
Article 1 
This Regulation establishes a de minimis exemption from the landing obligation for species subject to minimum sizes caught in small pelagic fisheries using pelagic mid-water trawl and/or purse seins in the Mediterranean Sea (fisheries for anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel).
Article 2 
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

((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;
((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.
Article 3 

1. In the small pelagic mid-water trawl and purse seines fisheries set out in Annexes I, II and III, up to 5 % of the total annual catches of any species subject to a minimum size may be discarded.
2. In the small pelagic purse seines fisheries set out in Annexes IV, V and VI, up to 3 % of the total annual catches of any species subject to a minimum size may be discarded.
3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall apply by way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Article 4 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2018.
It shall apply until 31 December 2020.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 23 October 2017.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude JUNCKER
ANNEX I

GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas Gear code Fishing gear Species targeted
1, 2, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11.1, 11.2 and 12 OTM, PTM mid-water pelagic trawl Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.1, 11. 2 and 12 PS purse seine Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
ANNEX II

GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas Gear code Fishing gear Species targeted
15, 16, 19, 20, 22 23 and 25 OTM, PTM mid-water pelagic trawl Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
25 PS purse seine Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
ANNEX III

GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas Gear code Fishing gear Species targeted
17 and 18 OTM, PTM mid-water pelagic trawl Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
17 PS purse seine Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
ANNEX IV

GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas Gear code Fishing gear Species targeted
15 and 16 PS purse seine Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
ANNEX V

GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas Gear code Fishing gear Species targeted
22 and 23 PS purse seine Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel
ANNEX VI

GFCM Geographical Sub-Areas Gear code Fishing gear Species targeted
18, 19 and 20 PS purse seine Anchovy, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel