Article 2
1. Notwithstanding the conditions laid down in Article 4(4) and Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 850/98, catches of hake (Merluccius merluccius) retained on board any vessel carrying any towed gear other than beam trawls of mesh size 55 to 99 mm may not be in excess of 20 % of the weight of the total catch of marine organisms retained on board and catches of hake retained on board any vessel carrying a beam trawl of mesh size range 55 to 99 mm may not be in excess of 5 % of the weight of the total catch of marine organisms retained on board. 2. The conditions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to any vessel of length less than 12 metres overall which returns to port within 24 hours of its most recent departure from port.