03L as described in the guidance from the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation and Sea Mammal Research Unit.

Pingers: industry information pack (2017)
Pingers: advice to fishermen (2013)
Pingers: advice to producer organisations (2013)

Contact

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