Allocation of fishing opportunities
Article 7
1. In accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, when allocating the fishing opportunities available to them, Member States shall use transparent and objective criteria, including those of an environmental, social and economic nature, and shall also endeavour to distribute national quotas fairly among the various fleet segments, giving consideration to traditional and artisanal fishing, and to provide incentives to Union fishing vessels deploying selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact. 2. Each Member State shall make provision for by-catch of swordfish within its Mediterranean swordfish quota and shall inform the Commission thereof when transmitting its annual fishing plan in accordance with Article 9. Such provision shall ensure that all dead Mediterranean swordfish are deducted from the quota. 3. Member States shall endeavour to allocate any increase in fishing opportunities resulting from the successful implementation of this Regulation to fishing vessels to which no quota for Mediterranean swordfish has previously been allocated and that fulfil the criteria for the allocation of fishing opportunities set out in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.