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Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/2191 29.10.2025
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION(EU) 2025/2191
of 16 July 2025
amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/118 as regards conservation measures in the Dogger Bank
and in some areas in the Kattegat
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on
the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing
Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC(1), and in particular
Article 11(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Pursuant to Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, Member States are empowered to adopt fisheries
conservation measures in their waters that are necessary to comply with their obligations under Article 6 of Council
Directive 92/43/EEC (‘Habitats Directive’)(2), Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council (‘Birds Directive’)(3) and Article 13(4) of Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council (‘Marine Strategy Framework Directive’)(4).
(2) Article 6 of the Habitats Directive requires Member States to establish the necessary conservation measures for
special areas of conservation which correspond to the ecological requirements of those natural habitat types and
species protected in the sites. It also requires Member States to take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of
natural habitats and species habitats, as well as significant disturbance of the species for which the areas have been
designated.
(3) Article 4 of the Birds Directive requires Member States to establish special conservation measures concerning the
habitat of the species listed in its Annex I. It also requires Member States to take similar conservation measures for
regularly occurring migratory species not listed in its Annex I.
(4) In accordance with Article 13(4) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Member States are to adopt
programmes of measures to achieve or maintain good environmental status, including spatial protection measures
that contribute to coherent and representative networks of marine protected areas, and adequately cover the
diversity of the constituent ecosystems, such as special areas of conservation pursuant to the Habitats Directive,
special protection areas pursuant to the Birds Directive and marine protected areas as agreed by the Union or
Member States concerned in the framework of international or regional agreements to which they are parties.
(5) Pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, where a Member State considers that measures need to
be adopted to comply with the obligations under Union environmental legislation referred to in Article 11(1) of
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and other Member States have a direct management interest in the fishery to be
affected by such measures, the Commission is empowered to adopt such measures by means of delegated acts upon
a joint recommendation submitted by the Member States.
(1) OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1380/oj.
(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206,
22.7.1992, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj).
(3) Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds
(OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/147/oj).
(4) Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action
in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19, ELI: http://data.europa.
eu/eli/dir/2008/56/oj).
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OJ L, 29.10.2025
(6) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/118(5) establishes conservation measures for the protection of the
marine environment in certain marine protected areas in the North Sea.
(7) On 19 October 2023, Germany and the Netherlands (initiating Member States), together with Belgium, Denmark,
France and Sweden, submitted to the Commission a joint recommendation regarding conservation measures in the
German and Dutch areas of the Dogger Bank, in Natura 2000 sites ‘Doggerbank’ (DE1003301) and ‘Doggersbank’
(NL2008001).
(8) The joint recommendation proposes conservation measures to protect sandbanks (habitat type H1110) from the
impact of mobile bottom contacting gear by prohibiting mobile bottom trawls and seines in specific areas within
these Natura 2000 sites.
(9) The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) assessed the joint recommendation at its
plenary session of 11-15 March 2024(6).
(10) The STECF concluded that the proposed conservation measures in the Dogger Bank may contribute towards ensuring
that the habitats and species addressed in the joint recommendation are maintained and restored at favourable
conservation status, and represent a positive step forward towards: (i) minimising the negative impacts of fishing
activities on certain habitats and their biological communities; and (ii) ensuring that fisheries activities avoid the
degradation of the marine environment as stipulated in Article 2(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
(11) The joint recommendation also extends the prohibition to seiners in both the management areas of Germany and the
Netherlands. The STECF stressed that the inclusion of all the gear groups in the management measures is necessary to
minimise the negative impacts of fishing and avoid the fishery-based degradation of the marine environment.
(12) The joint recommendation also proposes control and enforcement measures. The STECF noted that the joint
recommendation had taken into account previous STECF recommendations and concluded that these control and
enforcement measures appear adequate and sufficient to ensure a proper enforcement of the measures proposed for
the management zones. Some of the control measures proposed, however, are already a legal obligation and are
therefore not included in this delegated regulation.
(13) The conservation status of the site is still assessed as unfavourable and, according to the data submitted by the
Member States, fishing activities have distorted the species composition towards smaller and short-lived species.
