(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 or minimum sizes.

(2)

According to Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the landing obligation applies in small pelagic fisheries from 1 January 2015. For the fishery in question, Article 15(6) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 empowers the Commission to adopt provisions for the implementation of the landing obligation (‘discard plans’) by means of a delegated act on a temporary basis and for a period of no more than 3 years.

(3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1392/2014 (2) established a discard plan for certain small pelagic fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea. That discard plan applies to small pelagic fisheries using pelagic mid-water trawl and/or purse seins (fisheries for anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel). In order to avoid disproportionate costs of handling unwanted catches, it allows the discarding of a small percentage of catches of species subject to minimum sizes as referred to in Annex III to Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 (3) (‘de minimis exemption’).

(4)

The discard plan established by Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1392/2014 will expire on 31 December 2017. Moreover, no measures have been adopted for the purpose of specifying the de minimis exemption in a multiannual plan beyond 31 December 2017. In order to avoid disproportionate costs of handling unwanted catches, it is therefore appropriate to establish a de minimis exemption in accordance with Article 15(7) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. The de minimis exemption should apply in the GFCM (General Fisheries for the Commission of the Mediterranean) Areas covered by the current discard plan, which are Areas 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.1, 11.2, and 12 (Western Mediterranean Sea); 17 and 18 (Adriatic Sea); and 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 25 (South Eastern Mediterranean Sea).

(5)

The proposed de minimis exemption was reviewed by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) which did not provided any comments thereon apart from the fact that in cases where an increase to the de minimis percentage was requested from 3 % to 5 % this was considered not justifiable. In light of the above, it is appropriate to establish the de minimis exemption in accordance with the percentage level established by Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1392/2014 and at levels not exceeding those allowed under Article 15(7) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

(6)

Since the discard plan established by Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1392/2014 will expire on 31 December 2017, this Regulation should apply as from 1 January 2018. Similarly as the former discard plan established by Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1392/2014, this de minimis Regulation should, as requested by regional groups of Member States, apply for a 3-year period, i.e. until 31 December 2020,

(a)

‘species subject to a minimum size’ means any species listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006;

(b)

‘Mediterranean Sea’ means maritime waters of the Mediterranean to the east of line 5°36′ West;

(c)

‘GFCM Geographical Sub-Area’ means General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Geographical Sub-Area as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4);

(d)

‘Western Mediterranean Sea’ means GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.1, 11.2 and 12;

(e)

‘South Eastern Mediterranean Sea’ means GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 25;

(f)

‘Adriatic Sea’ means GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas 17 and 18;

(g)

‘Southern Adriatic and Ionian Sea’ means GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas 18, 19 and 20;

(h)

‘Malta Island and South of Sicily’ means GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas 15 and 16;

(i)

‘Aegean Sea and Crete Island’ means GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas 22 and 23.