School Shark (SCH - Galeorhinus Galeus) has been added to Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 1996 with effect from 3 January 2013. This means that it may be returned to the sea or other water under the following conditions:

• it is likely to survive on return; and
• the return takes place as soon as possible after it has been taken.

When reporting SCH returned to the sea you need to use the destination type code 'X' and provide an estimate of the greenweight of the fish in the Landing section of your Catch Effort returns. In the Effort section you need to provide an estimate greenweight of all SCH taken (including the fish returned to the sea).

Example:

On a fishing trip you were set-netting for flatfish. You catch approximately 150kg of flatfish, 10kg of snapper, 8kg of gurnard, 5kg of rig and 25kg of school shark. The top (Effort) section of your CELR would be completed as follows;

You decide to land all the fish caught except for some of the school shark, which you return to the sea because it is alive and likely to survive. After landing your catch an LFR provides you with the actual greenweight information. Destination "L" is used for these fish. The bottom (Landing) section of your CELR would be completed as follows;

Note:

• For school shark not landed to an LFR you need to provide the best available estimate of the greenweight.
• You are NOT required to provide container information for landings recorded to destination type "X".
• Any school shark returned to the sea under Schedule 6 and reported appropriately should not be included in your Monthly Harvest Return and is not counted against your ACE holdings.