(14) The Commission therefore considers that the measures proposed in the joint recommendation will contribute to
minimising the negative impacts of fishing activities in the EU waters of the Dogger Bank Natura 2000 sites.
(15) Article 3(3)(d) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/118 establishes a derogation from the fishing prohibition in the
fishing restricted areas of Stora Middelgrund och Röde bank (SE0510186), Fladen (SE0510127), Lilla Middelgrund
(SE0510126) and Morups bank (SE0510187) in the Kattegat area for gillnets and trammel nets, provided that
fishing vessels take part in a national monitoring and assessing programme conducted by or on behalf of the
national authorities to evaluate the bycatch of harbour porpoise and seabirds by use of remote electronic
monitoring, including the use of on-board closed-circuit television cameras and position data. Article 3(3)(d) also
required Sweden to review the data on incidental catches of harbour porpoise and seabirds annually for a final
assessment by 31 December 2024.
(5) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/118 of 5 September 2016 establishing fisheries conservation measures for the
protection of the marine environment in the North Sea (OJ L 19, 25.1.2017, p. 10, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2017/118/oj).
(6) European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries 75th Plenary Report
(STECF-PLEN-24-01), Rihan, D. and Doerner, H. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2024, https://data.
europa.eu/doi/10.2760/82418, JRC137730.
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(16) That derogation was established following its assessment by the STECF in its plenary of 22-26 March 2021(7).
Although the STECF questioned the suitability of the derogation, it noted the possibility to review it after three years
of application. That derogation was part of a wider joint recommendation submitted in 2021 that contained several
measures on which the STECF had concluded that overall, they represented a positive step forward towards
minimising the negative impacts of fishing activities on the habitats concerned.
(17) On 11 July 2024, the North Sea Member States, with Sweden as initiating Member State, submitted to the
Commission a joint recommendation proposing the removal of this derogation as no fisheries have taken place
under the monitoring programme, and because there is new data demonstrating the poor status of the Belt Sea
population.
(18) The Commission considers that, for the reasons set out in recital (17) above, it is pertinent to remove the derogation
for gillnets and trammel nets.
(19) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/118 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(20) This Delegated Regulation is without prejudice to the need for additional conservation measures necessary to comply
with the relevant provisions of the Birds, Habitats and Marine Strategy Framework Directives and the Commission’s
position regarding compliance by the interested Member States with their obligations under the relevant Union
environmental legislation,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/118 is amended as follows:
(1) Article 3 is amended as follows:
(a) point 1(a) is replaced by the following:
‘(a) in areas 1(1) to 1(15), except for the respective alert zones 1(10.az), 1(11.az), 1(12.az) and 1(13.az),
1(14.az) and 1(15.az), the following gears shall be prohibited: bottom trawl (TB), beam trawl (TBB),
bottom otter trawl (OTB), otter twin trawl (OTT), bottom pair trawl (PTB), nephrops trawl (TBN),
shrimp trawl (TBS), seine (SX), Danish anchor seine (SDN), Scottish seine (SSC), Scottish pair seine (SPR),
boat or vessel seine (SV), except for fishing activities with beam trawls and bobbin ropes with mesh size
between 16 and 31 mm (TBB_CRU_16-31) in the traditional fishery targeting brown shrimp (Crangon
spp.) in area 1(10)(b);’;
(b) point 1(b) is replaced by the following:
‘(b) in addition, in areas 1(10) to 1(15), except for the respective alert zones 1(10.az), 1(11.az), 1(12.az),
1(13.az), 1(14.az) and 1(15.az) the following gears shall be prohibited: boat dredge (DRB) and
mechanised dredge including suction dredge (HMD);’;
(c) point 3(d) is deleted;
(2) Article 4 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:
‘1. Fishing vessels carrying on board any mobile bottom contacting gear that are not authorised to fish in
areas 1(1) to 1(15), including the respective alert zones 1(12.az), 1(13.az), 1(14.az) and 1(15.az), and fishing
vessels carrying on board gillnets and entangling nets that are not authorised to fish in areas 4(1) to 4(4), may
transit across those respective areas provided that these gears be lashed and stowed during the transit in
accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 47 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.’;
(7) Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – 66th Plenary Report (PLEN-21-01). EUR 28359 EN, Publications
Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2021, ISBN 978-92-76-36151-0 (online), doi:10.2760/437609 (online), JRC124902.
