Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/98 is amended as follows:
(1)
Article 2 is amended as follows:
(a)
point 1 is replaced by the following:
‘(1)
“NAFO Regulatory Area” means the Area defined in Article I(2) of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (NAFO Convention).’;
(b)
point 2 is deleted;
(2)
Chapter III of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/98 is replaced by the following:
‘CHAPTER III
Article 6
Calculation of by-catch limits
1. The bycatch limits referred to in this Regulation apply to stocks (combination of species and Division) listed in Annex I.A of the NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures.
2. For each stock, the calculation of bycatch percentage referred to in this Regulation is based on the ratio between the catch of that stock retained on board and the total catch of all stocks retained on board.
3. Limits and percentages referred to in this Regulation refer to catch weights retained on board at the time of inspection, and are calculated by Division on the basis of the fishing logbook figures. By derogation, the calculation of groundfish by-catch levels shall not include the catches of northern prawn in the total catch on board.
Article 6a
General derogations for the NAFO Regulatory area
1. By way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, fish caught in the NAFO Regulatory Area above catch limits allocated by a legally binding Union act shall not be retained on-board.
2. Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007, which prohibits to retain on board by-catch above 1 250 kg or 5 %, whichever is greater, of species for which the catch limit is set to 0 by a legally binding Union act, shall apply by way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
3. Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007, which requires returning immediately to the sea any fish below the minimum sizes set out in Annex III of that Regulation, shall apply by way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Article 6b
Cod in NAFO Divisions 3NO
By way of derogation from Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007, as long as the catch limit is set to 0 by a legally binding Union act, cod caught as by-catch in NAFO Divisions 3NO above 1 000 kg or 4 %, whichever is greater, shall not be retained on-board.
Article 6c
American plaice in NAFO Divisions 3LNO
By way of derogation from Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007, as long as the catch limit is set to 0 by a legally binding Union act, American plaice caught as by-catch in NAFO Divisions 3LNO in a directed fishery for yellowtail flounder above 15 %, shall not be retained on board.
Article 6d
Yellowtail flounder in NAFO Divisions 3LNO
1. By way of derogation from Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007, as long as the catch limit is set to 0 by a legally binding Union act, yellowtail flounder caught as by-catch in NAFO Divisions 3LNO above 2 500 kg or 10 %, whichever is greater, shall not be retained on-board.
2. When the yellowtail flounder catch limit, assigned by NAFO to the Contracting Parties without a specific share of the stock, is exhausted, yellowtail flounder caught as by-catch above 1 250 kg or 5 %, whichever is greater, shall not be retained on-board.
Article 6e
Redfish in NAFO Division 3M
While the directed fishery for redfish in NAFO Division 3M is temporarily closed because 50 % of the annual catch limit has been reached, redfish caught as by-catch in NAFO Division 3M above 1 250 kg or 5 %, whichever is greater, shall not be retained on-board.’