(1)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 provides for the establishment of technical measures for the North Sea.

(2)

Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden (Scheveningen Group) have a direct fisheries management interest in the North Sea. On 15 and 19 October 2020, those Member States submitted two joint recommendations in accordance with Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and Article 15(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, proposing the adoption of certain modifications of the current provisions on the plaice box and the sprat box in the North Sea set out in Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 by means of a delegated act of the Commission. They submitted a revised version of the joint recommendation on the sprat box on 2 February 2021. Both joint recommendations were sent by those Member States to the relevant advisory councils for consultation.

(3)

Given that both joint recommendations propose changes to Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, this delegated Regulation provides for the measures recommended by the Member States as regards both the sprat box and the plaice box.

(4)

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) assessed the evidence provided by the Member States in support of the provisions included in both joint recommendations (3). The proposed measures were evaluated in accordance with the principles established in Article 15(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

(5)

The joint recommendation submitted by the Member States on the plaice box suggested the introduction of a specific exemption for vessels whose engine power exceeds 221 kW using Danish seines, provided that such vessels comply with the mesh sizes set out in point 1.1 of Part B of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241. The STECF analysed the evidence presented by the Member States and concluded that, considering the limited number of vessels concerned and the limited impact that Danish anchor seine has on the bottom, the introduction of the specific exemption for Danish seine is not expected to have any significant effect on the level of protection inside the area. The proposed measure should therefore be included in this Regulation.

(6)

The joint recommendation on the plaice box further suggested replacing, in point 2.2(c) of part C of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, the term ‘bottom trawls’ by the term ‘bottom otter trawls’. The STECF analysed the evidence presented by the Member States and concluded that the proposed change is likely to remove any ambiguity in the Regulation and provide levels of protection that are at least equivalent, and likely higher, to what is currently prescribed in Regulation (EU) 2019/1241. The proposed measure should therefore be included in this Regulation.

(7)

The joint recommendation on the plaice box also suggested a maximum of 24m for the vessel length of beam trawlers to be included, after this Regulation applies, in the list of vessels set out in point 2.4 of part C of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241. The STECF analysed the evidence presented by the Member States and concluded that this restriction will ensure levels of protection that are at least equivalent to what is currently prescribed in Regulation (EU) 2019/1241. The proposed measure should therefore be included in this Regulation.

(8)

The joint recommendation submitted by the Member States on the sprat box suggested to continue for a period of three years the practice of lifting the sprat box for vessels with certain gears from 1 July to 31 October, as provided for by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014 (4) for the period until 31 December 2020. The STECF analysed the evidence presented by the Member States on the sprat box and concluded that there is no clear indication that the lifting of the sprat box since 2017 has caused any damage on the herring stock. The STECF further concluded that it is unlikely that lifting the sprat box would lead to lower levels of protection than what is currently in place. STECF however observed that more years of fishery monitoring are needed in order to prove that equivalent levels of protection will be maintained. The STECF therefore suggested that the impact of the lifting is re-evaluated after three years of monitoring. The Member States committed to monitoring the impact of the lifting of the sprat box during this period by collecting the data set out in their joint recommendation with regard to herring bycatch in the fishery for sprat. This data will be submitted for evaluation by the STECF. The proposed measure should therefore be included in this Regulation.

(9)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

As the measures provided for in this Regulation have a direct impact on the planning of the fishing season of Union vessels and on related economic activities, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication,