Real Time Closures
From 1 September 2007, a voluntary system of real-time area closures has been introduced with the co-operation of the Scottish fishing industry as an effective means of protecting concentrations of cod. Scotland is the first country in Europe to implement such a voluntary scheme to conserve North Sea cod stocks and it is hoped that this trial scheme will provide the knowledge and experience to lead to more structured fisheries management arrangements under the Common Fisheries Policy.
Under the voluntary scheme arrangements, which will not be subject to enforcement action, areas of fishing grounds will be closed where sampling has identified a high abundance of cod and the area will remain closed for a period of three weeks.
Individual skippers are encouraged to work in close cooperation with the Marine Directorate and SFPA and notify when they encounter high abundances of cod to inform and direct sampling efforts into the most relevant sea areas.
Full details of the scheme arrangements: