Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005

Species	North Sea
Cod (Gadus morhua)	35 cm
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)	30 cm
Saithe (Pollachius virens)	35 cm
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)	30 cm
Hake (Merluccius merluccius)	27 cm
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.)	20 cm
Sole (Solea spp.)	24 cm
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)	27 cm
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)	27 cm
Ling (Molva molva)	63 cm
Blue ling (Molva dipterygia)	70 cm
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)	Total length 85 mm, Carapace length 25 mm Norway lobster tails 46 mm
Mackerel (Scomber spp.)	30 cm [^E0015]
Herring (Clupea harengus)	20 cm [^E0015]
Horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.)	15 cm [^E0015]
Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)	12 cm or 90 individuals per kg [^E0015]
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)	42 cm
Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)	11 cm [^E0015]
Lobster (Homarus gammarus)	87 mm (carapace length)
Spinous spider crab (Maja squinado)	120 mm
Queen scallop (Chalamys spp.)	40 mm
Grooved carpetshell (Ruditapes decussatus)	40 mm
Carpetshell (Venerupis pullastra)	38 mm
Short-necked clam (Venerupis philippinarum)	35 mm
Clam (Venus verrucosa)	40 mm
Hard clam (Callista chione)	6 cm
Razor clam (Ensis spp.)	10 cm
Surf clams (Spisula solida)	25 mm
Donax clams (Donax spp.)	25 mm
Bean solen (Pharus legumen)	65 mm
Whelk (Buccinum undatum.)	45 mm
Octopus (Octopus vulgaris)	750 g
Crawfish (Palinurus spp.)	95 mm (carapace length)
Deepwater rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostirs)	22 mm (carapace length)
Edible crab (Cancer pagurus)	140 mm [^E0012] [^E0013] [^E0014]
Scallop (Pecten maximus)	100 mm
Cod (Gadus morhua)	30 cm
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)	27 cm
Saithe (Pollachius virens)	30 cm
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)	—
Hake (Merluccius merluccius)	30 cm
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.)	25 cm
Sole (Solea spp.)	24 cm
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)	27 cm
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)	23 cm
Ling (Molva molva)	—
Blue ling (Molva dypterygia)	—
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)	Total length 105 mm Norway lobster tails 59 mm Carapace length 32 mm
Mackerel (Scomber spp.)	20 cm [^E0015]
Herring (Clupea harengus)	18 cm [^E0015]
Horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.)	15 cm [^E0015]
Lobster (Homarus gammarus)	Total length 220 mm Carapace length 78 mm
European lobster (Homarus gammarus)	90 mm (Carapace length) in the Swedish exclusive economic zone in ICES division 3a

In Union waters in ICES division 4a. In ICES Divisions 4b and 4c, a minimum conservation reference size of 130 mm shall apply.

In an area in ICES divisions 4b and 4c limited by a point at 53°28′22″ N, 0°09′24″ E, on the coast of England, a straight line joining this point with 53°28′22″ N, 0°22′24″ E, the 6-mile boundary of the United Kingdom, and a straight line connecting a point at 51°54′06″ N, 1°30′30″ E, with a point on the coast of England at 51°55′48″ N, 1°17′00″ E, a minimum conservation reference size of 115 mm shall apply.

For edible crabs caught in pots or creels, a maximum of 1 % by weight of the total catch of edible crab may consist of detached claws. For edible crabs caught with any other fishing gear, a maximum of 75 kg of detached crab claws may be landed.

By way of derogation from Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the minimum conservation reference sizes of sardine, anchovy, herring, horse mackerel and mackerel shall not apply within a limit of 10 % by live weight of the total catches retained on board of each of those species.

The percentage of sardine, anchovy, herring, horse mackerel or mackerel below minimum conservation reference size shall be calculated as the proportion by live weight of all marine organisms on board after sorting or on landing.

The percentage may be calculated on the basis of one or more representative samples. The limit of 10 % shall not be exceeded during transhipment, landing, transportation, storage, display or sale.

- 1.The minimum conservation reference sizes specified in this Part for seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in the North Sea and European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in Swedish exclusive economic zone in the Skagerrak and Kattegat (ICES division 3a) shall apply to recreational fisheries.

PART B

Mesh sizes

• 1.1.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 120 mm, or at least 90 mm in Skagerrak when fishing with otter trawls, or at least 90 mm in Kattegat when fishing with otter trawls or seines ([^E0017]) ([^E0018]).

• 1.2.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 1.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat provided that:

• (i) the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip; or

• (ii) other selectivity modifications are used which have been assessed by STECF upon request of one or more Member States and approved by the Commission. Those selectivity modifications shall result in the same or better selectivity characteristics for cod, haddock and saithe as that of 120 mm.

• 1.3.By way of derogation from the specifications in the table, a fish retention device may be used in Northern prawn fisheries in the Skagerrak (ICES division 3an) provided that there are adequate fishing opportunities to cover by-catch and that the retention device is:

• — constructed with a top panel with a minimum mesh size of 120 mm square mesh;

• — at least 3 metres long; and

• — at least as wide as the sorting grid.

• 1.4.The use of SepNep ([^E0019]) as referred to in Annex I of this Regulation shall be permitted as an equivalent selectivity device in the directed fisheries for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus).

Mesh Size	Geographical Areas	Conditions
At least 100 mm [^E0020]	North Sea south of 57° 30′ N	Directed fishing for plaice and sole with otter trawls, beam trawls, and seines. A square mesh panel of at least 90 mm shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm [^E0020]	ICES Divisions 4b and 4c	Directed fishing for sole with beam trawls. A panel with a mesh size of at least 180 mm fitted in the upper half of the anterior part of the net shall be fitted. Directed fishing for whiting, mackerel and species not subject to catch limits with bottom trawls. A square mesh panel of at least 80 mm shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm	North Sea	Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). A square mesh panel of at least 120 mm or sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm or equivalent selectivity device shall be fitted. Directed fishing for species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table. A square mesh panel of at least 80 mm shall be fitted. Directed fishing for skates and rays.
At least 80 mm	ICES division 4c	Directed fishing for sole using otter trawls. A square mesh panel of at least 80 mm shall be fitted.
At least 70 mm (square mesh) or 90 mm (diamond mesh)	Skagerrak and Kattegat	Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). A sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35mm or equivalent selectivity device shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm	ICES subarea 4	Directed fishing for squid (Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae).
At least 35 mm	Skagerrak and Kattegat	Directed fishing for Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis). A sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 19mm or equivalent selectivity device shall be fitted.
At least 32 mm	Whole area except Skagerrak and Kattegat	Directed fishing for Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis). A sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 19 mm or equivalent selectivity device shall be fitted.
At least 16 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for small pelagic species which are not covered elsewhere in the table. Directed fishing for Norway pout. One of the following devices shall be fitted: (1) a sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm; (2) an excluder device [^E0021], provided that the following conditions are fulfilled: (i) the excluder shall have a maximum mesh size of 70mm and shall be mounted with a kite made of PVC or similar flexible materials; (ii) where a sail is mounted inside the excluder device across the cone/tube of that device, that sail shall be made of PVC or similar flexible material and the size of the sail shall be such that it does not cover more than 75 % of the cross-section area where it is positioned; and (iii) an exit hole of a minimum 50 × 50 cm shall be inserted at the apex of the excluder device. Directed fishing for common and Aesop shrimps. A separator trawl or sorting grid shall be fitted in accordance with nationally or regionally established rules.
Less than 16 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for sandeel.

[^E0020]: (¹)

Vessels shall be prohibited from using any beam trawl with a mesh size between 32 and 99 mm north of a line joined by the following points by a point on the East Coast of the United Kingdom at latitude 55° N, then east to latitude 55°, longitude 5° E, then north to latitude 56° N and east to a point on the west coast of Denmark at latitude 56° N. It is prohibited to use any beam trawl of mesh size range 32 to 119 mm within ICES Division 2a and that part of ICES Sub-area 4 to the north of 56° 00′ N.

‘Excluder device’ means a conic net device fulfilling the following criteria: (1) it is inserted before the cod-end, in such a way that the leading edge or base of the cone is attached to the full circumference of the trawl in front of the cod-end or extension piece; (2) it tapers to an apex where it is attached to the bottom sheet of the trawl; (3) an exit hole is cut where the apex of the excluder and cod-end join; (4) it allows for the passage of Norway pout through it and its retention in the cod-end, whilst releasing by-catches of fish by guiding them out of the exit hole.

• 2.1.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 120 mm.

- 2.2.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 2.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat provided that the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with and by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip.

| Mesh Size | Geographical Areas | Conditions |

| --- | --- | --- | | At least 100 mm | Whole area | Directed fishing for haddock, whiting, dab and bass | | At least 90 mm | Whole area | Directed fishing for flatfish or species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table | | At least 50 mm | Whole area | Directed fishing for small pelagic species which are not covered elsewhere in the table |

PART C

Closed or restricted areas

• 1.1.Fishing for sandeel with any towed gear with a codend mesh size less than 32 mm shall be prohibited within the geographical area bounded by the east coast of England and Scotland, and enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• — the east coast of England at latitude 55°30′ N

• — 55°30′ N, 01°00′ W

• — 58°00′ N, 01°00′ W

• — 58°00′ N, 02°00′ W

- — the east coast of Scotland at longitude 02°00′ W.

• 1.2.Fisheries for scientific investigation shall be allowed in order to monitor the sandeel stock in the area and the effects of the closure.

• 2.1.Vessels exceeding 8 m in overall length shall be prohibited from using any demersal trawl, beam trawl, Danish seine or similar towed gear within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84:

• (a) the area within 12 nautical miles of the coasts of France, north of latitude 51°00′ N, Belgium, and the Netherlands up to latitude 53°00′ N, measured from the baselines;

• (b) the area bounded by a line joining the following coordinates:
• — a point on the west coast of Denmark at latitude 57°00′ N
• — 57°00′ N, 7°15′ E
• — 55°00′ N, 7°15′ E
• — 55°00′ N, 7°00′ E
• — 54°30′ N, 7°00′ E
• — 54°30′ N, 7°30′ E
• — 54°00′ N, 7°30′ E
• — 54°00′ N, 6°00′ E
• — 53°50′ N, 6°00′ E
• — 53°50′ N, 5°00′ E
• — 53°30′ N, 5°00′ E
• — 53°30′ N, 4°15′ E
• — 53°00′ N, 4°15′ E
• — a point on the coast of the Netherlands at latitude 53°00′ N
• — the area within 12 nautical miles of the west coast of Denmark from 57°00′ N as far north as the Hirtshals Lighthouse, measured from the baselines.

• 2.2.The following vessels are permitted to fish in the area referred to in point 2.1:

• (a) vessels whose engine power does not exceed 221 kW using bottom trawls or Danish seines;

• (b) paired vessels whose combined engine power does not exceed 221 kW at any time using bottom pair trawls;

• (c) vessels whose engine power exceeds 221 kW shall be permitted to use bottom otter trawls, and paired vessels whose combined engine power exceeds 221 kW shall be permitted to use bottom pair trawls provided that such vessels do not engage in directed fishing for plaice and sole and comply with the relevant mesh size rules contained in Part B of this Annex;

• (d) vessels whose engine power exceeds 221 kW using Danish seines which haul the fishing gear while the vessel is at anchor (Danish anchor seine – SDN), provided that such vessels comply with the mesh size provided for in point 1.1 of Part B of this Annex.

- 2.3.When vessels referred to in point 2.2(a) use beam trawls, the beam length, or the aggregate length of combined beam trawls measured as the sum of the length of each beam, shall not be greater than or shall not be able to be extended to a length of greater than 9 m except when operating with gear having a mesh size between 16 and 31 mm. Fishing vessels whose primary activity is fishing for common shrimp (Crangon crangon) shall be permitted to use beam trawls of which the aggregate beam length, measured as the sum of the length of each beam, is greater than 9 m when operating with gear having a mesh size between 80 and 99 mm provided an additional fishing authorisation has been issued to these vessels.

• 2.4.Vessels permitted to fish in the area referred to in point 2.1 shall be included in a list to be provided to the Commission by each Member State. The total engine power of the vessels referred to in point 2.2(a) within the list shall not exceed the total engine power in evidence for each Member State at 1 January 1998. The permitted fishing vessels shall hold a fishing authorisation in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. From 1 July 2021, only beam trawlers with a length overall of maximum 24 meters may be added to that list.

• 3.1.Vessels shall be prohibited from using any beam trawl inside the areas within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the United Kingdom, measured from the baselines of the territorial waters.

• 3.2.By way of derogation from point 3.1, fishing with beam trawls within the specified area shall be permitted provided that:

- — The engine power of the vessels does not exceed 221 Kw and their overall length does not exceed 24 m; and

• — The beam length or aggregated beam length, measured as the sum of each beam, is no more than 9 m, or cannot be extended to a length greater than 9 m, except when directed fishing for common shrimp (Crangon crangon) with a minimum mesh size of less than 31 mm.

Fishing with any towed gear with a codend mesh size of less than 32 mm or static nets less than 30 mm mesh size shall be prohibited within the geographical area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84, from 1 July to 31 October, within the geographical area bounded by the following coordinates:

• — the west coast of Denmark at latitude 55°30′ N,

• — latitude 55°30′ N, longitude 7°00′ E,

• — latitude 57°00′ N, longitude 7°00′ E,

• — the west coast of Denmark at latitude 57°00′ N.

By way of derogation from the first paragraph, that paragraph shall not apply to fishing with the following gear:

• (a) towed gear with a mesh size of less than 32 mm;

• (b) purse seines; or

- (c) gillnets, entangling nets, trammel nets and driftnets with a mesh size of less than 30 mm.

Member States having a direct management interest shall submit to the Commission, by 30 April each year, monitoring data supporting the derogation as regards the herring bycatch by the fleets involved in the sprat fishery. Such data could be based on the data collection in sampling programs for industrial fisheries.

• 5.1.It shall be prohibited to fish with beam trawls in the Kattegat.

• 5.2.It shall be prohibited for Union vessels to fish for, retain on board, tranship, land, store, sell and display or offer for sale salmon and sea trout.

- 5.3.It shall be prohibited to deploy towed gear with a codend mesh size of less than 32 mm from 1 July to 15 September in the waters situated within three nautical miles of the baselines in the Skagerrak and Kattegat unless carrying out directed fishing for Northern Prawn (Pandalus borealis). For directed fishing for eelpout (Zoarces viviparous), gobies (Gobiidae) or scorpion fish (Cottus spp.) for use as bait, nets with any mesh size may be used.

• 5.4.It shall be prohibited to conduct any commercial and recreational fishing for, retaining on board, transhipping or landing of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the Skagerrak (ICES division 3aN) and in the Swedish exclusive economic zone in the Kattegat (ICES division 3aS) from 20 December to 31 March each year. When accidentally caught during this period, specimens shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.

• 6.1.In accordance with point (a) of Article 9(7) and by way of derogation from Part B Point 2 of this Annex, it shall be permitted to use the following gear in waters with a charted depth of less than 600 m:

• — Bottom set gillnets used for directed fishing for hake of a mesh size of at least 100 mm and no more than 100 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 25 km per vessel and the maximum soak time is 24 hours;

- — Entangling nets used for directed fishing for anglerfish of a mesh size of at least 250 mm and no more than 15 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 100 km and the maximum soak time is 72 hours.

• 6.2.Directed fishing for deepwater sharks as listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/2336 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0022]) in charted depths of less than 600 m shall be prohibited. When accidentally caught, deepwater sharks classified as prohibited in this Regulation and other Union legislation shall be recorded, unharmed to the extent possible, and shall be promptly released. Deepwater sharks subject to catch limits shall be retained on board. Such catches shall be landed and counted against quotas. In situations where quota is not or not sufficiently available to the Member State concerned, the Commission may resort to Article 105(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. Where accidental catches of deepwater sharks by the vessels of any Member State exceed 10 tonnes then those vessels may no longer avail of the derogations set out in point 6.1.

• 7.1.In the Swedish exclusive economic zone of ICES division 3a, European lobster (Homarus gammarus) may only be fished with lobsterpots (FPO).

• The lobsterpot shall have at least two circular escape openings with a diameter of at least 60mm which are situated in the lower part of each compartment of the lobsterpot. Lobster accidentally caught with other fishing gear shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released back into the sea.

• 7.2.It shall be prohibited to fish for, retain on board, tranship and land European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in the Swedish exclusive economic zone of ICES division 3a:

• (a) in commercial fisheries during the period 1 January to first Monday after 20 September;

- (b) in recreational fisheries during the period 1 December to first Monday after 20 September.

- When caught accidentally during these periods, specimens of European lobster shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released back into the sea.

PART D

The use of electric pulse trawls in ICES divisions 4b and 4c

• 1.Fishing with electric pulse trawl shall be prohibited in all Union waters as of 1 July 2021.

• 2.During the transitional period ending 30 June 2021, fishing with electric pulse trawl in ICES divisions 4b and 4c shall continue to be allowed under the conditions set out in this and any conditions defined in accordance with point (b) of Article 24(1) of this Regulation, regarding the characteristics of the pulse used and control monitoring measures in place south of a rhumb line joined by the following points, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

• — a point on east coast of the United Kingdom at latitude 55° N

• — east to latitude 55° N, longitude 5° E

• — north to latitude 56° N

• — east to a point on the west coast of Denmark at latitude 56° N.

• The following conditions shall apply:

• (a) no more than 5 % of the beam trawler fleet per Member State use the electric pulse trawl;

• (b) the maximum electrical power in kW for each beam trawl is no more than the length in metres of the beam multiplied by 1,25;

• (c) the effective voltage between the electrodes is no more than 15 V;

• (d) the vessel is equipped with an automatic computer management system which records the maximum power used per beam and the effective voltage between electrodes for at least the last 100 tows. It is not possible for non-authorised personnel to modify this automatic computer management system;

• (e) it is prohibited to use one or more tickler chains in front of the footrope.

• 3.New licences shall not be granted to any vessel during this period.

- 4.Until 30 June 2021 in the waters up to 12 nautical miles from baselines under their sovereignty or jurisdiction, Member States may take non-discriminatory measures to restrict or prohibit the use of electric pulse trawl. Member Sates shall inform the Commission and the Member States concerned of the measures put in place under this point.

- 5.If requested by the coastal Member State to the flag Member State, the master of a vessel using electric pulse trawl shall, in line with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0023]), take on board an observer from the coastal Member State during the fishing operations.

ANNEX VI

NORTH WESTERN WATERS

PART A

Minimum conservation reference sizes

Species	Whole area
Cod (Gadus morhua)	35 cm
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)	30 cm
Saithe (Pollachius virens)	35 cm
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)	30 cm
Hake (Merluccius merluccius)	27 cm
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.)	20 cm
Sole (Solea spp.)	24 cm
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)	27 cm
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)	27 cm
Ling (Molva molva)	63 cm
Blue ling (Molva dypterygia)	70 cm
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) Norway Lobster tails	Total length 85 mm, Carapace length 25 mm [^E0024] 46 mm [^E0025]
Mackerel (Scomber spp.)	20 cm [^E0029]
Herring (Clupea harengus)	20 cm [^E0029]
Horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.)	15 cm [^E0029]
Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)	12 cm or 90 individuals per kg [^E0029]
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)	42 cm
Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)	11 cm [^E0029]
Red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo)	36 cm [^E0033] [^E0034]
Lobster (Hommarus gammarus)	87 mm
Spinous spider crab (Maja squinado)	120 mm
Queen scallop (Chlamys spp.)	40 mm
Grooved carpetshell (Ruditapes decussatus)	40 mm
Carpetshell (Venerupis pullastra)	38 mm
Short-necked clam (Venerupis philippinarum)	35 mm
Clam (Venus verrucosa)	40 mm
Hard clam (Callista chione)	6 cm
Razor clam (Ensis spp.)	10 cm
Surf clams (Spisula solida)	25 mm
Donax clams (Donax spp.)	25 mm
Bean solen (Pharus legumen)	65 mm
Whelk (Buccinum undatum.)	45 mm
Octopus (Octopus vulgaris)	750 g
Crawfish (Palinurus spp.)	95 mm
Deepwater rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris)	22 mm (carapace length)
Edible crab (Cancer pagurus)	140 mm [^E0026] [^E0027]
Scallop (Pecten maximus)	100 mm [^E0028]

In ICES divisions 6a and 7a a minimum conservation reference size of total length of 70 mm and a carapace length of 20 mm shall apply.

In ICES divisions 6a and 7a a minimum conservation reference size of 37 mm shall apply.

In Union waters in ICES sub-areas, 5, 6 south of 56° N and 7, except ICES divisions 7d, 7e and 7f, a minimum conservation reference size of 130 mm shall apply.

For edible crabs caught in pots or creels, a maximum of 1 % by weight of the total catch of edible crab may consist of detached claws. For edible crabs caught with any other fishing gear, a maximum of 75 kg of detached crab claws may be landed.

In ICES division 7a north of 52°30′ N, and ICES division 7d, a minimum conservation reference size of 110 mm shall apply.

By way of derogation from Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the minimum conservation reference sizes of sardine, anchovy, herring, horse mackerel and mackerel shall not apply within a limit of 10 % by live weight of the total catches retained on board of each of those species.

The percentage of sardine, anchovy, herring, horse mackerel or mackerel below the minimum conservation reference size shall be calculated as the proportion by live weight of all marine organisms on board after sorting or on landing.

The percentage may be calculated on the basis of one or more representative samples. The limit of 10 % shall not be exceeded during transhipment, landing, transportation, storage, display or sale.