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OJ L, 29.10.2025
(b) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:
‘3. The speed during transit for all fishing vessels that are not authorised to fish in areas 1(10) to 1(15),
including the respective alert zones 1(12.az), 1(13.az), 1(14.az) and 1(15.az), area 2(28) and areas 4(1) to 4(3),
shall not be less than six knots except in case of force majeure, in accordance with Article 50(3)(b) of Regulation
(EC) No 1224/2009.’;
(3) Article 5, paragraph 2, point c is replaced by the following:
‘(c) carrying on board any prohibited gear and travelling under six knots in areas 1(12) to 1(15) (Annex I),
including the respective alert zones 1(12.az), 1(13.az), 1(14.az) and 1(15.az). In areas 1(14), 1(15) and the
alert zones 1(14.az) and 1(15.az), VMS data can also be transmitted via GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
or GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication).’;
(4) Article 6 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 6
Review
From 8 March 2023, Member States concerned shall monitor, assess and report on the implementation of the
measures set out in Articles 3, 4 and 5, every three years for measures in areas 4(1) and 4(4) (Annex VI) under the
Birds Directive, and every six years for measures in areas 1(10) to 1(13) (Annex I), area 2(28) (Annex II) and areas
4(2) and 4(3) (Annex VI) under the Habitats Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Member States shall review the measures in areas 1(14) and 1(15) six years after their entry into force.’;
(5) Annex I is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 16 July 2025.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
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ANNEX
In Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/118, the following points are added (all coordinates measured according to
the WGS84 coordinate system):
‘1(14):Management zone located in the Southern part of the Dutch Natura 2000 site Dogger Bank (NL2008001).
The geographical area enclosed by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following coordinates:
Point Latitude N (y) Longitude E (x)
A01 55,219539° 4,032589°
A02 54,399216° 2,793136°
A03 54,380169° 2,763327°
A04 54,399905° 2,773361°
A05 54,566153° 2,866138°
A06 54,600000° 2,900000°
A07 54,600000° 3,000000°
A08 54,900000° 3,300000°
A09 54,900000° 3,450000°
A10 55,200000° 3,750000°
A11 55,250000° 3,700000°
A12 55,300000° 3,700000°
A13 55,350000° 3,750000°
A14 55,350098° 3,900085°
1(14.az): Alert zone of 4nm surrounding the management zone located in the Southern part of the Dutch Natura 2000 site
Dogger Bank (NL2008001).
The geographical area enclosed by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following coordinates:
Point Latitude N (y) Longitude E (x)
AAZ01 55,398662° 3,985798°
AAZ02 55,244121° 4,142261°
AAZ03 55,223544° 4,150326°
AAZ04 55,202652° 4,146567°
AAZ05 55,183685° 4,132361°
AAZ06 54,323936° 2,831891°
AAZ07 54,312857° 2,779999°
AAZ08 54,314559° 2,733106°
AAZ09 54,326877° 2,690952°
AAZ10 54,348385° 2,660469°
AAZ11 54,374488° 2,647378°
AAZ12 54,397131° 2,651871°
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Point Latitude N (y) Longitude E (x)
AAZ13 54,593427° 2,760873°
AAZ14 54,648790° 2,816134°
AAZ15 54,666567° 2,869256°
AAZ16 54,666585° 2,933614°
AAZ17 54,948760° 3,215421°
AAZ18 54,966563° 3,269037°
AAZ19 54,966595° 3,382883°
AAZ20 55,200096° 3,615802°
AAZ21 55,224445° 3,591366°
AAZ22 55,241259° 3,583495°
AAZ23 55,308592° 3,583298°
AAZ24 55,325405° 3,591057°
AAZ25 55,398486° 3,663960°
AAZ26 55,416545° 3,718386°
AAZ27 55,416683° 3,931697°
AAZ28 55,398662° 3,985798°
1(15):Management zone located in Northern part of the German and Dutch Natura 2000 sites Dogger Bank (NL2008001
and DE1003301).
