(1)

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 aims to progressively eliminate discards in all Union fisheries through the introduction of a landing obligation for catches of species subject to catch limits.

(2)

Article 15(6) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 empowers the Commission to adopt discard plans by means of a delegated act for a period of no more than three years on the basis of joint recommendations developed by Member States in consultation with the relevant Advisory Councils.

(3)

By Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2438 (2), the Commission established a discard plan for certain demersal fisheries in North-Western waters for the period 2016-2018 following a joint recommendation submitted by the Member States in 2015.

(4)

Belgium, Ireland, Spain, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have a direct fisheries management interest in the North-Western waters. On 3 June 2016, those Member States submitted a new joint recommendation to the Commission after consultation of the North Western Waters Advisory Council. Scientific contributions were obtained from relevant scientific bodies and reviewed by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). The measures included in the joint recommendation comply with Article 18(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and may be included in this Regulation.

(5)

As regards the North-Western waters, according to Article 15(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 the landing obligation applies to the species that define the fisheries which are subject to catch limits at the latest from 1 January 2016. The joint recommendation established the fleets that would be subject to the landing obligation in the mixed fisheries for cod, haddock, whiting and saithe; in the fisheries for Norway lobster; in the mixed fishery for common sole and plaice; in hake and pollack fisheries.

(6)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2438 established provisions for introduction of the landing obligation for certain demersal fisheries in North-Western waters for the period 2016-2018.

(7)

In accordance with the new joint recommendation submitted by Member States in 2016, the discard plan should cover from 2017 further species which define the highly mixed cod, haddock, whiting and saithe fishery, Norway lobster fishery, mixed common sole and plaice fishery, hake and pollack fisheries. By-catch species should also be covered in certain fisheries.

(8)

The joint recommendation suggested that an exemption from the landing obligation be applied to Norway lobster caught by pots, traps or creels in ICES division VI and subarea VII, for which scientific evidence demonstrates high survival rates, taking into account the characteristics of the gear, of the fishing practices and of the ecosystem. The STECF concluded that the exemption is grounded. Therefore, this exemption should continue to be included in this Regulation.

(9)

The joint recommendation suggested that an exemption from the landing obligation be applied to catches of sole below the minimum conservation reference size caught by 80-99 mm otter trawl gears in ICES division VIId within six nautical miles from the coast and outside identified nurseries areas in the fishing operations meeting certain specific conditions. The scientific evidence demonstrates high survival rates, taking into account the characteristics of gear and of the ecosystem. The STECF noted that survival is dependent on a number of factors and recommended caution in extending the trial results to other fisheries and that further relevant trials should be undertaken to support this request. Therefore, this exemption should be included in this Regulation for 2017 under the condition that the fleet using this exemption operates under comparable conditions to those of the trial, and that Member States concerned undertake additional trials. The results of these additional trials should be assessed by the STECF in 2017.

(10)

The joint recommendation includes seven de minimis exemptions from the landing obligation for certain fisheries and up to certain levels. The evidence provided by the Member States was reviewed by the STECF, which in general concluded that the joint recommendation contained reasoned arguments that further improvements in selectivity are difficult to achieve and/or regarding disproportionate costs in handling unwanted catches, supported in some cases with a qualitative assessment of the costs. In light of the above and in the absence of differing scientific information, it is appropriate to include these de minimis exemptions in this Regulation in accordance with the percentage level proposed in the joint recommendation and at levels not exceeding those allowed under Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

(11)

The de minimis exemption for common sole, up to a maximum of 3 % in 2017-2018 of the total annual catches of this species by vessels using trammel and gill nets to catch common sole in ICES divisions VIId, VIIe, VIIf and VIIg, is based on the fact that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve. STECF concluded that the exemption is well defined and therefore, this exemption should be included in this Regulation.

(12)

The de minimis exemption for whiting, up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of this species by vessels obliged to land whiting and using bottom trawls and seines of less than 100 mm and pelagic trawls to catch whiting in ICES divisions VIId and VIIe, is based on the fact that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve.