[^E0033]: (^*1)

This minimum conservation reference size shall apply to ICES subareas 6 and 7 until 31 December 2026. The minimum conservation reference size of 33 cm shall apply to ICES subarea 5.

[^E0034]: (^*2)

In the absence of new rules adopted before 31 December 2026, as of 1 January 2027 the applicable minimum conservation reference size shall be 33 cm.

• 1.The minimum conservation reference sizes specified in this Part for cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), saithe (Pollachius virens), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), hake (Merluccius merluccius), megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.), sole (Solea spp.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), ling (Molva molva), blue ling (Molva dypterygia), mackerel (Scomber spp.), herring (Clupea harengus), horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) shall apply to recreational fisheries in the North Western Waters. However, for red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo), the minimum conservation reference size of 40 cm shall apply to recreational fisheries in ICES subareas 6 and 7 until 31 December 2026 ([^E0036]).

PART B

Mesh sizes

• 1.1.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 120 mm ([^E0037]), or at least 100 mm in ICES sub-area 7b-7k.

• 1.2.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 1.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the North Western waters provided that:

• (i) the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip; or

• (ii) other selectivity modifications are used which have been assessed by STECF upon request of one or more Member States and approved by the Commission. Those selectivity modifications shall result in the same or better selectivity characteristics for cod, haddock and saithe as that of 120 mm, or 100 mm in ICES sub-area 7b-7k, respectively.

Mesh Size	Geographical Areas	Conditions
At least 80 mm [^E0038]	ICES sub-area 7	Directed fishing for hake, megrim and anglerfish, or directed fishing for whiting, mackerel and species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table, using bottom trawls. A square mesh panel of at least 120 mm shall be fitted [^E0041] [^E0044]. Directed fishing for sole and species not covered by catch limits, using otter trawls. A square mesh panel of at least 80 mm shall be fitted [^E0041].
At least 80 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) [^E0040]. A square mesh panel of at least 120 mm or sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm or equivalent selectivity device shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm	ICES divisions 7a, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h and 7j	Directed fishing for sole with beam trawls. A panel with a mesh size of at least 180 mm [^E0043] fitted in the upper half of the anterior part of the net shall be fitted.
At least 80 mm	ICES divisions 7d and 7e	Directed fishing for whiting, mackerel and species not subject to catch limits including squids (Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae) and which are not covered elsewhere in the table, using bottom trawls.
At least 80 mm	ICES divisions 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7g, 7h, 7k	Directed fishing for squid (Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae), using bottom trawls and seines.
At least 16 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for small pelagic species which are not covered elsewhere in the table. Directed fishing for common and Aesop shrimps. A separator trawl or sorting grid must be fitted in accordance with nationally established rules
Less than 16 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for sandeel
At least 40 mm	ICES subareas 5, 6	Directed fishing for squid (Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae) using any towed gear in ICES subareas 5 and 6.
At least 40mm	ICES division 7e	Directed fishing for squid (Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae) using midwater otter trawls (OTM) within 12 nautical miles of the coast of France, measured from the baselines, in ICES division 7e.
At least 40 mm	ICES division 7j	Directed fishing for squid (Loliginidae, Ommastrephidae), using bottom trawls and seines in ICES division 7j.

This is without prejudice to Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 494/2002 [^E0039].

Commission Regulation (EC) No 494/2002 of 19 March 2002 establishing additional technical measures for the recovery of the stock of hake in ICES sub-areas III, IV, V, VI and VII and ICES divisions VIII a, b, d, e (OJ L 77, 20.3.2002, p. 8).

At least 70 mm mesh size shall apply for single rig vessels in ICES division 7a.

This is without prejudice to Article 2(5) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 737/2012 [^E0042].

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 737/2012 of 14 August 2012 on the protection of certain stocks in the Celtic Sea (OJ L 218, 15.8.2012, p. 8).

This provision shall not apply to ICES division 7d.

This provision shall not apply when directed fishing for whiting, mackerel and species not subject to catch limits in ICES divisions 7d and 7e.

• 1.3.This point applies by way of derogation from points 1.1 and 1.2

• 1.3.1. The following shall apply to vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines in ICES divisions 7f, 7g, the part of 7h North of latitude 49° 30′ North and the part of 7j North of latitude 49° 30′ North and East of longitude 11° West:
• (a) Vessels fishing with bottom trawls or seines shall use gear with one of the following mesh sizes:
• (i) 110 mm cod-end with 120 mm square-mesh panel;
• (ii) 100 mm T90 cod-end;
• (iii) 120 mm cod-end;
• (iv) 100 mm with 160 mm square-mesh panel;
• (b) in addition, vessels fishing with bottom trawls whose catches weighed before any discards consist of at least 20 % of haddock shall use:
• (i) a fishing gear that is constructed with a minimum of one meter spacing between the fishing line and ground gear, or
• (ii) any means proven to be at least equally selective for avoidance of cod, according to the assessment by ICES or the STECF, and approved by the Commission.

Member States may exempt from the application of point (b) vessels fishing with bottom trawls whose catches, weighed before any discards, consist of less than 1,5 % of cod, provided those vessels are subject to a progressive increase of observer coverage at sea up to at least 20 % of all their fishing trips. Member States that make use of this exemption shall report to the Commission each year before 1 December the number and catch-composition of vessels making use of this provision.

Member States may exempt from the application of points (a) and (b) vessels that use an alternative highly selective gear provided that the technical attributes of those gears result in the same or higher selectivity as the gears specified in those points, and result in catches of less than 1 % of cod, according to an assessment made by the STECF. Such a gear or device shall comply with the requirements of Article 15(4) and shall be approved by the Commission.

• 1.3.2.By way of derogation from points 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3.1:

• (a) vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 30% of Norway lobster shall use one of the following gears:
• (i) 300 mm squared mesh panel; vessels below 12 meters in length over all may use a 200 mm square mesh panel;
• (ii) Seltra panel;
• (iii) Sorting grid with a 35 mm bar spacing or a similar Netgrid selectivity device;
• (iv) 100 mm cod-end with a 100 mm square mesh panel;
• (v) Dual cod-end with the uppermost cod-end constructed with T90 mesh of at least 100 mm and fitted with a separation panel with a maximum mesh size of 300 mm.

• Member States may allow the use of device in point (v) until the end of December 2022, provided that the technical attributes of this device result in the same or higher selectivity as the other gears specified in points 1.2. and 1.3.1, according to an assessment made by the STECF based on the information provided by the Member States no later than 1 May 2022. Such device shall comply with the requirements of Article 15(4) and shall be approved by the Commission.

• (b) vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 55 % of whiting or 55 % of anglerfish, hake or megrim combined, shall use one of the following gears:
• (i) 100 mm cod-end with a 100 mm squared mesh panel;
• (ii) 100mm T90 cod-end and extension.

• 1.4.Points 1.4.1 and 1.4.2 shall apply by way of derogation from point 1.2.

- 1.4.1. The following shall apply to fishing vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines in ICES divisions 6a and 5b, within the Union waters, East of 12°W (West of Scotland) in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) fisheries:

• (a) vessels shall use of a square mesh panel (positioning retained) of at least 300 mm for vessels deploying a cod-end mesh size less than 100 mm; for vessels below 12 m in length over all and/or with engine power of 200 kW or less, the panel overall length may be 2 m and the panel 200 mm;
• (b) vessels with catches comprising more than 30 % of Norway lobster shall use a square mesh panel (positioning retained) of at least 160 mm for vessels deploying a cod-end mesh size of 100-119 mm. By way of derogation from letters (a) and (b) of point 1.4.1, the use of an alternative fishing gear shall be permitted provided such gear results in at least the same or higher selectivity for cod, haddock and whiting, according to an assessment made by the STECF. Such gear shall comply with the requirements of Article 15(4) and shall be approved by the Commission.

• 1.4.2. The following shall apply to fishing vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines in ICES division 7a (Irish Sea):
• (a) vessels operating with bottom trawls or seines with a cod-end mesh size equal to or larger than 70 mm and smaller than 100 mm and with catches comprising more than 30% of Norway lobster shall use one of the following gears:
• (i) 300 mm square mesh panel; vessels below 12 meters in length over all may use a 200 mm squared mesh panel;
• (ii) Seltra panel;
• (iii) Sorting grid with 35 mm bar spacing;
• (iv) CEFAS Netgrid;
• (v) Flip-flap trawl;
• (b) vessels equal to or greater than 12 meters in length overall operating with bottom trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 10 % of haddock, cod and skates and rays combined, shall use 120 mm cod-end. By way of derogation from letters (a) and (b), the use of an alternative fishing gear shall be permitted provided such gears result in at least the same or higher selectivity for cod haddock and whiting. Such gears shall be assessed by the STECF and approved by the Commission and shall fulfil the criteria set by Article 15(4).

• 1.5.The catch percentages in points 1.3 and 1.4 shall be calculated as the proportion by live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip, according to Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 27(2) of this Regulation.

• 1.6.Measures in points 1.3 to 1.5 shall apply until 31 December 2026.

• 2.1.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 120 mm ([^E0045]).

- 2.2.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 2.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the North Western waters provided that the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip.

| Mesh Size | Geographical Areas | Conditions |

| --- | --- | --- | | At least 100 mm [^E0046] | Whole area | Directed fishing for flatfish or species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table Directed fishing for whiting, dab and bass | | At least 50 mm | Whole area | Directed fishing for small pelagic species which are not covered elsewhere in the table Directed fishing for red mullet |

[^E0046]: (¹)

In division 7d, at least 90 mm shall apply.

• 3.This Part is without prejudice to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/2034 ([^E0047]), for the fisheries covered by that Delegated Regulation.

PART C

Closed or restricted areas

From 1 January to 31 March, and from 1 October to 31 December, each year, it shall be prohibited to conduct any fishing activity using any towed gear or static nets in the area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

• — 55°25′ N, 7°07′ W

• — 55°25′ N, 7°00′ W

- — 55°18′ N, 6°50′ W

• — 55°17′ N, 6°50′ W

• — 55°17′ N, 6°52′ W

• — 55°25′ N, 7°07 W.

• 2.1.From 1 February to 31 March each year, it shall be prohibited to conduct any fishing activity in the following ICES statistical rectangles: 30E4, 31E4, 32E3. This prohibition shall not apply within 6 nautical miles from the baseline.

• 2.2.It shall be permitted to conduct fishing activities using pots and creels within the specified areas and time periods, provided that:

• (i) no fishing gear other than pots and creels are carried on board; and

- (ii) by-catches of a species subject to the landing obligation are landed and counted against quotas.

• 2.3.Directed fishing for small pelagic species with towed gear with a mesh size less than 55 mm shall be permitted, provided that:

• (i) no net of mesh size greater than or equal to 55 mm is carried on board; and

• (ii) by-catches of a species subject to the landing obligation are landed and counted against quotas.

• 3.1.In the period from 14 February to 30 April each year it shall be prohibited to use any dermersal trawl, seine or similar towed net, any gillnet, entangling net or trammel net or any fishing gear incorporating hooks within that part of ICES division 7a enclosed by the east coast of Ireland and the east coast of Northern Ireland and straight lines sequentially joining the following geographical coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

• — a point on the east coast of the Ards peninsula in Northern Ireland at 54°30′ N

- — 54°30′ N, 04°50′ W

• — 53°15′ N, 04°50′ W

• — a point on the east coast of Ireland at 53°15′ N.

• 3.2.By way of derogation from point 1, within the area and time period referred to therein the use of demersal trawls shall be permitted provided such trawls are fitted with selective devices that have been assessed by STECF.

All fishing, except with longlines, shall be prohibited in the areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• — 57°00′ N, 15°00′ W

- — 57°00′ N, 14°00′ W

• — 56°30′ N, 14°00′ W

• — 56°30′ N, 15°00′ W

• — 57°00′ N, 15°00′ W.

• 5.1.Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) and associated species (namely, cod, megrims, anglerfish, haddock, whiting, hake, plaice, pollack, saithe, skates and rays, common sole, tusk, blue ling, ling and spurdog) shall be prohibited from 1 May to 31 May each year within the geographical area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

• — 52°27′ N, 12°19′ W

• — 52°40′ N, 12°30′ W

• — 52°47′ N, 12°39,60′ W

• — 52°47′ N, 12°56′ W

• — 52°13,5′ N, 13°53,83′ W

• — 51°22′ N, 14°24′ W

• — 51°22′ N, 14°03′ W

• — 52°10′ N, 13°25′ W

• — 52°32′ N, 13°07,50′ W

• — 52°43′ N, 12°55′ W

• — 52°43′ N, 12°43′ W

- — 52°38,80′ N, 12°37′ W

• — 52°27′ N, 12°23′ W

• — 52°27′ N, 12°19′ W.

• 5.2.Transit through the Porcupine Bank while carrying on board the species referred to in point 5.1 shall be permitted in accordance with Article 50(3), (4) and (5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

• 6.1.From 1 March to 31 May each year directed fishing for blue ling shall be prohibited in the areas of ICES division 6a enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• Edge of Scottish continental shelf

• — 59°58′ N, 07°00′ W

• — 59°55′ N, 06°47′ W

• — 59°51′ N, 06°28′ W

• — 59°45′ N, 06°38′ W

• — 59°27′ N, 06°42′ W

• — 59°22′ N, 06°47′ W

• — 59°15′ N, 07°15′ W

• — 59°07′ N, 07°31′ W

• — 58°52′ N, 07°44′ W

• — 58°44′ N, 08°11′ W

• — 58°43′ N, 08°27′ W

• — 58°28′ N, 09°16′ W

• — 58°15′ N, 09°32′ W

• — 58°15′ N, 09°45′ W

• — 58°30′ N, 09°45′ W

• — 59°30′ N, 07°00′ W

• — 59°58′ N, 07°00′ W

• Edge of Rosemary bank

• — 60°00′ N, 11°00′ W

• — 59°00′ N, 11°00′ W

• — 59°00′ N, 09°00′ W

• — 59°30′ N, 09°00′ W

• — 59°30′ N, 10°00′ W

• — 60°00′ N, 10°00′ W

• — 60°00′ N, 11°00′ W

• Not including the area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• — 59°15′ N, 10°24′ W

• — 59°10′ N, 10°22′ W

• — 59°08′ N, 10°07′ W

• — 59°11′ N, 09°59′ W

• — 59°15′ N, 09°58′ W

• — 59°22′ N, 10°02′ W

• — 59°23′ N, 10°11′ W

• — 59°20′ N, 10°19′ W

• — 59°15′ N, 10°24′ W.

