This dataset provides the spatial extent of Real time closures (RTC) and Juvenile closures since April 2010. The purpose of RTCs are to ensure sufficient efforts are made to reduce cod mortality. Closures are taken from those areas with the highest cod catch rate (per hour), based on data from historical landings per unit effort (LPUE) over the previous 4 years.
In September 2009 the European Community and Norway agreed to implement an RTC scheme in the North Sea and Skagerrak for the protection of juvenile cod, haddock, whiting and saithe. The Juvenile closures scheme is independent of the UK RTC scheme in place for cod. Incursions are enforced directly through the European legislation (Commission Regulation 724/2009). For the purposes of completeness the Juvenile closures have been included in this dataset.
