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1. The minimum conservation reference sizes specified in this Part for haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), saithe (Pollachius virens), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), hake (Merluccius merluccius), megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.), sole (Solea spp.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), ling (Molva molva), blue ling (Molva dipterygia), mackerel (Scomber spp.), herring (Clupea harengus), horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) shall apply to recreational fisheries in the South Western Waters. However, the following minimum conservation reference sizes shall apply in ICES subarea 8 to the following species caught in 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 70 mm (), (), or at least 55 mm in ICES division 9a east of longitude 7°23′ 48″ W.

1.2. Without prejudice to the landing obligation and notwithstanding point 2.1, vessels may use smaller mesh sizes as listed in the following table for South Western waters provided that:

(i) the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of hake 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 hake as that of 70 mm, or 55 mm in ICES division 9a east of longitude 7°23′ 48″ W respectively.

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 100 mm (), or at least 80 mm in ICES division 8c and ICES sub-area 9.

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 South Western waters provided that the associated conditions set out in that table are complied with, and by-catches of hake 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. Closed area for the conservation of hake in ICES division 9a Fishing with any trawl, Danish seine or similar towed net shall be prohibited within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

(a) from 1 October to 31 January in the following year:

— 43°46,5′ N, 07°54,4′ W — 44°01,5′ N, 07°54,4′ W — 43°25,0′ N, 09°12,0′ W — 43°10,0′ N, 09°12,0′ W (b) from 1 December to the last day of February in the following year:

— a point on the west coast of Portugal at 37°50′ N — 37°50′ N, 09°08′ W — 37°00′ N, 09°07′ W — a point on the west coast of Portugal at 37°00′ N 2. Closed areas for the conservation of Norway lobster in ICES division 9a

2.1. Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) with any bottom trawl, Danish seine or similar towed net or with creels shall be prohibited, within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

(a) from 1 June to 31 August:

— 42°23′ N, 08°57′ W — 42°00′ N, 08°57′ W — 42°00′ N, 09°14′ W — 42°04′ N, 09°14′ W — 42°09′ N, 09°09′ W — 42°12′ N, 09°09′ W — 42°23′ N, 09°15′ W — 42°23′ N, 08°57′ W (b) from 1 May to 31 August:

— 37°45′ N, 09°00′ W — 38°10′ N, 09°00′ W — 38°10′ N, 09°15′ W — 37°45′ N, 09°20′ W 2.2. It shall be permitted to fish with bottom trawls or similar towed nets or creels in the geographical areas and during the period as described in point 2.1(b) provided that all by-catches of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) are landed and counted against quotas.

2.3. Directed fishing for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in the geographical areas and outside the periods referred to in point 2.1, shall be prohibited. By-catches of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvgicus) shall be landed and counted against quotas.

3. Restrictions on directed fishing for anchovy in ICES division 8c 3.1. Directed fishing for anchovy using pelagic trawls in ICES division 8c shall be prohibited.

3.2. The carrying on board of pelagic trawls and purse seines simultaneously within ICES division 8c shall be prohibited.

4. Use of static nets in ICES sub-areas 8, 9, 10, and 12 east of 27° W 4.1. 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 80 mm in ICES division 8c and ICES sub-area 9 and 100 mm in all remaining areas 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.

— Trammel nets in ICES sub-area 9 used for directed fishing for anglerfish of a mesh size of at least 220 mm and no more than 30 meshes deep, where the total length of nets deployed does not exceed 20 km per vessel and the maximum soak time is 72 hours.

4.2. Directed fishing for deepwater sharks as listed in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/2336 in charted depths of less than 600 m shall be prohibited. When accidentally caught, deepwater sharks classified as prohibited in this Regulation and other Union legislation shall be recorded, unharmed to the extent possible, and shall be promptly released. Deepwater sharks subject to catch limits shall be retained on board. Such catches shall be landed and counted against quotas. In situations where quota is not or not sufficiently available to the Member State concerned, the Commission may resort to Article 105(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. Where accidental catches of deepwater sharks by the vessels of any Member State exceed 10 tonnes then those vessels may no longer avail of the derogations set out in point 4.1.