• 6.2.A by-catch of blue ling up to a threshold of 6 tonnes may be retained on board and landed. Once a vessel reaches this six-tonne threshold of blue ling:

• (a) it shall immediately cease fishing and exit the area in which it is present;

• (b) it may not re-enter either of the areas until its catch has been landed;

• (c) it may not return to the sea any quantity of blue ling.

• 6.3.From 15 February to 15 April each year, it shall be prohibited to use bottom trawls, longlines and static nets within an area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• — 60°58.76′ N, 27°27.32′ W

- — 60°56.02′ N, 27°31.16′ W

• — 60°59.76′ N, 27°43.48′ W

• — 61°03.00′ N, 27°39.41′ W

• — 60°58.76′ N, 27°27.32′ W.

• 7.1.Directed fishing for mackerel with towed gear with a codend mesh size of less than 80 mm or with purse seines shall be prohibited, except where the weight of the mackerel does not exceed 15 % by live weight of the total quantities of mackerel and other marine organisms on board which have been caught, within the area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• — a point on the south coast of the United Kingdom at 02°00′ W

• — 49° 30′ N, 2° 00′ W

• — 49° 30′ N, 7° 00′ W

• — 52° 00′ N, 7° 00′ W

• — a point on the west coast of the United Kingdom at 52° 00′ N.

- 7.2.It shall be permitted to fish within the area defined in point 7.1 with:

• — static nets and/or hand lines;

• — demersal trawls, Danish seines or other similar towed nets, with a mesh size greater than 80 mm.

• 7.3.Vessels which are not equipped for fishing and to which mackerel are being transhipped shall be permitted within the area defined in point 7.1.

• 8.1.The use of any beam trawl of mesh size less than 100 mm shall be prohibited in ICES division 5b and ICES sub-area 6 north of latitude 56°N.

- 8.2.Vessels shall be prohibited from using any beam trawl inside the areas within 12 nautical miles of the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland, measured from the baselines from which the territorial waters are measured.

• 8.3.Fishing with beam trawls within the specified area shall be permitted provided that:

• — The engine power of the vessels does not exceed 221 Kw and their length does not exceed 24 m; and

• — The beam length or aggregated beam length, measured as the sum of each beam, is no more than 9 m, or cannot be extended to a length greater than 9 m, except when directed fishing for common shrimp (Crangon crangon) with a codend mesh size of less than 31 mm.

- 9.1.In accordance with point (a) of Article 9(7) and by way of derogation from Part B, Point 2 of this Annex, it shall be permitted to use the following gear in waters with a charted depth of less than 600 m:

• — Bottom set gillnets used for directed fishing for hake with a mesh size of at least 100 mm and no more than 100 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 25 km per vessel and the maximum soak time is 24 hours.

• — Entangling nets used for directed fishing for anglerfish with a mesh size of at least 250 mm and no more than 15 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 100 km and the maximum soak time is 72 hours.

• 9.2.Directed fishing for deepwater sharks as listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/2336 in charted depths of less than 600 m shall be prohibited. When accidentally caught, deepwater sharks classified as prohibited in this Regulation and other Union legislation shall be recorded, unharmed to the extent possible, and shall be promptly released. Deepwater sharks subject to catch limits shall be retained on board. Such catches shall be landed and counted against quotas. In situations where quota is not or not sufficiently available to the Member State concerned, the Commission may resort to Article 105(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. Where accidental catches of deepwater sharks by the vessels of any Member State exceed 10 tonnes then those vessels may no longer avail of the derogations set out in point 9.1.

• 10.1.It shall be prohibited for vessels to fish with bottom trawls and seines in the following zones:

• (a) ICES divisions from 7f to 7k,

• (b) in the area West of 5° W longitude in ICES division 7e and

• (c) in ICES divisions 7b and 7c.

• This prohibition shall not apply to vessels in case:

- (i) they use a cod-end mesh size of at least 100 mm, or

• (ii) their by-catches of cod do not exceed 1,5 %, as assessed by the STECF, when fishing outside the areas mentioned in point 1.3 of Part B.

By derogation from letter (i), when fishing vessels operate in the areas specified in point 10 (1) (c), they may use an alternative fishing gear with the same or higher selectivity as the cod-end mesh size of at least 100 mm for mixed demersal fisheries, according to an assessment by the STECF. Such gear shall comply with the requirements of Article 15(4) and shall be approved by the Commission.

• 10.2.Measures in point 10.1 shall apply until 31 December 2026.

• 11.1.Stock recovery area for the king scallop stock in Union waters of ICES division 7d in the eastern English Channel south of latitude 49°42′ N and up to the limit of the French territorial waters:

• (a) Each year, from 15 May to 15 October, it shall be prohibited to conduct any king scallop fishing with dredges.

• 11.2.Closed season in the king scallop fishery in Union waters of ICES divisions 7d and 7e:

- (a) Each year, from 15 May to 30 September, it shall be prohibited to conduct any king scallop fishing with dredges in Union waters of ICES division 7d (corresponding to the eastern English Channel), not covered by the stock recovery area referred to in point 11.1.

- (b) Each year, from 15 May to 30 September it shall be prohibited to conduct any king scallop fishing with dredges within the boundaries of the North Finistère area in Union waters of ICES division 7e (corresponding to the western English Channel) and within a perimeter of one nautical mile to the northern boundary, within the area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 coordinate system:

48°54′23″ N, 5°00′00″ W 49°22′34.576″ N, 4°02′45.078″ W 49°22′54.465″ N, 3°49′14.415″ W 49°22′20″ N, 3°44′18.999″ W 49°23′51″ N, 3°36′54″ W 49°06′32.121″ N, 3°13′01.174″ W 49°06′03.993″ N, 3°23′27.255″ W 49°04′52.068″ N, 3°37′04.22″ W 48°59′49.782″ N, 3°57′07.907″ W 49°01′13.191″ N, 3°57′47.006″ W 48°43′55.255″ N, 4°20′24.785″ W 48°42′16.586″ N, 4°31′04.325″ W 48°39′34″ N, 4°36′25.999″ W 48°39′26.901″ N, 4°44′39.883″ W 48°36′17″ N, 4°49′32″ W 48°52′36″ N, 4°52′45″ W 48°49′07″ N, 4°59′26″ W

- 12. Closed areas for the conservation of red seabream in ICES subareas 6 and 7

- 12.1. From 1 January to 30 June 2026, all fishing for red seabream in ICES subareas 6 and 7 shall be prohibited to vessels flying the French flag.

