
Article 1 
Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014 is amended as follows:

((1)) in Article 3, the heading is replaced by the following: ‘De minimis exemption in the years 2015 and 2016’;
((2)) the following Article 3a is inserted:
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Article 3a 
By way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, up to a maximum of 1 % of the total annual catches of mackerel, horse mackerel, herring and whiting in the pelagic fishery carried out by pelagic trawlers up to 25 metres in length overall, using mid-water trawls (OTM/PTM), and targeting mackerel, horse mackerel and herring in ICES divisions IVb and c south of 54 degrees north, may be discarded in 2018, 2019 and 2020.';
((3)) in Article 5 the second paragraph is replaced by the following:
'It shall apply from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020.';
((4)) the Annex is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2018.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 23 November 2017.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude JUNCKER
ANNEX

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ANNEX 
1.. Small pelagic fisheries in ICES IIIa (Skagerrak and Kattegat):

Code Pelagic fishing gear Species targeted
OTM and PTM Mid-water trawl and mid-water pair trawl Herring, mackerel, blue whiting, horse mackerel, sprat (for human consumption)
PS Purse seine Herring, mackerel, horse mackerel, sprat (for human consumption)
OTB and PTB Bottom otter and bottom pair trawl Herring, mackerel, sprat (for human consumption)
GNS and GND Gillnets anchored (set), and gillnets (drift) Mackerel, herring
LLS, LHP Set longlines, handlines and pole lines (hand operated) and handlines and pole lines (mechanised) Mackerel
MIS Miscellaneous gear, including traps, pots and pound nets Mackerel, herring, sprat (for human consumption)


2.. Small pelagic fisheries in ICES IV (North Sea).

Code Pelagic fishing gear Quota species targeted
OTM and PTM Mid-water otter trawl and mid-water pair trawl (inc. TR3) Herring, mackerel, horse mackerel, greater silver smelt, blue whiting, sprat (for human consumption)
PS Purse seine Herring, mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting
GNS and GND Gillnets anchored (set) and gillnets (drift) Mackerel, herring
GTR Trammel nets Mackerel
LLS, LHP and LHM Set longlines, handlines and pole lines (hand operated) and handlines and pole lines (mechanised) Mackerel
MIS Miscellaneous gear, including traps, pots and pound nets Herring, sprat (for human consumption)

3.. Other vessels targeting small pelagic species referred to in Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 that are not covered by points 1 and 2 of this Annex.
4.. Industrial fisheries in Union waters of ICES IIIa and IV:

Code Fishing gear Quota species targeted
Any trawl Trawl of mesh size less than 32 mm Sand eel, sprat, Norway pout
PS Purse seines Sand eel, sprat, Norway pout
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