
Article 1 
The Annex to Regulation (EU) 2019/1838 is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.
Article 2 
Regulation (EU) 2020/123 is amended as follows:

((1)) In Article 3, the following points are added:
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((j)) “instrumented buoy” means a buoy clearly marked with a unique reference number allowing identification of its owner and equipped with a satellite tracking system to monitor its position;
((k)) “operational buoy” means any instrumented buoy, previously activated, switched on and deployed at sea on a drifting FAD or log, which transmits positions and any other available information such as echo-sounder estimates.'.
((2)) The following Article is inserted:
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Article 12a 
Commercial fishing for sandeels with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gears with a mesh size of less than 16 mm shall be prohibited in ICES divisions 2a, 3a and ICES subarea 4 from 1 August to 31 December 2020 and from 1 January to 31 March 2021.'.
((3)) The fourth indent of point (a) of Article 13(1) is replaced by the following:
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— 100 mm with 160 mm square-mesh panel;'.
((4)) Article 14 is replaced by the following:
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Article 14 

1. The closed areas to fishing, except with pelagic gear (purse seines and trawls), and the periods during which the closures apply are set out in Annex IV.
2. Vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines with minimum mesh size of at least 70 mm in 4a and 4b or at least 90 mm in 3a, and longlines shall be prohibited from fishing in Union waters of ICES division 4a, North of latitude 58° 30′ 00″ N and South of latitude 61° 30′ 00″ N and in Union waters of ICES divisions 3a.20 (Skagerrak), 4a and 4b, North of latitude 57° 00′ 00″ N and East of longitude 5° 00′ 00″ E.
3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, fishing vessels referred to in paragraph 2 may fish in the areas referred to in paragraph 1 provided that they fulfil at least one of the following criteria:
(a) the percentage of cod catches does not exceed 5 % of the total catches per fishing trip; vessels with cod catches that have not exceeded 5 % of their total catches in the period 2017-2019 are presumed to comply with this criterion provided that they continue to use the same gear which they used in that period; this presumption may be rebutted;
(b) a regulated and highly selective bottom trawl or seine is used, which results, according to a scientific study, in at least a 30 % reduction of cod catches compared to vessels fishing with the baseline mesh size for towed gears as specified in point 1.1 of Part B of Annex V of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241; such studies may be evaluated by STECF; in the case of a negative evaluation by STECF, these gears shall no longer be considered as valid for use in the areas defined in paragraph 2 of this Article;
(c) for vessels operating with bottom trawls and seines with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 100 mm (TR1), the following highly selective gears are used:
— belly trawls with a minimum belly mesh size of 600 mm;
— raised fishing line (0,6 m);
— horizontal separating panel with large mesh escape panel;
(d) for vessels operating with bottom trawls and seines with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 70 mm in 4a and 90 mm in 3a and less than 100 mm (TR2), the following highly selective gears are used:
— horizontal sorting grid with maximum 50 mm bar spacing separating flatfish and roundfish, with an unblocked fish outlet for roundfish;
— seltra panel with 300 mm square-mesh size;
— sorting grid with maximum 35 mm bar spacing, with an unblocked fish outlet;
(e) vessels are subject to a national cod avoidance plan to sustain cod catches in line with the fishing mortality corresponding to the fishing opportunities set, based on scientific advice levels, through spatial or technical measures, or a combination thereof; such plans should be assessed no later than two months following implementation, by STECF in the case of Member States, and by their relevant national scientific body for third countries and where deemed necessary, further revised if such assessments consider that the objective of the plan will not be met.
4. Member States shall enhance monitoring, control and surveillance of vessels referred to in paragraph 2 to control compliance with the conditions specified in points (a) to (e) of paragraph 3.'.
((5)) In Article 16(1) the following point is inserted:
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((o)) splendid alfonsino (Beryx splendens) in NAFO subarea 6.'.
((6)) Article 27 is replaced by the following:
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Article 27 