4.3. Conditions for fisheries using certain towed gear authorised in the Bay of Biscay. By way of derogation from the provisions laid down in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 494/2002 establishing additional technical measures for the recovery of the stock of hake in ICES sub-areas 3-7 and ICES Divisions 8a, 8b 8d and 8e, it shall be permitted to conduct fishing activity using trawls, Danish seines and similar gear, with the exception of beam trawls, with a mesh size range of 70-99 mm in the area defined in point (b) of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 494/2002 if the gear is fitted with a 100 mm square mesh panel.

5. Closed areas for the conservation of red seabream in ICES sub-area 8

5.1. From 1 February to 30 September each year, fishing with bottom set longlines (LLS) and bottom trawls (OTB) in the western area of the Cantabrian Sea, opposite to Asturias and Galicia, shall be prohibited within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system:

— 43°47'00'' N, 005°15'00'' W — 43°47'00'' N, 005°12'00'' W — 43°43'00'' N, 005°12'00'' W — 43°43'00'' N, 005°15'00'' W — 43°55'00'' N, 006°46'00'' W — 43°55'00'' N, 006°37'00'' W — 43°53'00'' N, 006°46'00'' W — 43°53'00'' N, 006°37'00'' W — 44°00'49'' N, 007°01'12'' W — 44°00'49'' N, 006°57'26'' W — 43°58'32'' N, 006°57'26'' W — 43°58'32'' N, 007°01'12'' W — 44°02'48'' N, 007°13'49'' W — 44°00'15'' N, 007°10'03'' W — 44°00'15'' N, 007°10'03'' W — 44°00'15'' N, 007°13'49'' W.

— 44°10'00'' N, 008°18'00'' W — 44°10'00'' N, 008°14'00'' W — 44°07'00'' N, 008°14'00'' W — 44°07'00'' N, 008°18'00'' W — 43°34'00'' N, 004°44'00'' W — 43°34'00'' N, 004°39'00'' W — 43°32'00'' N, 004°39'00'' W — 43°32'00'' N, 004°44'00'' W — 44°07'00'' N, 007°50'00'' W — 44°07'00'' N, 007°45'00'' W — 44°05'00'' N, 007°45'00'' W — 44°05'00'' N, 007°50'00'' W

5.2. From 1 January to 30 June each year, fishing for red seabream in ICES subarea 8 shall be prohibited to vessels flying the French flag.

5.3. For recreational fisheries, fishing for red seabream shall be prohibited within the geographical areas enclosed by sequentially joining with rhumb lines the following coordinates, which shall be measured according to the WGS84 system: Area RF 1 (Cariño/Celeiro) — 43°46'23'' N, 007°52'04'' W — 43°48'30'' N, 007°52'04'' W — 43°49'26'' N, 007°41'17'' W — 43°45'44'' N, 007°33'21'' W — 43°43'49'' N, 007°33'21'' W Area RF 2 (Ribadeo) — 43°33'26'' N, 007°02'58'' W — 43°35'27'' N, 007°02'58'' W — 43°35'29'' N, 007°01'20'' W — 43°33'33'' N, 007°01'20'' W Area RF 3 (Navia):

— 43°33'51'' N, 006°44'02'' W — 43°35'52'' N, 006°44'02'' W — 43°35'52'' N, 006°42'32'' W — 43°33'52'' N, 006°42'32'' W Area RF 4 (Ensenada Canero) — 43°33'10'' N, 006°28'55'' W — 43°34'53'' N, 006°30'17'' W — 43°36'14'' N, 006°28'13'' W — 43°34'18'' N, 006°28'13'' W Area RF 5 (Ensenada de Cabrera/Ría San Martín de la Arena) — 43°26'18'' N, 004°04'51'' W — 43°28'22'' N, 004°04'51'' W — 43°28'55'' N, 004°01'17'' W — 43°26'56'' N, 004°01'17'' W Area RF 6 (Ría de Treto) — 43°27'49'' N, 003°25'58'' W — 43°28'59'' N, 003°23'36'' W — 43°26'16'' N, 003°22'27'' W — 43°25'09'' N, 003°24'41'' W Area RF 7 (Bilbao/Plentzia) — 43°21'18'' N, 003°07'47'' W — 43°23'18'' N, 003°07'47'' W — 43°28'13'' N, 002°56'42'' W — 43°26'08'' N, 002°56'42'' W Area RF 8 (Bermeo/Mundaka) — 43°25'36'' N, 002°43'23'' W — 43°27'35'' N, 002°43'23'' W — 43°26'57'' N, 002°38'45'' W — 43°24'57'' N, 002°38'45'' W