Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 of 28 May 2024 on the implementation of the Union’s international obligations, as referred to in Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean

Subject matter and scope

Article 1

This Regulation establishes derogations from the landing obligation set out in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 for the purpose of implementing Union’s international obligations under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. It applies to fishing activities in Union waters or by Union fishing vessels outside Union waters not falling under third countries’ sovereignty or jurisdiction.

Definitions

Article 2

For the purpose of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply: (1)  ‘GFCM Geographical Sub-areas’ (‘GSAs’) means General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (‘GFCM’) Geographical Sub-Areas as defined in the Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 ); (2)  ‘Mediterranean Sea’ means the waters in GFCM geographical subareas 1 to 27, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124; (3)  ‘Strait of Sicily’ means the waters in GFCM geographical subareas 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124; (4)  ‘Ionian Sea’ means the waters in GFCM geographical subareas 19, 20 and 21, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124; (5)  ‘Levant Sea’ means the waters in GFCM geographical subareas 24, 25, 26 and 27, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124; (6)  ‘Black Sea’ means the waters in GFCM geographical subarea 29, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124.

Giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp

Article 3

1.   This Article shall apply to giant red shrimp ( Aristaeomorpha foliacea ) and blue and red shrimp ( Aristeus antennatus ) in the Strait of Sicily, the Ionian Sea and the Levant Sea. 2.   By way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it shall be prohibited to target, retain on board, tranship, transfer, land, transport, store, display or offer for sale giant red shrimp ( Aristaeomorpha foliacea ) and blue and red shrimp ( Aristeus antennatus ) below the minimum conservation reference size set at 25 mm carapace length. 3.   By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, incidental catches of maximum 5 % of giant red shrimp ( Aristaeomorpha foliacea ) and blue and red shrimp ( Aristeus antennatus ) of less than 25 mm carapace length may be retained on board, transhipped, transferred, landed, transported, stored, sold, displayed or offered for sale. 4.   The percentage of 5 % referred to in paragraph 3 shall be calculated on the basis of the weight of giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp of the vessel’s total catch per landing.

Common dolphinfish

Article 4

1.   This Article shall apply to common dolphinfish ( Coryphaena hippurus ) in the Mediterranean Sea fished by means of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). 2.   By way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it shall be prohibited to target, retain on board, tranship, transfer, land, transport, store, display or offer for sale common dolphinfish ( Coryphaena hippurus ) below the minimum conservation reference size set at 35 cm total length. 3.   By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, incidental catches of maximum 5 % of common dolphinfish ( Coryphaena hippurus ) of less than 35 cm total length may be retained on board, transhipped, transferred, landed, transported, stored, sold, displayed or offered for sale. 4.   The percentage of 5 % referred to in paragraph 3 shall be calculated on the basis of weight or/and number of pieces per landing of the total common dolphinfish catch of the vessels.

Turbot

Article 4a

1.   This Article shall apply to turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ) in the Black Sea. 2.   By way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it shall be prohibited to target, retain on board, tranship, transfer, land, transport, store, display or offer for sale turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ) below the minimum conservation reference size set at 45 cm measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin (total length).

Article 5

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 until 31 December 2026.