1. Drifting FADs shall be equipped with instrumented buoys. The use of any other buoys, such as radio buoys is prohibited.
2. A purse seiner shall not follow more than 300 operational buoys at any one time.
3. The maximum number of instrumented buoys that may be acquired annually for each purse seine vessel is 500. No purse seine vessel shall have more than 500 instrumented buoys (buoy in stock and operational buoy) at any time.
4. The maximum number of supply vessels shall be two supply vessels in support of not less than five purse seiners, all flying the flag of a Member State. This provision shall not apply to Member States using only one supply vessel.
5. A single purse seiner shall not be supported by more than one single supply vessel flying the flag of a Member State at any time.
6. The Union shall not register new or additional supply vessels in the IOTC record of authorised vessels.'.
((7)) Article 46 is replaced by the following:
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Article 46 
Member States shall ensure that vessels flying their flag that are fishing in the SIOFA Agreement Area:

((a)) limit their annual bottom fishing effort and catch to their average annual level for those years where their vessels were active in the SIOFA Agreement Area, over a representative period for which data declared to the Commission exists;
((b)) do not expand the spatial distribution of bottom fishing effort, excluding line and trap methods, beyond areas fished in recent years;
((c)) are not authorised to fish in the interim protected areas of Atlantis Bank, Coral, Fools Flat, Middle of What, Walter’s Shoal, as defined in Annex IK, except with line and traps methods and on condition of having a scientific observer on board at all times while fishing in those areas.'.
((8)) Article 51 is replaced by the following:
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Article 51 
Third-country vessels which are authorised to fish for sandeels and associated by-catches in Union waters of ICES subarea 4 shall not fish for sandeels in that subarea with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gear with a mesh size of less than 16 mm in the following periods:

((a)) from 1 August to 31 December 2020;
((b)) from 1 January to 31 March 2021.'.
((9)) Annexes IA, ID, IH, and V are amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 1 and point (3) of Article 2 and point (9) of Article 2 in conjunction with points 1(a) and (e) and points 2 and 3 of Annex II shall apply from 1 January 2020.
Points (1), (2) and (5) to (8) of Article 2 and point (9) of Article 2 in conjunction with points 1(b), (c) and (d) and point 4 of Annex II shall apply from 1 July 2020.
Point (4) of Article 2 shall apply from 15 August 2020.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 25 June 2020.
For the Council
The President
A. METELKO-ZGOMBIĆ
ANNEX I

The Annex to Regulation (EU) 2019/1838 is amended as follows:

((1)) In the fishing opportunities table for cod in ICES subdivisions 25-32, footnote 2 is replaced by the following:
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((2)) In subdivisions 25 and 26 it shall be prohibited to fish this quota from 1 May to 31 August.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be undertaken provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, that closure period shall not apply to Union fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length overall that fish with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets, with bottom set lines, longlines, handlines and jigging equipment or other passive gear in areas where the water depth is less than 20 meters according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities. Masters of those fishing vessels shall ensure that their fishing activity can be monitored at any time by the control authorities of the Member State.';
((2)) In the fishing opportunities table for cod in ICES subdivisions 22-24, footnotes 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:
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((1)) In subdivision 24 exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota in subdivision 24.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to cod provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing this quota in subdivision 24 shall be allowed for Union fishing vessels of less than 12 meters length overall fishing with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets, with bottom set lines, longlines, handlines and jigging equipment or other passive gear in areas up to six nautical miles measured from the baselines where the water depth is less than 20 meters according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities. Masters of those fishing vessels shall ensure that their fishing activity can be monitored at any time by the control authorities of the Member State.
((2)) It shall be prohibited to fish this quota in subdivisions 22 and 23 from 1 February to 31 March and in subdivision 24 from 1 June to 31 July.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be undertaken provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, that closure period shall not apply to Union fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length overall that fish with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets, with bottom set lines, longlines, handlines and jigging equipment or other passive gear in areas where the water depth is less than 20 meters according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities. Masters of those fishing vessels shall ensure that their fishing activity can be monitored at any time by the control authorities of the Member State.'.

