1.

For the purpose of this Community Programme the following definitions shall apply:

(a)   Active vessels: vessels that have been engaged in any fishing operation (more than zero days) during a calendar year. A vessel that has not been engaged in fishing operations during a year is considered ‘inactive’.

(b)   Concurrent sampling: sampling all or a predefined assemblage of species, simultaneously in a vessel's catches or landings.

(c)   Days at sea: any continuous period of 24 hours (or part thereof) during which a vessel is present within an area and absent from port.

(d)   Fleet segment: a group of vessels with the same length class (LOA) and predominant fishing gear during the year, according to the Appendix III. Vessels may have different fishing activities during the reference period, but might be classified in only one fleet segment.

(e)   Fishing days: each day is attributed to the area where the most fishing time was spent during the relevant day at sea. However, for passive gears, if no operation took place from the vessel during a day while at least one (passive) gear remained at sea, that day will be associated to the area where the last setting of a fishing gear was carried out on that fishing trip.

(f)   Fishing trip: means any voyage by a fishing vessel from a land location to a landing place, excluding non-fishing trips (a trip by a fishing vessel from a location to a land location during which it does not engage in fishing activities and during which any gear on board is securely lashed and stowed and not available for immediate use).

(g)   Metier: a group of fishing operations targeting a similar (assemblage of) species, using similar gear, during the same period of the year and/or within the same area and which are characterised by a similar exploitation pattern.

(h)   Population of vessels: all vessels in the Community Fishing Fleet Register as defined in Commission Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 of 30 December 2003 on the Community fishing fleet register (1).

(i)   Selected species: species of relevance for management purposes and for which a request is made by an international scientific body or a regional fisheries management organisation.

(j)   Soaking time: time calculated from the point where each individual unit of gear has been set, to the time when the same unit starts to be removed.

2.

For the following terms, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (www.fao.org/fi/glossary/default.asp) and STECF definitions shall apply: anadromous species, catadromus species, catches, cephalopods, crustaceans, deep water species, demersal fish, demersal species, exploitation pattern, finfish, freshwater species, gears, landings, discards, large pelagic fish, molluscs, other activity than fishing, pelagic fish, small pelagic fish, target species.

1.

Module of evaluation of the fishing sector:

The data collection programme for the fishing sector contains the following sections:

2.

Module of evaluation of the economic situation of the aquaculture and processing industry sectors:

3.

Module of evaluation of the effects of the fishing sector on the marine ecosystem.

4.

Module for management and use of the data covered by the data collection framework.

1.

Where it is not possible to define quantitative targets for sampling programmes, neither in terms of precision levels, nor in terms of sample size, pilot surveys in the statistical sense shall be established. Such pilot surveys shall evaluate the importance of the problem and shall also address the utility of future more detailed surveys, and the cost-effectiveness relationship of such detailed surveys.

2.

Where quantitative targets can be defined, they may be specified either directly by sample sizes or sampling rates, or by the definition of the levels of precision and of confidence to be achieved.

3.

Where reference is made to a sample size or to a sampling rate in a population defined in statistical terms, the sampling strategies shall be at least as efficient as Simple Random Sampling. Such sampling strategies shall be described within the corresponding national programmes.

4.

Where reference is made to precision/confidence level the following distinction shall apply:

(a)   Level 1: level making it possible to estimate a parameter either with a precision of plus or minus 40 % for a 95 % confidence level or a coefficient of variation (CV) of 20 % used as an approximation;

(b)   Level 2: level making it possible to estimate a parameter either with a precision of plus or minus 25 % for a 95 % confidence level or a coefficient of variation (CV) of 12,5 % used as an approximation;

(c)   Level 3: level making it possible to estimate a parameter either with a precision of plus or minus 5 % for a 95 % confidence level or a coefficient of variation (CV) of 2,5 % used as an approximation.

1.

Variables to be collected are listed in Appendix VI. All economic variables are to be collected on an annual basis with the exception of those identified as transversal variables as defined in Appendix VIII and those identified in order to measure the effects of the fishery on the marine ecosystem as defined in Appendix XIII which are to be collected at more disaggregated levels The population is all vessels in the Community Fishing Fleet Register on 1 January. All economic variables have to be collected for active vessels. For each vessel for which economic variables defined in Appendix VI are collected, the corresponding transversal variables defined in Appendix VIII have also to be collected.

2.

For inactive vessels only capital value (Appendix VI), fleet (Appendix VI) and capacity (Appendix VIII) shall be collected.

3.

National currencies shall be transformed into euros using the average annual exchange rates available from the European Central Bank (ECB).

1.

Economic variables shall be reported for each fleet segment (Appendix III) and supra region (Appendix II). Six length classes (using the overall length measurement (LOA)) are defined. However Member States are free to further disaggregate length classes if appropriate.

2.

The dominance criteria shall be used to allocate each vessel to a segment based on the number of fishing days used with each gear. If a fishing gear is used by more than the sum of all the others (i.e. a vessel spends more than 50 % of its fishing time using that gear), the vessel shall be allocated to that segment. If not, the vessel shall be allocated to the following fleet segment:

3.

In cases where a vessel operates in more than one supra region as defined in Appendix II, Member States shall explain in their national programme to which supra region the vessel is allocated.

4.

In cases where a fleet segment has less than 10 vessels:

1.

Member States shall describe their methodologies used for estimating each economic variable, including quality aspects, in their national programmes.

2.

Member States shall ensure consistency and comparability of all economic variables when derived from different sources (e.g. surveys, fleet register, logbooks, sales notes).

1.

Member States shall include in their annual report information on the quality (accuracy and precision) of estimates.

1.

Sampling must be performed in order to evaluate the quarterly length distribution of species in the catches, and the quarterly volume of discards. Data shall be collected by metier referred to as level 6 of the matrix defined in Appendix IV (1 to 5) and for the stocks listed in Appendix VII.

2.

Where relevant additional biological sampling programmes of the unsorted landings have to be carried out in order to estimate:

1.

In order to optimise the sampling programmes, the metiers defined in Appendix IV (1 to 5) may be merged. When metiers are merged (vertical merging), statistical evidence shall be brought regarding the homogeneity of the combined metiers. Merging of neighbouring cells corresponding to fleet segments of the vessels (horizontal merging) shall be supported by statistical evidence. Such horizontal merging shall be done primarily by clustering neighbouring vessel LOA classes, independently of the dominant fishing techniques, when appropriate to distinguish different exploitation patterns. Regional agreement on mergers shall be sought at the relevant regional coordination meeting and endorsed by STECF.

2.

At national level, one metier defined at level 6 of the matrix in Appendix IV (1 to 5) may be further disaggregated into several more precise strata, i.e. distinguishing different target species. Such further stratification shall be done respecting the two following principles:

3.

The spatial units for metier sampling are defined by level 3 of Appendix I for all the regions with the following exceptions:

4.

For the purpose of collection and aggregation of data, spatial sampling units may be clustered by regions as referred to in Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 665/2008 (2) after agreement by the relevant regional coordination meetings.

(5)

For parameters referred to in Chapter III section B/B1 1. (2), data shall be provided quarterly and be consistent with the fleet fishing activity matrix described in Appendix IV (1 to 5).

1.

For the landings:

2.

For the discards:

3.

For the recreational fisheries:

1.

For the landings:

2.

For the discards:

3.

For the recreational fisheries:

1.

If Member States can not reach levels of precision referred to in Chapter III section B/B1/4 2 (a) and (b) and 3(a), or only at excessive costs, they can obtain, based on STECF recommendation, derogation from the Commission to reduce the precision level, sampling frequency or to implement a pilot survey provided this request is fully documented and scientifically proven.

1.

For stocks listed in Appendix VII, the following variables have to be collected:

using the sampling scheme provided in this Appendix VII.

2.

The collection of all individual information referred to in paragraph (1) shall be associated with the corresponding information on space and time stratum.

3.

For wild salmon stocks in the index rivers, as defined by ICES, running into the Baltic Sea III b-d, the following variables have to be collected:

1.

The necessary disaggregation levels as well as the collection periodicity for all variables and the sampling intensities for age are specified in Appendix VII. For sampling strategies and sampling intensities, the rules established in Chapter II section B (Precision levels and sampling intensities) shall apply.

1.

Wherever possible, age-reading shall be performed on commercial catches in order to estimate the age composition by species and, where relevant, the growth parameters. Where this is not possible, Member States shall justify why in their national programmes.

2.

If cooperation between Member States ensures that the overall estimate of the parameters listed in Appendix VII reach the necessary precision level, each Member State shall ensure that its own contribution to the common dataset is sufficient to reach that precision level.

1.

For stocks of species that can be aged, average weights and lengths for each age shall be estimated at a precision level 3, up to such an age that accumulated landings for the corresponding ages account for at least 90 % of the national landings for the relevant stock.

2.

For stocks for which age reading is not possible, but for which a growth curve can be estimated, average weights and lengths for each pseudo age (e.g. derived from the growth curves) shall be estimated with a precision of level 2, up to such an age that accumulated landings for the corresponding ages account for at least 90 % of the national landings for the relevant stock.

3.

For maturity, fecundity and sex ratios, a choice may be made between reference to age or length, provided that Members States which have to conduct the corresponding biological sampling, have agreed the following:

1.

The national programme of a Member State may exclude the estimation of the stock related variables for stocks for which TACs and quota have been defined under the following conditions:

2.

If the condition set out in above point 1(a) is fulfilled, but not the condition set out in point 1(b), the relevant Member States may set up a coordinated programme to achieve, for their joint landings, a joint sampling scheme, or Member States may individually set up other national sampling schemes leading to the same precision.

3.

If appropriate, the national programmes may be adjusted until 1 February of each year to take into account the exchange of quotas between Member States.

4.

For stocks for which TACs and quotas have not been defined and which are outside the Mediterranean Sea, the same rules established under point 5(1) apply on the basis of the average landings of the previous three years and with reference to the total Community landings from a stock.