ANNEX VII

SOUTH WESTERN WATERS

PART A

Minimum conservation reference sizes

Species	Whole area
Cod (Gadus morhua)	35 cm
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)	30 cm
Saithe (Pollachius virens)	35 cm
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius)	30 cm
Hake (Merluccius merluccius)	27 cm
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.)	20 cm
Sole (Solea spp.)	24 cm
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)	27 cm
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)	27 cm
Ling (Molva molva)	63 cm
Blue ling (Molva dypterygia)	70 cm
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)	Total length 70 mm, Carapace length 20 mm
Norway Lobster tails	37 mm
Mackerel (Scomber spp.)	20 cm [^E0058]
Herring (Clupea harengus)	20 cm [^E0058]
Horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.)	15 cm [^E0048] [^E0058] [^E0054]
Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)	12 cm or 90 individuals per kg [^E0049] [^E0058]
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)	36 cm
Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)	11 cm [^E0058]
Red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo)	36 cm [^E0057] [^E0058]
Lobster (Hommarus gammarus)	87 mm
Spinous spider crab (Maja squinado)	120 mm
Queen scallop (Chlamys spp.)	40 mm
Grooved carpetshell (Ruditapes decussatus)	40 mm
Carpetshell (Venerupis pullastra)	38 mm
Short-necked clam (Venerupis philippinarum)	35 mm [^E0059]
Clam (Venus verrucosa)	40 mm
Hard clam (Callista chione)	6 cm
Razor clam (Ensis spp.)	10 cm
Surf clams (Spisula solida)	25 mm
Donax clams (Donax spp.)	25 mm
Bean solen (Pharus legumen)	65 mm
Whelk (Buccinum undatum.)	45 mm
Octopus (Octopus vulgaris)	750 g [^E0050]
Crawfish (Palinurus spp.)	95 mm
Deepwater rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris)	22 mm (carapace length)
Edible crab (Cancer pagurus)	140 mm [^E0051] [^E0057]
Scallop (Pecten maximus)	100 mm

No minimum conservation reference size shall apply to horse mackerel (Trachurus pictaratus) caught in waters adjacent to the Azores islands and under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Portugal.

In ICES sub-area 9 and CECAF area 34.1.2 a minimum conservation reference size of 9 cm shall apply.

In all waters in that part of the eastern central Atlantic comprising divisions 34.1.1, 34.1.2 and 34.1.3 and sub-area 34.2.0 of fishing zone 34 of the CECAF region, a gutted weight of 450 g shall apply.

In Union waters in ICES sub-areas 8 and 9 a minimum conservation reference size of 130 mm shall apply.

For edible crabs caught in pots or creels, a maximum of 1 % by weight of the total catch of edible crab may consist of detached claws. For edible crabs caught with any other fishing gear, a maximum of 75 kg of detached crab claws may be landed.

By way of derogation from Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the minimum conservation reference sizes of sardine, anchovy, herring, horse mackerel and mackerel shall not apply within a limit of 10 % by live weight of the total catches retained on board of each of those species.

The percentage of sardine, anchovy, herring, horse mackerel or mackerel below the minimum conservation reference size shall be calculated as the proportion by live weight of all marine organisms on board after sorting or on landing.

The percentage may be calculated on the basis of one or more representative samples. The limit of 10 % shall not be exceeded during transhipment, landing, transportation, storage, display or sale.

[^E0054]: (⁷)

The minimum conservation reference size for horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.) caught in ICES division 8c and ICES subarea 9 shall be 12 cm for 5 % of the respective quotas of Spain and Portugal in those areas. Within that limit of 5 %, in the xávega artisanal beach sein fishery in ICES division 9a, 1 % of the quota of Portugal may be caught with the size below 12 cm. For the purposes of the control of that quantity, the conversion factor to be applied to the weight of the catches shall be 1,20. These provisions shall not apply for catches subject to the landing obligation.

[^E0057]: (^*1)

This minimum conservation reference size shall apply to ICES subarea 8 until 31 December 2026. The minimum conservation reference size of 33 cm shall apply to ICES subareas 9 and 10 (Union waters) and CECAF zones 34.1.1, 34.1.2 and 34.2.0 (Union waters).

[^E0058]: (^*2)

In the absence of new rules adopted before 31 December 2026, as of 1 January 2027 the applicable minimum conservation reference size shall be 33 cm.

A minimum conservation reference size of 32 mm shall apply to the Arcachon Basin, Statistical Rectangle 18E8 in ICES subarea 8.

• 1.The minimum conservation reference sizes specified in this Part for haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), saithe (Pollachius virens), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), hake (Merluccius merluccius), megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.), sole (Solea spp.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), ling (Molva molva), blue ling (Molva dipterygia), mackerel (Scomber spp.), herring (Clupea harengus), horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) shall apply to recreational fisheries in the South Western Waters. However, the following minimum conservation reference sizes shall apply in ICES subarea 8 to the following species caught in recreational fisheries:

Cod (Gadus morhua)	42 cm
Red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo)	40 cm
European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)	42 cm

PART B

Mesh sizes

1. Baseline mesh sizes for towed gear

• 1.1.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 70 mm ([^E0060]), ([^E0061]), or at least 55 mm in ICES division 9a east of longitude 7°23′ 48″ W.

• 1.2.Without prejudice to the landing obligation and notwithstanding point 1.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for South Western waters provided that:

• (i) the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of hake do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip; or

• (ii) other selectivity modifications are used which have been assessed by STECF upon request of one or more Member States and approved by the Commission. Those selectivity modifications shall result in the same or better selectivity characteristics for hake as that of 70 mm, or 55 mm in ICES division 9a east of longitude 7°23′ 48″ W respectively.

| Mesh Size | Geographical Areas | Conditions |

| --- | --- | --- | | At least 55mm | Whole area excluding ICES division 9a east of longitude 7°23′ 48″ W | Directed fishing for species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table Directed fishing for red sea bream Directed fishing for mackerel, horse mackerel and blue whiting with bottom trawls | | At least 35mm | Whole area | Directed fishing for wedge sole | | At least 55 mm | ICES division 9a west of longitude 7°23′ 48″ W | Directed fishing for crustaceans | | At least 16 mm | Whole area | Directed fishing for small pelagic species which are not covered elsewhere in the table Directed fishing for shrimps (Palaemon serratus, Crangon crangon), and crab (Polybius henslowi) | | Less than 16 mm | Whole area | Directed fishing for sandeel |

2. Baseline mesh sizes for static nets and driftnets

- 2.1.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 100 mm ([^E0062]), or at least 80 mm in ICES division 8c and ICES sub-area 9.

• 2.2.Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 2.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the South Western waters provided that the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of hake do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip.

Mesh Size	Geographical Areas	Conditions
At least 80 mm	Whole area except ICES division 8c and ICES sub-area 9	Directed fishing for sea bass, whiting, turbot, flounder and pollack
At least 60 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for species not subject to catch limits and which are not covered elsewhere in the table
At least 50 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for small pelagic species [^E0063] which are not covered elsewhere in the table
At least 40 mm	Whole area	Directed fishing for red mullet, shrimps (Penaeus spp.), mantis shrimp, wedge sole and wrasse

A mesh size of less than 40 mm may be used for sardines.

PART C

Closed or restricted areas

Fishing with any trawl, Danish seine or similar towed net shall be prohibited within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• (a) from 1 October to 31 January in the following year:
• — 43°46,5′ N, 07°54,4′ W
• — 44°01,5′ N, 07°54,4′ W
• — 43°25,0′ N, 09°12,0′ W
• — 43°10,0′ N, 09°12,0′ W

• (b) from 1 December to the last day of February in the following year:
• — a point on the west coast of Portugal at 37°50′ N
• — 37°50′ N, 09°08′ W
• — 37°00′ N, 09°07′ W
• — a point on the west coast of Portugal at 37°00′ N

2. Closed areas for the conservation of Norway lobster in ICES division 9a

• 2.1.Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) with any bottom trawl, Danish seine or similar towed net or with creels shall be prohibited, within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• (a) from 1 June to 31 August:
• — 42°23′ N, 08°57′ W
• — 42°00′ N, 08°57′ W
• — 42°00′ N, 09°14′ W
• — 42°04′ N, 09°14′ W
• — 42°09′ N, 09°09′ W
• — 42°12′ N, 09°09′ W
• — 42°23′ N, 09°15′ W
• — 42°23′ N, 08°57′ W

- (b) from 1 May to 31 August:

• — 37°45′ N, 09°00′ W
• — 38°10′ N, 09°00′ W
• — 38°10′ N, 09°15′ W
• — 37°45′ N, 09°20′ W

• 2.2.It shall be permitted to fish with bottom trawls or similar towed nets or creels in the geographical areas and during the period as described in point 2.1(b) provided that all by-catches of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) are landed and counted against quotas.

