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1. Longline fishing operations shall be conducted in such a way that the baited hooks sink as soon as possible after they are put in the water. For vessels using the Spanish method of longline fishing, weights shall be released before line tension occurs; weights of at least 8,5 kg mass shall be used, spaced at intervals of no more than 40 m, or weights of at least 6 kg mass shall be used, spaced at intervals of no more than 20 m. Only thawed bait shall be used.

2. Without prejudice to paragraph 7, longlines shall be set at night only (i.e. during the hours of darkness between the times of nautical twilight). Where possible, the setting of lines shall be completed at least three hours before sunrise. During longline fishing at night, only the minimum ship's lights necessary for safety shall be used.

3. Without prejudice to paragraph 8, the discharging of offal overside is prohibited while longlines are being set. The discharging of offal during the haul shall be avoided as far as possible. Where discharging during the haul is unavoidable it shall take place only on the opposite side of the vessel to where longlines are set or hauled. Prior to discharging, fish hooks should be removed from offal and fish heads. Vessels shall be so configured that they dispose of on-board offal processing facilities or adequate capacity to retain offal on board, or the ability to discharge offal on the opposite side of the vessel to that where longlines are hauled.

4. Every effort shall be made to ensure that sea birds captured alive during longlining are released alive and that where possible hooks are removed without jeopardising the life of the bird.

5. A streamer line designed to discourage sea birds from settling on baits during deployment of longlines shall be towed. A detailed description of the streamer line and its method of deployment is given in Annex III. Details of the construction relating to the number and placement of swivels may be varied so long as the effective sea surface covered by the streamers is no less than that covered by the model shown in Annex III. Details of the device dragged in the water in order to create tension in the line may also be varied.

6. Other variations in the design of streamer lines may be tested on vessels carrying two observers, at least one appointed in accordance with the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation, providing that the conditions laid down in paragraphs 1 to 5 and paragraph 7 are met.

7. The prohibition to set longlines at day provided for in paragraph 2 shall not apply to fishing in FAO statistical sub-areas 48.6 south of 60° S, 88.1, 88.2 and division 58.4.2 provided the following conditions are fulfilled:

(a) on the issue of the licence for this fishery, the vessel concerned can demonstrate to the competent authorities:

(i) its ability to comply fully with either of the exploratory protocols for the setting of longlines set out in Annex IV. Member States shall report to the CCAMLR on the results of technical controls carried out to this end on each licensed vessel;

(ii) the arrangements made to ensure the presence of the scientific observers it is required to carry on board in accordance with Article 14(2);

(b) the vessel concerned demonstrates a consistent minimum line sink rate of 0,3 m/s during its fishing operations;

(c) the vessel concerned does not catch more that two seabirds. Any vessel catching a total of three seabirds shall immediately revert to night setting.

8. By derogation to paragraph 3, there shall be no offal discharge in the fisheries referred to in paragraph 7.

9. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 20(2).