5.

For stocks in the Mediterranean Sea, the landings by weight of a Mediterranean Member State for a species corresponding to less than 10 % of the total Community landings from the Mediterranean Sea, or to less than 200 tonnes, except for Bluefin tuna.

1.

Variables to be collected are listed in Appendix VIII. Data shall be provided according to the periodicity stated in that Appendix.

2.

Some delays may occur between information provided on the fleet segmentation and on the fishing effort.

1.

The disaggregation level is given in Appendix VIII in accordance with the criteria defined in Appendix V.

2.

The degree of aggregation shall correspond to the most disaggregated level required. A grouping of cells within this scheme may be made provided that an appropriate statistical analysis demonstrates its suitability. Such mergers must be approved by the relevant regional coordination meeting.

1.

Wherever possible, transversal data shall be collected in an exhaustive way. Where this is not possible, Member States shall specify the sampling procedures within their national programmes.

1.

Member States shall include in their annual report information on the quality (accuracy and precision) of the data.

1.

All surveys listed in Appendix IX shall be covered.

2.

Member States shall guarantee within their national programmes, continuity with previous survey designs.

3.

Notwithstanding points 1 and 2, Member States may propose a modification in the survey effort or sampling design, provided that this does not negatively affect the quality of the results. Acceptance by the Commission of any modification shall be conditional to STECF approval.

1.

All variables listed in Appendix X are to be collected on an annual basis per segment according to the segmentation set out in Appendix XI.

2.

The statistical unit shall be the ‘enterprise’ defined as the lowest legal entity for accounting purposes.

3.

The population shall refer to enterprises whose primary activity is defined according to the Eurostat definition under NACE Code 05.02: ‘Fish Farming’.

4.

National currencies shall be transformed into euro using the average annual exchange rate available from the European Central Bank (ECB).

1.

Data shall be segmented by species and technique for aquaculture, as mentioned in Appendix XI. Member States may further segment by size of enterprise or other relevant criteria, if necessary.

2.

Collection of data for freshwater species is not mandatory. However, if this data is collected, Member States shall follow the segmentation set out in Appendix XI.

1.

Member States shall describe their methodologies for estimating each economic variable, including quality aspects, in their national programmes.

2.

Member States shall ensure consistency and comparability of all economic variables when derived from different sources (e.g. questionnaires, financial accounts).

1.

Member States shall include in their annual report information on the quality (accuracy and precision) of estimates.

1.

All variables listed in Appendix XII are to be collected on an annual basis for the population.

2.

The population shall refer to enterprises whose main activity is defined according to the Eurostat definition under NACE Code 15.20: ‘Processing and preserving of fish and fish products’.

3.

As a guideline, the national codes applied by Member States under Council Regulations (EC) No 852/2004 of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (4), (EC) No 853/2004 of 29 April 2004 on hygiene rules for food of animal origin (5) and (EC) No 854/2004 of 29 April 2004 on the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (6), shall additionally be used as a means of cross checking and identifying enterprises classified under NACE code 15.20.

4.

National currencies shall be transformed into euro using the average annual exchange rate available from the European Central Bank (ECB).

1.

The statistical unit for collection of data shall be the ‘enterprise’ as defined as the lowest legal entity for accounting purposes.

2.

For enterprises that carry out fish processing but not as a main activity, it is mandatory to collect the following data, in the first year of each programming period:

1.

Member States shall describe their methodologies for estimating each economic variable, including quality aspects, in their national programmes.

2.

Member States shall ensure consistency and comparability of all economic variables when derived from different sources (e.g. questionnaires, financial accounts).

1.

Member States shall include in their annual report information on the quality (accuracy and precision) of estimates.

1.

To allow the calculation of the indicators listed in Appendix XIII, data specified in this Appendix shall be collected on an annual basis with the exception of those which are specified to be collected at more disaggregated levels.

2.

Data specified in Appendix XIII shall be collected at national level in order to allow end-users to calculate the indicators at the relevant geographical scale, as given in Appendix II.

1.

The disaggregation level set out in the specifications laid down in Appendix XIII shall be applied.

1.

Member States shall apply the recommendations set out in the specifications laid down in Appendix XIII.

1.

Member States shall apply the recommendations set out in the specifications laid down in Appendix XIII.

1.

With regard to the data covered by this Community Programme, this section covers the development of data bases, data input (storage), data quality control and validation, and data processing from primary data into detailed or aggregated data as referred to in Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008.

2.

It shall include the transformation process of the primary socioeconomic data into metadata referred to in Article 13(b) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008.

3.

Member States shall guarantee that, upon request by the Commission, the information on the transformation process referred to in paragraph 2 can be provided.

1.

The section covers the production of sets of data and their use to support scientific analysis as a basis for advice to fisheries management as referred to in Article 18(1)a of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008.

2.

It shall include biological parameter estimates (age, weight, sex, maturity and fecundity) for stocks listed in Appendix VII, preparation of sets of data for stock assessments and bio-economic modelling and corresponding scientific analysis.

List of appendices