ANNEX II

Annexes IA, ID, IH and V to Regulation (EU) 2020/123 are amended as follows:

((1)) Annex IA is amended as follows:

((a)) the fishing opportunities table for herring in Union and Norwegian waters of 4 north of 53° 30′ N, is replaced by the following:

‘Species: Herring Zone: Union and Norwegian waters of 4 north of 53° 30′ N
Clupea harengus (HER/4AB.)
Denmark 59 468  Analytical TACArticle 7(2) of this Regulation applies
Germany 39 404 
France 20 670 
The Netherlands 51 717 
Sweden 3 913 
United Kingdom 55 583 
Union 230 755 
Faroe Islands 250 
Norway 111 652 
TAC 385 008 

Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken by the Union in Norwegian waters south of 62° N. An additional quantity of maximum 10 000 tonnes will be granted if such an increase is called for by the European Union.Norwegian waters south of 62° N (HER/*04N-)50 000’
((b)) the fishing opportunities table for anchovy in ICES subareas 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 is replaced by the following:

‘Species: Anchovy Zone: 9 and 10; Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1
Engraulis encrasicolus (ANE/9/3411)
Spain 1 922  Precautionary TAC
Portugal 1 922 
Union 4 018 
TAC 4 018 

((c)) the fishing opportunities table for Northern prawn in ICES division 3a is replaced by the following:
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Species: Northern prawn Zone: 3a
Pandalus borealis (PRA/03A.)
Denmark 2 123  Analytical TAC
Sweden 1 143 
Union 3 266 
TAC 6 115 '
((d)) the following fishing opportunities table for sprat and associated by-catches in Union waters of ICES division 3a is inserted:

‘Species: Sprat and associated by-catches Zone: 3a
Sprattus sprattus (SPR/03A.2)
Denmark 25 482  Analytical TAC
Germany 53 
Sweden 9 642 
Union 35 177 
TAC 38 029 


((e)) the fishing opportunities table for sprat and associated by-catches in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subarea 4 is replaced by the following:

‘Species: Sprat and associated by-catches Zone: Union waters of 2a and 4
Sprattus sprattus (SPR/2AC4-C)
Belgium 1 821  Analytical TAC
Denmark 144 154  
Germany 1 821  
France 1 821  
The Netherlands 1 821  
Sweden 1 330  
United Kingdom 6 010  
Union 158 778  
Norway 10 000  
Faroe Islands 1 000  
TAC 169 778  




((2)) In Annex ID, the fishing opportunities table for swordfish in the Mediterranean is replaced by the following:

‘Species SwordfishXiphias gladius Zone: Mediterranean Sea(SWO/MED)
Croatia 14,60  Analytical TACArticle 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
Cyprus 53,85 
Spain 1 663,34 
France 115,93 
Greece 1 101,1 
Italy 3 409,98 
Malta 404,55 
Union 6 763,35 
TAC 9 583,07 

((3)) In Annex IH, the fishing opportunities table for jack mackerel in the SPRFMO convention area is replaced by the following:
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Species: Jack mackerelTrachurus murphyi Zone: SPRFMO Convention Area(CJM/SPRFMO)
Germany 10 446,8  Analytical TACArticle 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not applyArticle 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
The Netherlands 11 323,26 
Lithuania 7 269,16 
Poland 12 498,78 
Union 41 538 
TAC Not relevant '
((4)) In Annex V, in the table part B on ‘Maximum number of fishing authorisations for third-country vessels fishing in union waters’, footnote 1 is replaced by the following:
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(1) To issue those fishing authorisations, proof must be produced that a valid contract exists between the vessel owner applying for the fishing authorisation and a processing undertaking situated in the Department of French Guiana, and that it includes an obligation to land at least 75 % of all snapper catches from the vessel concerned in that department so that they may be processed in that undertaking’s plant. Such a contract must be endorsed by the French authorities, which shall ensure that it is consistent both with the actual capacity of the contracting processing undertaking and with the objectives for the development of the Guianese economy. A copy of the duly endorsed contract shall be appended to the fishing authorisation application. Where such an endorsement is refused, the French authorities shall give notification of this refusal and state their reasons for it to the party concerned and to the Commission. A fishing vessel flying the flag of Venezuela authorised to carry out fishing activities in 2020 may continue fishing until 1 April 2021 pending the renewal of its fishing authorisation and provided that:

— the vessel operator has signed a new supply contract for 2021,
— the authorisation renewal procedures are underway for this vessel,
— the vessel operator has complied with its reporting and contractual landing obligations in 2020.
This extension expires on the date of entry into force of the Commission’s decision issuing a fishing authorisation for 2021 for the vessel, or upon notification from the Commission that the authorisation is refused.'.
