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1. The minimum conservation reference sizes specified in this Part for seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in the North Sea and European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in Swedish exclusive economic zone in the Skagerrak and Kattegat (ICES division 3a) shall apply to recreational fisheries. PART B Mesh sizes 1. Baseline mesh sizes for towed gear () 1.1. Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 120 mm, or at least 90 mm in Skagerrak when fishing with otter trawls, or at least 90 mm in Kattegat when fishing with otter trawls or seines () ().

1.2. Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 1.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat provided that:

(i) the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip; or

(ii) other selectivity modifications are used which have been assessed by STECF upon request of one or more Member States and approved by the Commission. Those selectivity modifications shall result in the same or better selectivity characteristics for cod, haddock and saithe as that of 120 mm.

1.3. By way of derogation from the specifications in the table, a fish retention device may be used in Northern prawn fisheries in the Skagerrak (ICES division 3an) provided that there are adequate fishing opportunities to cover by-catch and that the retention device is:

— constructed with a top panel with a minimum mesh size of 120 mm square mesh;

— at least 3 metres long; and — at least as wide as the sorting grid.

1.4. The use of SepNep () as referred to in Annex I of this Regulation shall be permitted as an equivalent selectivity device in the directed fisheries for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus).

2. Baseline mesh sizes for static nets and driftnets 2.1. Without prejudice to the landing obligation, vessels shall use a mesh size of at least 120 mm.

2.2. Without prejudice to the landing obligation, and notwithstanding point 2.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat provided that the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with and by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe do not exceed 20 % of the total catch in live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip. PART C Closed or restricted areas 1. Closure of an area to protect sandeel in ICES divisions 4a and 4b 1.1. Fishing for sandeel with any towed gear with a codend mesh size less than 32 mm shall be prohibited within the geographical area bounded by the east coast of England and Scotland, and enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

— the east coast of England at latitude 55°30′ N — 55°30′ N, 01°00′ W — 58°00′ N, 01°00′ W — 58°00′ N, 02°00′ W — the east coast of Scotland at longitude 02°00′ W.

1.2. Fisheries for scientific investigation shall be allowed in order to monitor the sandeel stock in the area and the effects of the closure.

2. Closure of an area to protect juvenile plaice in ICES subarea 4 2.1. Vessels exceeding 8 m in overall length shall be prohibited from using any demersal trawl, beam trawl, Danish seine or similar towed gear within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84:

(a) the area within 12 nautical miles of the coasts of France, north of latitude 51°00′ N, Belgium, and the Netherlands up to latitude 53°00′ N, measured from the baselines;

(b) the area bounded by a line joining the following coordinates:

— a point on the west coast of Denmark at latitude 57°00′ N — 57°00′ N, 7°15′ E — 55°00′ N, 7°15′ E — 55°00′ N, 7°00′ E — 54°30′ N, 7°00′ E — 54°30′ N, 7°30′ E — 54°00′ N, 7°30′ E — 54°00′ N, 6°00′ E — 53°50′ N, 6°00′ E — 53°50′ N, 5°00′ E — 53°30′ N, 5°00′ E — 53°30′ N, 4°15′ E — 53°00′ N, 4°15′ E — a point on the coast of the Netherlands at latitude 53°00′ N — the area within 12 nautical miles of the west coast of Denmark from 57°00′ N as far north as the Hirtshals Lighthouse, measured from the baselines.

2.2. The following vessels are permitted to fish in the area referred to in point 2.1:

(a) vessels whose engine power does not exceed 221 kW using bottom trawls or Danish seines;

(b) paired vessels whose combined engine power does not exceed 221 kW at any time using bottom pair trawls;

(c) vessels whose engine power exceeds 221 kW shall be permitted to use bottom otter trawls, and paired vessels whose combined engine power exceeds 221 kW shall be permitted to use bottom pair trawls provided that such vessels do not engage in directed fishing for plaice and sole and comply with the relevant mesh size rules contained in Part B of this Annex;

(d) vessels whose engine power exceeds 221 kW using Danish seines which haul the fishing gear while the vessel is at anchor (Danish anchor seine – SDN), provided that such vessels comply with the mesh size provided for in point 1.1 of Part B of this Annex.

2.3. When vessels referred to in point 2.2(a) use beam trawls, the beam length, or the aggregate length of combined beam trawls measured as the sum of the length of each beam, shall not be greater than or shall not be able to be extended to a length of greater than 9 m except when operating with gear having a mesh size between 16 and 31 mm. Fishing vessels whose primary activity is fishing for common shrimp (Crangon crangon) shall be permitted to use beam trawls of which the aggregate beam length, measured as the sum of the length of each beam, is greater than 9 m when operating with gear having a mesh size between 80 and 99 mm provided an additional fishing authorisation has been issued to these vessels.

2.4. Vessels permitted to fish in the area referred to in point 2.1 shall be included in a list to be provided to the Commission by each Member State. The total engine power of the vessels referred to in point 2.2(a) within the list shall not exceed the total engine power in evidence for each Member State at 1 January 1998. The permitted fishing vessels shall hold a fishing authorisation in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. From 1 July 2021, only beam trawlers with a length overall of maximum 24 meters may be added to that list.

3. Restrictions on the use of beam trawls within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the United Kingdom 3.1. Vessels shall be prohibited from using any beam trawl inside the areas within 12 nautical miles of the coast of the United Kingdom, measured from the baselines of the territorial waters.

3.2. By way of derogation from point 3.1, fishing with beam trawls within the specified area shall be permitted provided that:

— The engine power of the vessels does not exceed 221 Kw and their overall length does not exceed 24 m; and

— The beam length or aggregated beam length, measured as the sum of each beam, is no more than 9 m, or cannot be extended to a length greater than 9 m, except when directed fishing for common shrimp (Crangon crangon) with a minimum mesh size of less than 31 mm.

4. Restrictions on fishing for sprat to protect herring in ICES division 4b Fishing with any towed gear with a codend mesh size of less than 32 mm or static nets less than 30 mm mesh size shall be prohibited within the geographical area enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84, from 1 July to 31 October, within the geographical area bounded by the following coordinates:

— the west coast of Denmark at latitude 55°30′ N,

— latitude 55°30′ N, longitude 7°00′ E,

— latitude 57°00′ N, longitude 7°00′ E,

— the west coast of Denmark at latitude 57°00′ N. By way of derogation from the first paragraph, that paragraph shall not apply to fishing with the following gear:

(a) towed gear with a mesh size of less than 32 mm;

(b) purse seines; or (c) gillnets, entangling nets, trammel nets and driftnets with a mesh size of less than 30 mm.

Member States having a direct management interest shall submit to the Commission, by 30 April each year, monitoring data supporting the derogation as regards the herring bycatch by the fleets involved in the sprat fishery. Such data could be based on the data collection in sampling programs for industrial fisheries.

5. Specific provisions for the Skagerrak and Kattegat in ICES division 3a 5.1. It shall be prohibited to fish with beam trawls in the Kattegat.

5.2. It shall be prohibited for Union vessels to fish for, retain on board, tranship, land, store, sell and display or offer for sale salmon and sea trout.

5.3. It shall be prohibited to deploy towed gear with a codend mesh size of less than 32 mm from 1 July to 15 September in the waters situated within three nautical miles of the baselines in the Skagerrak and Kattegat unless carrying out directed fishing for Northern Prawn (Pandalus borealis). For directed fishing for eelpout (Zoarces viviparous), gobies (Gobiidae) or scorpion fish (Cottus spp.) for use as bait, nets with any mesh size may be used.

5.4. It shall be prohibited to conduct any commercial and recreational fishing for, retaining on board, transhipping or landing of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the Skagerrak (ICES division 3aN) and in the Swedish exclusive economic zone in the Kattegat (ICES division 3aS) from 20 December to 31 March each year. When accidentally caught during this period, specimens shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.

6. Use of static nets in ICES divisions 3a and 4a 6.1. In accordance with point (a) of Article 9(7) and by way of derogation from Part B Point 2 of this Annex, it shall be permitted to use the following gear in waters with a charted depth of less than 600 m:

— Bottom set gillnets used for directed fishing for hake of a mesh size of at least 100 mm and no more than 100 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 25 km per vessel and the maximum soak time is 24 hours;

— Entangling nets used for directed fishing for anglerfish of a mesh size of at least 250 mm and no more than 15 meshes deep, where the total length of all nets deployed does not exceed 100 km and the maximum soak time is 72 hours.