The geographical area enclosed by:
(a) seaward separation line between the German and Danish Exclusive Economic Zones from coordinates of
point B01 55,810118° N 4,019211° E to latitude 55,685000° N;
(b) rhumb line between the intersection of the seaward separation line between the German and Danish Exclusive
Economic Zones with latitude 55,685000° N to coordinates of point B02 55,685000° N 4,000000° E in the
German Exclusive Economic Zone;
(c) rhumb lines sequentially joining the following coordinates in the German Exclusive Economic Zone:
Point Latitude N (y) Longitude E (x)
B02 55,685000° 4,000000°
B03 55,650000° 4,000000°
B04 55,650000° 4,100000°
B05 55,550000° 4,200000°
B06 55,550000° 4,250000°
B07 55,450000° 4,250000°
(d) rhumb line from coordinates of point B07 55,450000° N 4,250000° E westwards along latitude 55,450000° N to
the seaward separation line between the German and Dutch Exclusive Economic Zones;
(e) seaward separation line between the German and Dutch Exclusive Economic Zones from latitude 55,450000° N
northwards to latitude 55,550000° N;
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(f) rhumb line between the intersection of the seaward separation line between the German and Dutch Exclusive
Economic Zones with latitude 55,550000° N westwards to coordinates of point B08 55,550000° N 3,700000° E in
the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone;
(g) rhumb lines sequentially joining the following coordinates in the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone
Point Latitude N (y) Longitude E (x)
B08 55,550000° 3,700000°
B09 55,500000° 3,650000°
B10 55,500000° 3,500000°
B11 55,586973° 3,500000°
B12 55,645090° 3,635784°
(h) rhumb line between coordinates of point B12 55,645090° N 3,635784° E in the Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone to
coordinates of point B13 55,645643°N 3,637786° E in the German Exclusive Economic Zone;
(i) rhumb line between coordinates of point B13 55,645643°N 3,637786° E and point B01(14) 55,810118° N
4,019211° E in the German Exclusive Economic Zone, so that the management zone ends again at the seaward
separation line between the German and Danish Exclusive Economic Zones;
(j) the seaward separation line between the German and Danish Exclusive Economic Zones divides the management
zone in its Dutch and German part.
1(15.az): Alert zone of 4nm surrounding the management zone in the Northern part of the German and Dutch Natura
2000 sites Dogger Bank (NL2008001 and DE1003301).
The geographical area enclosed by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following coordinates:
Point Latitude N (y) Longitude E (x)
BAZ01 55,433416° 3,476653°
BAZ02 55,443556° 3,433622°
BAZ03 55,462242° 3,400651°
BAZ04 55,486706° 3,382738°
BAZ05 55,602823° 3,382392°
BAZ06 55,630758° 3,407319°
BAZ07 55,698214° 3,564762°
BAZ08 55,701245° 3,572502°
BAZ09 55,872807° 3,970108°
BAZ10 55,878430° 4,025862°
BAZ11 55,832928° 4,299922°
BAZ12 55,821027° 4,330757°
BAZ13 55,710591° 4,481739°
BAZ14 55,672619° 4,488346°
BAZ15 55,638451° 4,458485°
BAZ16 55,618418° 4,401279°
BAZ17 55,618418° 4,266729°
BAZ18 55,615659° 4,269480°
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Point Latitude N (y) Longitude E (x)
BAZ19 55,613795° 4,289388°
BAZ20 55,602241° 4,325939°
BAZ21 55,584202° 4,352839°
BAZ22 55,562052° 4,367487°
BAZ23 55,436703° 4,367114°
BAZ24 55,412262° 4,349244°
BAZ25 55,393541° 4,316288°
BAZ26 55,383415° 4,273270°
BAZ27 55,383415° 4,054121°
BAZ28 55,390787° 4,016721°
BAZ29 55,483416° 3,810961°
BAZ30 55,483416° 3,768298°
BAZ31 55,450665° 3,735463°
BAZ32 55,433416° 3,679988°
BAZ33 55,433416° 3,476653°’
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