• 2.3.Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in the geographical areas and outside the periods referred to in point 2.1, shall be prohibited. By-catches of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvgicus) shall be landed and counted against quotas.

• 3.1.Directed fishing for anchovy using pelagic trawls in ICES division 8c shall be prohibited.

• 3.2.The carrying on board of pelagic trawls and purse seines simultaneously within ICES division 8c shall be prohibited.

- 4.1.In accordance with point (a) of Article 9(7) and by way of derogation from Part B, Point 2 of this Annex, it shall be permitted to use the following gear in waters with a charted depth of less than 600 m:

• — Bottom set gillnets used for directed fishing for hake of a mesh size of at least 80 mm in ICES division 8c and ICES sub-area 9 and 100 mm in all remaining areas and no more than 100 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 25 km per vessel and the maximum soak time is 24 hours.

• — Entangling nets used for directed fishing for anglerfish of a mesh size of at least 250 mm and no more than 15 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 100 km and the maximum soak time is 72 hours.

• — Trammel nets in ICES sub-area 9 used for directed fishing for anglerfish of a mesh size of at least 220 mm and no more than 30 meshes deep, where the total length of nets deployed does not exceed 20 km per vessel and the maximum soak time is 72 hours.

• 4.2.Directed fishing for deepwater sharks as listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/2336 in charted depths of less than 600 m shall be prohibited. When accidentally caught, deepwater sharks classified as prohibited in this Regulation and other Union legislation shall be recorded, unharmed to the extent possible, and shall be promptly released. Deepwater sharks subject to catch limits shall be retained on board. Such catches shall be landed and counted against quotas. In situations where quota is not or not sufficiently available to the Member State concerned, the Commission may resort to Article 105(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. Where accidental catches of deepwater sharks by the vessels of any Member State exceed 10 tonnes then those vessels may no longer avail of the derogations set out in point 4.1.

- 4.3.Conditions for fisheries using certain towed gear authorised in the Bay of Biscay. By way of derogation from the provisions laid down in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 494/2002 establishing additional technical measures for the recovery of the stock of hake in ICES sub-areas 3-7 and ICES Divisions 8a, 8b 8d and 8e, it shall be permitted to conduct fishing activity using trawls, Danish seines and similar gear, with the exception of beam trawls, with a mesh size range of 70-99 mm in the area defined in point (b) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 494/2002 if the gear is fitted with a 100 mm square mesh panel.

5. Closed areas for the conservation of red seabream in ICES sub-area 8

- 5.1. From 1 February to 30 September each year, fishing with bottom set longlines (LLS) and bottom trawls (OTB) in the western area of the Cantabrian Sea, opposite to Asturias and Galicia, shall be prohibited within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

• — 43°47'00'' N, 005°15'00'' W
• — 43°47'00'' N, 005°12'00'' W
• — 43°43'00'' N, 005°12'00'' W
• — 43°43'00'' N, 005°15'00'' W
• — 43°55'00'' N, 006°46'00'' W
• — 43°55'00'' N, 006°37'00'' W
• — 43°53'00'' N, 006°46'00'' W
• — 43°53'00'' N, 006°37'00'' W
• — 44°00'49'' N, 007°01'12'' W
• — 44°00'49'' N, 006°57'26'' W
• — 43°58'32'' N, 006°57'26'' W
• — 43°58'32'' N, 007°01'12'' W
• — 44°02'48'' N, 007°13'49'' W
• — 44°02'48'' N, 007°10’03’’W
• — 44°00'15'' N, 007°10'03'' W
• — 44°00'15'' N, 007°13'49'' W
• — 44°10'00'' N, 008°18'00'' W
• — 44°10'00'' N, 008°14'00'' W
• — 44°07'00'' N, 008°14'00'' W
• — 44°07'00'' N, 008°18'00'' W
• — 43°34'00'' N, 004°44'00'' W
• — 43°34'00'' N, 004°39'00'' W
• — 43°32'00'' N, 004°39'00'' W
• — 43°32'00'' N, 004°44'00'' W
• — 44°07'00'' N, 007°50'00'' W
• — 44°07'00'' N, 007°45'00'' W
• — 44°05'00'' N, 007°45'00'' W
• — 44°05'00'' N, 007°50'00'' W

- 5.2. From 1 January to 30 June each year, fishing for red seabream in ICES subarea 8 shall be prohibited to vessels flying the French flag.

• 5.3. For recreational fisheries, fishing for red seabream shall be prohibited within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system: Area RF 1 (Cariño/Celeiro)
• — 43°46'23'' N, 007°52'04'' W
• — 43°48'30'' N, 007°52'04'' W
• — 43°49'26'' N, 007°41'17'' W
• — 43°45'44'' N, 007°33'21'' W
• — 43°43'49'' N, 007°33'21'' W Area RF 2 (Ribadeo)
• — 43°33'26'' N, 007°02'58'' W
• — 43°35'27'' N, 007°02'58'' W
• — 43°35'29'' N, 007°01'20'' W
• — 43°33'33'' N, 007°01'20'' W Area RF 3 (Navia):
• — 43°33'51'' N, 006°44'02'' W
• — 43°35'52'' N, 006°44'02'' W
• — 43°35'52'' N, 006°42'32'' W
• — 43°33'52'' N, 006°42'32'' W Area RF 4 (Ensenada Canero)
• — 43°33'10'' N, 006°28'55'' W
• — 43°34'53'' N, 006°30'17'' W
• — 43°36'14'' N, 006°28'13'' W
• — 43°34'18'' N, 006°28'13'' W Area RF 5 (Ensenada de Cabrera/Ría San Martín de la Arena)
• — 43°26'18'' N, 004°04'51'' W
• — 43°28'22'' N, 004°04'51'' W
• — 43°28'55'' N, 004°01'17'' W
• — 43°26'56'' N, 004°01'17'' W Area RF 6 (Ría de Treto)
• — 43°27'49'' N, 003°25'58'' W
• — 43°28'59'' N, 003°23'36'' W
• — 43°26'16'' N, 003°22'27'' W
• — 43°25'09'' N, 003°24'41'' W Area RF 7 (Bilbao/Plentzia)
• — 43°21'18'' N, 003°07'47'' W
• — 43°23'18'' N, 003°07'47'' W
• — 43°28'13'' N, 002°56'42'' W
• — 43°26'08'' N, 002°56'42'' W Area RF 8 (Bermeo/Mundaka)
• — 43°25'36'' N, 002°43'23'' W
• — 43°27'35'' N, 002°43'23'' W
• — 43°26'57'' N, 002°38'45'' W
• — 43°24'57'' N, 002°38'45'' W