(13)

The de minimis exemption for whiting, up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of this species by vessels obliged to land whiting and using bottom trawls and seines of not less than 100 mm to catch whiting in ICES divisions VIIb-VIIj, is based on the fact that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve.

(14)

The de minimis exemption for whiting, up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of this species by vessels obliged to land whiting and using bottom trawls and seines of less than 100 mm to catch whiting in ICES subarea VII (excluding VIIa, VIId and VIIe), is based on the fact that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve.

(15)

As regards the three de minimis exemptions for whiting, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2438 required Member States concerned to submit to the Commission additional scientific information supporting the exemption. The STECF commented that, while complete evidence is still required, the additional information addresses some concerns of the STECF. The STECF highlighted the need for a more coherent approach to this stock. Based on the scientific evidence reviewed by STECF and considering that the further evidence supporting the exemption has improved, this exemption can be continued and should be included in this Regulation.

(16)

The de minimis exemption for Norway lobster, up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of this species by vessels obliged to land Norway lobster in ICES subarea VII, is based on the fact that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve. STECF concluded that the exemption was grounded. Therefore, this exemption should be included in this Regulation.

(17)

The de minimis exemption for Norway lobster, up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of this species by vessels obliged to land Norway lobster in ICES subarea VI, is based on the fact that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve and there is supporting quantitative information on disproportionate costs of handling unwanted catches. STECF concluded that the exemption was grounded. Therefore, this exemption should be included in this Regulation.

(18)

The de minimis exemption for common sole, up to a maximum of 3 % in 2017 and 2018 of the total annual catches of this species by vessels using TBB gear with mesh size of 80-119 mm with increased selectivity in ICES divisions VIId, VIIe, VIIf, VIIg and VIIh, is based on the fact that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve. STECF noted that the exemption is to compensate for the use of a more selective gear and the de minimis exemption requested is to cover residual discards. Therefore, this exemption should be included in this Regulation.

(19)

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2438 should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation.

(20)

Since the measures provided for in this Regulation impact directly on the economic activities linked to and the planning of the fishing season of Union vessels, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication. It should apply from 1 January 2017,

(a)

for whiting (Merlangius merlangus), up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels obliged to land whiting and using bottom trawls and seines of less than 100 mm (OTB, SSC, OTT, PTB, SDN, SPR, TBN, TBS, TB, SX, SV OT, PT and TX) and pelagic trawls (OTM, PTM) to catch whiting in ICES divisions VIId and VIIe.

(b)

for whiting (Merlangius merlangus), up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels obliged to land whiting and using bottom trawls and seines of not less than 100 mm (OTB, SSC, OTT, PTB, SDN, SPR, TBN, TBS, TB, SX, SV OT, PT and TX) and pelagic trawls (OTM, PTM) to catch whiting in ICES divisions VIIb-VIIj.

(c)

for whiting (Merlangius merlangus), up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels obliged to land whiting and using bottom trawls and seines of less than 100 mm (OTB, SSC, OTT, PTB, SDN, SPR, TBN, TBS, TB, SX, SV OT, PT and TX) and pelagic trawls (OTM, PTM) to catch whiting in ICES subarea VII, except divisions VIIa, VIId and VIIe.

(d)

for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus), up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels obliged to land Norway lobster in ICES subarea VII;

(e)

for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus), up to a maximum of 7 % in 2017 and up to a maximum of 6 % in 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels obliged to land Norway lobster in ICES subarea VI;

(f)

for common sole (Solea solea), up to a maximum of 3 % in 2017 and 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels using trammel and gill nets to catch common sole in ICES divisions VIId, VIIe, VIIf and VIIg;

(g)

for common sole (Solea solea), up to a maximum of 3 % in 2017 and 2018 of the total annual catches of that species by vessels obliged to land common sole and using TBB gear with mesh size of 80-119 mm with increased selectivity, such as a large mesh extension, in ICES divisions VIId, VIIe, VIIf, VIIg and VIIh.